Similar to the internal combustion-only Sportage and the Sportage Hybrid, the plug-in version is pricier than before. According to Kia, the X-Line AWD opens the list with a sticker price of $39,490 (sans $1,325 for the destination charge). Last year, the 2023 model used to retail at $38,490 plus $1,295.
What do you get for this relatively small year-over-year difference? Similar to the hybrid, the plug-in hybrid now comes with seat-mounted airbags for the second-row occupants and projection-type LED headlights. Put simply, that's $1,030 well spent.
A C-segment crossover twinned with the Hyundai Tucson, the Sportage offers a combined fuel economy of 35 miles to the gallon. That means 6.7 liters per 100 kilometers in the metric system, whereas the lighter Sportage Hybrid returns up to 43 miles per gallon (5.4 liters per 100 kilometers).
The plug-in hybrid's pièce de résistance is – of course – its electric driving mode. In said mode, Kia estimates 34 miles (55 kilometers) on a full charge of the high-voltage battery. Total driving range is 430 miles (692 kilometers), which isn’t too shabby for a vehicle this heavy and for a fuel tank with a capacity of 11.1 gallons (42 liters) of regular unleaded.
Indeed, the 1.6-liter turbo inline-four engine hiding under the hood required 87 octane rather than the more expensive dinosaur juice. The direct-injected powerplant develops 177 horsepower and 195 pound-feet (264 Nm) of torque on its own. In combination with the plug-in system, the SAE net figures are 261 horsepower and 258 pound-feet (350 Nm).
Slightly punchier than the hybrid, the plug-in hybrid features a high-voltage battery with pouch-type cells and 13.8 kilowatt hours. By comparison, the Sportage Hybrid makes do with 1.49 kilowatt hours. That, in turn, explains the weight difference (226 pounds or 103 kilograms) between said battery packs.
Photo: Kia
Equipped with a torque-converter automatic instead of a continuously variable transmission, the 2024 Kia Sportage PHEV comes in two flavors. The aforementioned X-Line AWD is joined by the plusher X-Line Prestige, which is listed by the automaker's online configurator at $43,990. Prospective customers are presented with seven paint choices and a grand total of two interior themes.
Perforated and quilted SynTex seating surfaces in either Saturn Black or Sage Green can be matched with exterior paint colors ranging from Vesta Blue to Jungle Green, Fusion Black, Dawning Red, Snow White, Gravity Gray, and a matte-finish gray.
19-inch alloys come standard, along with a power sunshade panoramic sunroof, a smart power liftgate, X-Line styling cues, high utility roof rails, auto-sensing wipers, rear privacy glass, dual-zone auto climate control, 12-inch touchscreen infotainment, and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster to boot. Stepping up to the X-Line Prestige means 19-inch alloys, navigation and other goodies for the infotainment system, Surround View Monitor with 3D View, Remote Smart Parking Assist, front power seats with memory for the driver, heated and ventilated front seats, and premium audio.
The Sportage PHEV doesn't have all that many rivals, though. The most obvious come in the form of the Hyundai Tucson PHEV (starting at $38,475), Toyota RAV4 Prime (starting at $43,440), and Ford Escape PHEV (starting at $40,500). The Escape and RAV4 can do better in terms of electric range, with the RAV4 topping 42 miles (68 kilometers).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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