- kia has shared details about the new plug-in-hybrid version of the 2023 sportage.
- it comes with a larger battery and more powerful electric motor compared with the standard hybrid and promises an electric range of 32 miles.
- the 2023 sportage plug-in hybrid will go on sale in the third quarter of this year.
the kia sportage received a redesign for 2023 and is sprouting all sorts of new variants. a hybrid model was revealed a few months ago and now we have the details on the plug-in-hybrid model, which will go on sale in the u.s. in the third quarter of 2022. it will join the mitsubishi outlander, toyota rav4, and the closely related hyundai tucson in offering a plug-in option to compact-suv shoppers.
like the hybrid, the sportage phev is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four and an electric motor. but the plug-in version gets a more powerful electric motor and a bigger battery pack that's said to provide 32 miles of electric range on a full charge. kia won't say what the hybrid powertrain's total output is, but we reckon it's about the same as the tucson phev and the larger kia sorento phev, both of which make 261 hp. a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive put the sportage plug-in's power to the ground.
the sportage plug-in looks pretty much the same as other sportage models but does come standard with the x-line appearance package that adds a few rugged-looking visual elements. it will be available in two trim levels, with the more expensive x-line prestige adding equipment such as a premium audio system and additional driver-assistance features.
kia hasn't revealed pricing for the 2023 sportage yet, but we can assume that the plug-in hybrid will be the most expensive model in the lineup. it'll likely start in the mid-$30,000 range when it goes on sale in the u.s. later this year.