2023 Kia Sportage PHEV (Euro-Spec)
- All-new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid delivers 1.1 I/100km with an emissions free** range of 70km* and up to 78km* in city driving.
- High-performance powertrain produces 265PS and 350Nm of torque; outstanding efficiency with emissions of just 25g/km.
- Inspired by nature, the new Sportage features a bold, muscular and sophisticated exterior design.
- Cutting-edge interior with a state-of-the-art integrated curved display that centres on the driver.
- All-new Terrain Mode and electronically-controlled AWD system ensure superior traction in all conditions.
- State-of-the-art ADAS technologies deliver advanced safety and convenience.
Kia Europe has today revealed full details of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), the first-ever iteration of the influential SUV to enable extensive electric mobility. Joining the fifth-generation Sportage line-up revealed last year, the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has been crafted to establish a new benchmark in Europe’s growing electrified SUV segment.
The new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid features a highly-efficient 1.6-litre T-GDI engine, a 66.9kW permanent magnet traction electric motor and a 13.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. These combine to realise an exceptional combined fuel economy figure of 1.1 I/100km, and an emissions free driving** range of up to 70 kilometres* – up to 78 kilometres* in city driving (WLTP), enough to cover most daily trips from the home to work, or for daily shopping needs.
As with the wider Sportage line-up, the Plug-in Hybrid combines a sleek yet muscular and modern exterior design with a cutting-edge premium interior featuring a swooping integrated curved display that houses the very latest advancements in connectivity tech.
Developed on a new architecture, the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid benefits from a European-focused high-tech engineering programme that has realised an optimal wheelbase and ideal dimensions and proportions for European roads. This meticulous approach has helped create an SUV that is a perfect fit for European requirements, underscoring its everyday practicality and usability. Such a progressive and tailored package has resulted in impressive luggage capacity, headroom and legroom.
To create a dynamic, engaging and optimal driving experience, the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid includes numerous highly innovative technology breakthroughs. A new-generation Electronic Control Suspension (ECS) always provides optimum comfort and superior safety levels thanks to its continuous damping control in real-time. A new Terrain Mode gives the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid outstanding drive capabilities in more challenging conditions such as snow, mud and sand, allowing owners to pursue more adventurous leisure activities.
The new Sportage also leads the way in safety featuring both passive and active high-tech safety technologies – including Kia’s world-renowned DriveWise suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).
The new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is available to order now, with European deliveries expected to commence in Q2 2022.
Advanced Plug-in Hybrid powertrain
A winning combination of efficiency, power and performance
Developed on an advanced new architecture that encompasses breakthrough powertrain electrification innovations and technologies, the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid delivers a no-compromise, eco-friendly and dynamic SUV package. It blends power and performance with the capability of emissions free driving that can cover most daily commutes and shopping trips.
The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s powertrain delivers a total system power output of 265PS, with 180PS originating from the IC engine. A smooth and quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission combined with 350Nm of torque ensures drivers will be able to make effortless progress in all conditions, with 0-100 km/h taking just 8.2 seconds. The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid can reach a top speed of 191km/h.
The four-cylinder unit realises enhanced fuel efficiency through a new and optimised combustion process, cooling technologies and key friction reduction measures, including an advanced integrated thermal management system and the use of a low-friction ball bearing. Kia’s focus on outright efficiency ensures the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid emits just 25g/km of CO2 on the weighted, combined cycle.
The battery pack in the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid features a high-tech battery management unit that constantly monitors the state of the battery, including factors such as current, voltage, isolation and fault diagnosis. The pack also has an advanced cell monitoring unit that measures and monitors cell voltage and temperature.
Efficiency has been a key consideration during the development of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s electrified powertrain and auxiliary systems. Kia’s latest high-efficiency and high-performance Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG) module and Hybrid Power Control Unit (HPCU) both enhance efficiency, performance and reduce NVH levels when driving, while the Plug-in Hybrid’s efficient on-board charger (OBC) system is rated at 7.2kW. Out on the road, the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s electric energy consumption is an impressive 169 Wh/km.
Instant visual impact
A new design identity based on a bold and daring philosophy
The exterior of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid establishes new design boundaries, giving it dramatic presence on European roads.
Tense and crisp lines ripple along the refined body, amplifying exquisite styling tensions. At the same time, clean but muscular surfaces join forces with intricate graphics to give the SUV a dynamic and assertive road presence.
