The plug-in hybrid version of the all-new Kia Sportage Sport Utility Vehicle will arrive next month and have an EV range of more than forty miles.
Kia says the range of the “no compromise SUV” should allow most owners to complete their daily commutes on battery power only, with the on-board charger system capable of being replenished in one hour and 45 minutes when connected to a fast charger.
Visually identical to non-hybridised models, the PHEV blends a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine and a 90bhp electric motor that draws its energy from a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery that sits centrally between the two axles to ensure “a balanced weight distribution and an interior space that is practical, comfortable and versatile”.
That means a total of 261bhp and 258lb ft of torque for a 0-60mph time of 7.9 seconds and a 119mph top speed. Better still, Kia claims the Sportage PHEV achieves CO2 emissions of 25g/km, fuel economy of 252mpg and a benefit-in-kind tax rate of 8%. Power is marshalled by a 6-speed automatic transmission with this sent to the front wheels.
The four-cylinder engine has been designed “to ensure optimum fuel efficiency in all operating conditions”. Features include a new 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.
Given the positioning of the battery and e-motor, interior space is said to be largely unaffected. Therefore, second row passengers benefit from 955mm of legroom and 998mm of headroom, while luggage capacity with the rear seats in place is 540-litres.
The fifth-generation of the South Korean company’s Sportage is available in four trims – ‘GT-Line’, ‘3’, ‘4’ and ‘GT-Line S’ – ranging from £38,395 to £43,795.
Commenting on the upcoming Sportage PHEV, a Kia spokesperson said: “The no-compromise electrified SUV combines extensive electric-only mobility and exceptional fuel economy with unparalleled practicality and convenience.”
