Kia pulled the wrap off the 2023 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid today, the latest variant to join the Sportage compact crossover SUV family. Now in its fifth generation, the popular Sportage lineup was entirely redesigned for the 2023 model year. The new 2023 Sportage PHEV joins the standard Sportage and Sportage HEV (standard hybrid) which debuted in late 2021.

Power for the Sportage PHEV is supplied by a 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 177 horsepower teamed with a 66.9-kW electric motor and 13.8 kWh lithium-polymer battery. This is similar to the powertrain in the Sportage Hybrid, which also uses a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. The Sportage PHEV, however, sports more robust electric components, its 66.9-kW electric motor and 13.8 kWh lithium-polymer battery outpacing the 44-kilowatt electric motor and 1.49 kWh lithium-ion battery in the regular hybrid. Both the new PHEV and hybrid use a six-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive is standard on the Sportage PHEV; it’s optional on the hybrid.

Fortified by its larger battery, Kia is shooting for 32-miles of EV-only range.

Kia says a level-2 charger can fully charge the battery in approximately two hours. A charge-time estimate is not yet published for the 7.2 kW high-efficiency onboard charger. Regenerative braking is aided by a standard Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) which is said to provide a higher recovery rate of regenerative braking versus its competitors.

Although official fuel economy estimates won’t be available until closer to the on-sale date, Kia is targeting 39 mpg for the Sportage hybrid, and we expect the new Sportage PHEV version to meet or exceed that metric. For comparison, the standard gasoline-powered 2023 Sportage is EPA-rated for 28 mpg combined, 25 mpg with all-wheel drive.

Powertrain aside, the Kia Sportage PHEV resembles the rest of the Sportage lineup and uses the same N3 platform in use on the other Sportage models as well as the Sorrento. That means like its siblings, it offers 39.5-inches of rear-seat legroom and 34.5 cubic-feet of rear cargo capacity, making it one of the most spacious SUVs in the compact class.  

The Sportage PHEV takes the high road in terms of features and amenities, however, and will only be offered in two well-equipped trims: X-Line PHEV AWD and X-Line Prestige PHEV AWD. X-Line details include exclusive 19-inch wheels, gloss-black side mirrors, roof rack and window surrounds and unique front and rear bumpers with a satin chrome surround.

Harman/Kardon provides a standard premium audio system, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also standard. Optional is the nearly 25-inch-wide dual panoramic curbed display that blends together the instrument and infotainment screens.  

Kia’s Connect services are also on offer, providing enhanced connectivity for the Kia Access smartphone app, a Wi-Fi Hotspot for up to five devices, over-the-air map updates, stolen vehicle tracking and immobilization capability.  

Likewise, the entire bundle of Kia driver assistance and safety soft-and hardware is either standard or available. Both trims get lane departure warning and assist, forward collision alert with automatic braking assist, driver monitoring, automatic high beams and more. The Sportage X-Line Prestige PHEV ups the content with radar cruise control with nav-based assistance and stop-and-go capability. There’s more, but those detail will fall into place closer to the Kia Sportage PHEV’s on-sale date in the third quarter of 2022.

While the march towards the EV revolution continues unabated—Kia’s own EV6 among them—auto manufacturers continue to hedge their bets and fortify their lineups with practical, efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrids to bridge the gap to the future. It’s a wise strategy, one that promises to provide thrifty and environmentally-conscious buyers more options than ever.

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