Revealed last year to great acclaim from the design community, Kia’s new design language – Opposites United – is at the core of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, influencing every aspect of its appearance and character.
The thought-provoking and daring philosophy is formed of five pillars: Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life, Tension for Serenity and Bold for Nature. The last pillar – Bold for Nature – has profoundly influenced the design creation of the new Sportage, embodying the natural world and creating a design identity that takes a daring, emotional, modern but organic form.
From the front, the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid showcases a precise and intricate design form with its detailed-orientated black grille graphic stretching across the width of the face. The technical graphic pulls together the main frontal features of the new Sportage, presenting a striking look. The grille links Kia’s modern signature Tiger Nose grille to the distinctive futuristic-styled boomerang-shaped LED DRLs (daytime running lights), which in turn create solid boundary lines for the striking Matrix LED head lamps.
Paying homage to its sports utility heritage, the side profile of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid creates a stirring road presence with taut lines cutting across clean but refined body surfaces that seamlessly blend the contrasting volumes together.
Representing another first for the new Sportage range in Europe, a black roof is now available with the new model, helping to accentuate the sporting profile and highlight the architecturally dynamic C-pillar. The addition of a chrome beltline kicks up onto the rear of the new Sportage, creating harmonious lines with the rear spoiler that further adds to the sporting pedigree of the car.
The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid maintains its strong road presence at the rear with a muscular swooping fastback design that flows into the rear lamps, which have been crafted to give the impression that they cut into the body with fine precision. The razor rear lamps are connected by a slim horizontal design, giving the new Sportage a stunningly wide impression from the back.
The new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is also available in an even more sporty and dynamic design guise that further accentuates the SUV’s energetic nature. The GT-Line, available alongside the standard model, uses its cool crossover SUV form to full effect, with standout body colours that are vivid and spirited.
The new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid rides on 19-inch alloy wheels, with a choice of two wheel designs and up to 13 exterior colours. Nine of these colours are available with a black roof for a striking two-tone effect on GT-Line models.
State-of-the-art interior space
Carefully crafted cabin combines advanced tech with contemporary style
The interior of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid plays with boldness in character, softness in qualities and innovation in technology, creating a driver-orientated space that is truly state-of-the-art. The cabin has been carefully crafted to fuse breakthrough tech with luxury features, premium materials and modern style.
At the centre of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s modern cabin sits a beautifully sculpted integrated curved display with touchscreen pad and finely detailed sporty air vents. The curved display sweeps across the front of the interior, giving the cockpit dramatic width and depth.
The high-tech 12.3-inch touchscreen and the multimode touch display act as the nerve centre for driver and passenger connectivity, functionality and usability needs. Both have been created to be easy-to-use, highly intuitive and soft to touch. The 12.3-inch instrument cluster is equipped with the latest-generation full thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display for incredibly precise and clear graphics. With such advanced and secure high-tech connectivity, the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid benefits from the latest over-the-air software and map updates. The advanced connectivity software in the new Sportage allows users in Europe to connect with their vehicle remotely via the Kia Connect smartphone app. The interactive, easy-to-use tech also gives users access to key onboard features, providing total peace of mind with a simple tap to check that their Sportage is locked, and the doors are closed, and full convenience by informing users exactly where they parked their SUV.
An ergonomic centre console has been optimally positioned for the driver and front passenger to provide further flexible storage. For example, by simply pressing a button, the cupholders located in the centre console fold into the unit when they are not needed, giving occupants a larger and practical space in which to store items. The centre console is also home to the striking shift-by-wire transmission dial. A smartphone charging bay offers high-speed 15W wireless charging.
Throughout the cabin, the highest quality materials that are sumptuous to touch have been used, while dynamic colour options add vibrancy and energy. The driver and front passenger seats combine innovation, comfort and functionality in a sporting slim design. They house fast-charge USB ports and, further enhancing passenger convenience, at the rear of the seats are integrated hanger-type designs within the slim headrests, allowing clothing and handbags to be easily and conveniently hooked into place.
The packaging of the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has been carefully arranged to avoid impact on passenger and luggage space. As a result, the high-voltage battery is placed centrally between the two axles under the body of the SUV, ensuring a balanced weight distribution and an interior space that is practical, comfortable and versatile.
