Kia Sportage plug-in hybrid (2022): the high-tech SUV on trial

The new Kia Sportage arrived a few months after its technical cousin Hyundai Tucson, which found success in our market and has been offering its plug-in hybrid version since last summer. The 2022 Sportage flaunts its own aesthetic character, sports the new Kia logo and marks a new era for the automaker, which is picking up the pace in terms of design and presentation quality. Designed for the European market, the Sportage is manufactured in the brand’s Slovakian factory.

Its plug-in hybrid version does not stand out at first glance from the rest of the range (petrol and diesel micro-hybrid or full hybrid) with its front end marked by boomerang daytime running lights, its large honeycomb grille and its particularly sculpted lines. This strong design is in harmony with a very high-tech interior, which benefits from a good presentation quality and two perfectly integrated 12.3-inch screens (from the mid-range).

Unsurprisingly, the Sportage uses the Kia-Hyundai group’s rechargeable hybrid package, with a combined power of 265 hp for a total torque of 350 Nm. Small technical originality: the Sportage PHEV offers true all-wheel drive, which is an advantage for users accustomed to difficult grip conditions, with snow, mud or sand modes and automatic downhill speed control. But this is not without impact on the total mass of the car, which amounts to 1,905 kg, some 250 kg more than the simple hybrid 4 x 2 version. The towing capacity is 1,350 kg for this vehicle.

Price Kia Sportage plug-in hybrid

The plug-in hybrid Sportage is offered in three trim levels, with very complete equipment from the base model. So for €43,290, this definition stands out by immediately offering 19-inch rims, adaptive cruise control and the complete infotainment system including navigation. The 7.2 kW on-board charger is standard, but you will have to order the T2 cable (€237) as an accessory to connect to a public terminal, while the Kia Charge Easy card is delivered with the car (€0.49 per recharge). The cable for domestic socket is supplied as standard, and Kia offers the installation of a reinforced socket at 515 € including tax.

For an additional €3,200, the Design finish has the advantage of integrating the more flattering 12.3-inch instrumentation screen, as well as heated and electric seats. It is still necessary to add 3,800 € to be entitled to our test version in GT-Line Premium, only to be able to access the contrasting black roof option. It includes the electric tailgate, the panoramic sunroof and certain safety elements such as the very clever blind spot vision system using side cameras when you are about to change lanes. The 360° vision, useful for such an SUV, is standard at the top of the range. Finally, Kia retains the advantage of its beautiful 7 year or 150,000 km warranty to reassure buyers.

Driving

Despite a very generous announced power of 265 horsepower, no sporting pretension is on the menu of this plug-in hybrid Sportage. Even in Sport mode, the accelerations are far from breathtaking, with a 0 to 100 km/h reached in 8.2 s. The performance remains sufficient to increase the pace, but that is not its vocation. No controlled suspension on the program here, the fairly flexible damping ensuring a level of comfort well in line with the family claims of this model.

Weighed down by its weight, the Sportage is better suited to a smooth ride, benefiting from a very serene behavior, correct handling and a measured noise level. Moreover, the discretion of the powertrain will require keeping an eye on the instrumentation to see what energy is used because, even in EV mode supposed to force all-electric operation, a little pronounced action on the accelerator pedal can trigger the start of the combustion engine. Too bad there isn’t at least a notch in pedal travel, kickdown style, to help the driver stay in zero-emissions mode.

In electric, no accelerations that stick to the seat or strong regeneration when lifting the foot. Moreover, the energy recovery force is not adjustable either by paddles or by a “B” mode of the gearbox. Too bad, but that does not detract from the efficiency of the car. We managed to cover 67 km on one charge in very quiet driving on the road, which is close to the 70 km announced. A good point. Another advantage, the 7.2 kW on-board charger allows you to go from 10 to 100% capacity in just 1 hour 45 minutes on a terminal with sufficient power. Enough to maximize driving in 100% electric.

The HEV mode preserves the battery in anticipation of a future passage in urban areas, but it is up to the driver to plan it. Indeed, there is no functionality related to the GPS navigation route capable of automatically planning energy management to conserve battery capacity, as with some competitors. It is finally the Auto mode which is the real classic hybrid mode. When the electric range is reduced to zero, there is about 15% battery left to ensure low-speed evolutions without waking up the thermal block and supporting restarts with the torque of the electric motor.

On the consumption side, the result was mixed. We recorded flow rates of between 4 l/100 km on the road at a very leisurely pace, battery charged, and 5.5 l/100 km once empty. But we can come close to 10 l/100 km in Sport mode and more sustained driving. The total autonomy will then be limited by the small tank of 42 l. Driving aids are effective for semi-autonomous driving. We simply regret the absence of a capacitive steering wheel, which is more sensitive to detect the essential presence of the driver’s hands. The lane keeping assistant, quickly annoying with its shrill beep, is fortunately easy to disengage with a long press on a button on the steering wheel.

On board

Competetion

With this model located at the heart of the C-segment SUV market (21% today), Kia ticks the right boxes in the face of competition that is, to say the least, supplied. Its Sportage starts at roughly the same price level as the Hyundai Tucson, which also has a strong design and very generous equipment. But it will above all have to reckon with the French stars of the market, Peugeot 3008 in the lead, whose 225 hp plug-in hybrid version starts at €45,000 with more limited equipment. The entry ticket for the 300 hp version, with four-wheel drive thanks to the second engine located at the rear, is located at €52,200.

More affordable, the Citroën C5 Aircross starts its plug-in hybrid range at €40,950 but, like the Peugeot, its range in pure electric mode is more limited, with just over 50 km. We should also mention the Ford Kuga, whose on-board charger offers a lower capacity, as does the Volkswagen Tiguan. Finally, the Toyota RAV4 offers one of the greatest electric ranges in the segment for a slightly higher price (€48,500) than that of its Korean rival.

Find the results of the test, the prices, the equipment and the technical sheet on the next page…