Kia’s portfolio from electrified vehicles grew by one this morning with the announcement of the Kia Sportage PHEV 2023, a hybrid version of the carmaker’s compact SUV with a target mileage of just 32 miles.
of Kia fifth generation Sportage debuted late last year and was quickly joined hybrid version of the Sportage. The Sportage PHEV joins the range with a larger battery pack and plug-in power.
Under the hood, you’ll find a 1.6-liter turbocharged 177-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a 66.9 kW electric motor that works in tandem with a standard six-speed automatic transmission to power the SUV. This is less combustion power, but a more powerful electric motor than the conventional hybrid version. The overall performance of the system is not specified, so since hybrid math is never as simple as addition, we will look for more complete specifications closer to the launch of the Sportage PHEV.
Kia clarified that it is aiming for a 32-mile electric range of 2-hour recharging at level 2 home or public charger before starting the internal combustion engine. The Sportage will include a 7.2 kW high-efficiency on-board charger at the business end of its J1772 plug, which powers a 13.8-kWh lithium-polymer battery. It also seems that the battery can easily enter the cabin if the 39.5-inch rear legroom of the Sportage PHEV (1.8 inches less than the non-PHEV) and 34.5 cubic feet of load capacity (down 2 , 1 cube) are accurate.
The Sportage PHEV will be available in two trim levels, the X-Line and X-Line Prestige, which must be equipped with identical non-hybrid specifications of the same name with standard features such as a dual 12.3-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and optional upgrades such as a 360-degree camera for surround view. Both gaskets have standard all-wheel drive, selectable driving modes and descent brake control. Kia also says that PHEV’s integrated electronic braking system is able to combine hydraulic braking with regenerative braking for a higher rate of energy recovery than its competitors, which should help increase electric range and overall fuel efficiency.
The expected economy and pricing will be announced closer to the presentation of the Kia Sportage PHEV models for 2023 in the third quarter of this year.