The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is underpinned by a wheelbase of 2,680mm, a width of 1,865mm, length of 4,515mm and height of 1,645mm without roof rails. This has resulted in a package that leads the way in legroom, headroom and luggage capacity thanks to the clever packaging of the high-voltage battery. The Plug-in Hybrid offers 955mm of legroom for second-row passengers while headroom at the rear is 998mm. Luggage capacity is 540 litres (VDA). To maximize convenience, the rear seats can fold down in a 40:20:40 split allowing for 1,715 litres cargo space.
Fully immersive, in-car surround sound is delivered to the occupants of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid via an industry-leading Harman Kardon premium sound system.
The GT-line model further accentuates the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s energetic nature, with elements of the interior, including a black roofliner, creating visually strong contrasts between black and white, in the process giving the model a lively and sporty environment.
An optimal drive in all environments
Sportage Plug-in Hybrid benefits from new Terrain Mode and new ECS
Based on the company’s new N3 architecture, every element of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has been designed and developed to enhance the SUV’s premium stature.
Representing a first for Sportage is the creation of an all-new Terrain Mode that debuts on the fifth-generation Sportage. Developed for Sportage owners that want to pursue outdoor adventure and leisure activities, the highly-advanced Terrain Mode automatically adjusts the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s settings so that the vehicle realises an optimal drive dynamic for any given road condition and environment, including snow, mud and sand.
Out of Terrain Mode, the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid defaults to Eco Drive Mode, with the driver also able to select from an additional Sport Drive Mode for optimum responses. For convenience and added safety, all Drive Modes are displayed within the high-resolution digital cluster.
The new platform has also heavily influenced the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s driving characteristics, combining a refined, stable and comfortable ride with agile and dynamic handling. An advanced steering and suspension system that has been meticulously tuned helps bring these qualities together.
At the front, the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid benefits from a MacPherson strut type suspension while the rear gets a four-link type set-up. A new Electronic Control Suspension (ECS) on GT-Line models always provides optimum comfort and superior safety levels thanks to its continuous damping control in real-time. An electronically-controlled AWD system makes sure power is optimally distributed between the front and rear wheels depending on road conditions and driving situations, not only further enhancing driving performance but also boosting safety and efficiency.
DriveWise leads the way in safety
Sportage Plug-in Hybrid features the very latest passive, active and ADAS safety tech
With safety being a top priority during development, the fifth-generation Sportage is one of the safest vehicles in its class.
Underneath the sleek exterior design of the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is a reinforced and lightweight body structure that has high torsional rigidity. The new Sportage has different safety restraint and structure system applications, including driver airbag, passenger airbag, side curtain airbags, front-seat centre airbag and low-side airbags.
Kia’s acclaimed in-house developed Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology – also known as DriveWise – helps the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid to avoid potential hazards, fully protecting occupants and other road users on every journey. As part of its DriveWise ADAS package, the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid features Kia’s industry-leading Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist System with Junction Turning functionality, which helps avoid collisions with oncoming cars when turning at junctions.
Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC) helps drive the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid at a safe speed on the highway using real-time navigation data. Further extending the scope of NSCC, for parts of the highway where there are corners and curves, the technology automatically reduces the speed of travel before encountering the corner or curve. When safe, NSCC resets the speed limit to the original level.
Highway Driving Assist (HDA) maintains a set distance and speed from the vehicle ahead when driving on a highway and helps to centre the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid in its lane. When active, HDA can also adjust vehicle speed according to the speed limit, a functionality enabled through NSCC.
The new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid also features Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) technology that provides a warning if the car is being driven slower or faster than the speed limit. The driver can adjust the speed of the vehicle based on the speed limit with the touch of a button.
When operating the turning signal to change lanes, if there is a risk of a collision with a rear-side vehicle, a new Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) system will provide a warning to the driver. After the warning, if the risk of a collision increases, BCA actively controls the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid to help avoid a collision. BCA is also active in situations such as parallel parking manoeuvres, further helping to avoid collisions with rear-side vehicles. Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) is also included on the new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid and further enhances safety and driver visibility when changing lanes by displaying a real-time rear-side image of the vehicle in the instrument cluster.
Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) helps the driver to remotely park or exit a parking spot from outside the vehicle. Parking manoeuvres are further enhanced with the addition of Rear-View Monitor (RVM) and Surround View Monitor (SVM) technology, which displays real-time video footage of the vehicle and its surroundings.