2024 Kia Sportage PHEV evaluate: stylish and sensible

While there’s a number of stress to shortly introduce all-electric variations of fashionable automobile varieties like pickup trucks and compact crossover SUVs, it’s typically simpler to try this with plug-in hybrids, because the transformation could be so simple as including a much bigger battery pack to a automobile that will have already been a hybrid.

That’s precisely what Kia did to create the Sportage PHEV. Short for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, the PHEV was launched as a part of the Sportage’s most up-to-date redesign for the 2023 model year. Like different Kia plug-in hybrids, it options an upsized battery pack and extra highly effective electrical motor, however has the identical fundamental structure as its hybrid counterpart.

One of the automaker’s longest-running nameplates, the Sportage has developed, together with the Kia model itself, from a joke to probably the greatest well-regarded names amongst new automobile consumers. The 2024 Kia Sportage PHEV continues that evolution by providing a plug-in hybrid choice to match different fashionable crossovers just like the Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota RAV4.

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV: design

With the current-generation Sportage, Kia took extra styling dangers than most rivals. Designers gave the Sportage an alien-looking face outlined by diamond-shaped headlights, boomerang-like daytime working lights, and a dual-level grille that properly camouflages how broad the entrance finish really is. Plug-in hybrid fashions put on all of those styling options; the one distinction between the PHEV and the hybrid and non-hybrid Sportage fashions is an additional opening for the cost port.

The remainder of the outside conveys the substantial really feel of a real SUV with out resorting to clichés of ruggedness just like the Toyota RAV4. The fenders are pulled out from the physique, which, together with skinny horizontal taillights, conveys a way of width. That combines with an SUV-appropriate experience peak and a reasonably lengthy wheelbase to offer the Sportage a shocking quantity of presence, in addition to good proportions.

Interior house is pretty near different variations of the Sportage, however the plug-in hybrid isn’t out there with the dual-level cargo flooring provided in non-hybrid and hybrid fashions. Its most 34.5 cubic toes of cargo house behind the rear seats and 65.5 cubic toes behind the entrance seats can also be a smidge lower than the Sportage hybrid, and appreciably lower than what you get in a non-hybrid Sportage. Because the plug-in hybrid can solely be ordered with a sunroof, it additionally successfully sacrifices a little bit of headroom. The Sportage PHEV remains to be aggressive with similar-sized plug-in hybrids, though the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV presents an occasional-use third row as effectively.

Our check automobile was an X-Line Prestige, the upper of two trim ranges out there with the plug-in hybrid powertrain. But the inside was a reminder that the Sportage remains to be on the decrease finish of the Kia SUV hierarchy. It had loads of cool particulars, together with a properly built-in curved dashboard display and air vents that referenced the form of the headlights. But the molded plastic door panel trim and equally plasticky faux wooden on the dashboard made for a bargain-basement really feel that contrasted with the premium look. And whereas there was certainly loads of house in each rows, the seats themselves proved uncomfortable for longer journeys.

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV: specs

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV: tech

All Sportage PHEV fashions have a 12.3-inch touchscreen, whereas the higher-level X-Line Prestige provides a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that blends with the touchscreen to kind one lengthy, curved show. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are normal, however wi-fi variations aren’t out there.

Aside from needing to maintain a USB cable helpful, it’s laborious to fault this infotainment system. Kia’s graphic design is each distinctive and intuitive, and the primary touchscreen may be very responsive. That’s essential, as Kia does require you to swipe throughout a number of screens’ value of icons for various capabilities, as a substitute of providing the tile-based interface some automakers have shifted to. A big wi-fi charging pad additionally retains telephones safe, though it’s laborious to get a cellphone to put flat whereas plugged in to be used with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

As with different latest Kia fashions, the row of knobs and contact controls under the primary touchscreen does double responsibility, switching between audio and local weather management capabilities. While this does make it potential to by accident crank up the quantity while you imply to regulate the temperature, the setup didn’t trigger any actual points in my expertise. It additionally contributes to the clear look of the dashboard.

Plug-in hybrids obtain the identical normal driver aids as different Sportage fashions, together with anticipated options like forward-collision warning and lane-keep help. Unlike some opponents, Kia doesn’t embrace adaptive cruise management as normal gear, though its non-obligatory system consists of stop-and-go performance that can deliver the automobile to an entire cease in site visitors and restart with out driver intervention. Also non-obligatory is Kia’s glorious blind-spot digital camera system, which shows digital camera pictures within the digital instrument cluster, and a 360-degree digital camera system with impressively crisp imagery that takes the guesswork out of parking maneuvers.

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV: driving expertise

Like the Sportage Hybrid, the Sportage PHEV has a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine beneath its hood that’s linked to a six-speed automated transmission with an built-in electrical motor. But that motor makes 89.7 horsepower, in comparison with 59.3 hp in the usual hybrid. The battery pack can also be larger, at 13.8 kilowatt-hours, up from the usual hybrid’s 1.4 kWh.

The larger pack supplies sufficient capability for significant electrical vary, whereas additionally necessitating the cost port that’s the plug-in hybrid’s defining characteristic. And the extra highly effective electrical motor contributes to a complete system output of 261 hp, which is 34 hp greater than the usual hybrid. Torque stays unchanged, nonetheless, at 258 pound-feet. So does the utmost towing capability of two,000 kilos.

Equipped with normal all-wheel drive, the Sportage PHEV had fast and drama-free acceleration off the road, making good use of its electrical motor’s immediately out there torque. The Kia didn’t really feel fairly as fast because the Toyota RAV4 Prime, which dials in a bit additional oomph to make consumers really feel higher about their plug-in hybrid buy. The transition between all-electric and hybrid mode additionally may have been smoother, because the Sportage appeared to bathroom a bit because the gasoline engine kicked on (switching to Sport mode helped easy this out a bit). The transmission’s shifts additionally appeared a bit rougher than within the Sportage Hybrid.

That wasn’t the one space the place the Sportage PHEV fell quick. While the usual hybrid may be very nice to drive, albeit not very thrilling, the PHEV is a chore. It took unusually lengthy for the plug-in hybrid to get settled after rounding a nook or going over a bump, that means the motive force and passengers will spend a number of time getting bounced round for no motive. And whereas most up-to-date Kia fashions characteristic glorious steering, the Sportage PHEV isn’t one in all them. Its helm is a throwback to the dangerous outdated days when most automakers couldn’t be bothered to offer their mainstream fashions exact steering.

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV: EV vary, charging, and fuel mileage

The Sportage PHEV manages as much as 34 miles of all-electric vary, which is a bit in need of the 42 miles provided by the Toyota RAV4 Prime, however in step with different opponents. It’s additionally simple to utilize that vary. The gasoline engine will activate beneath a heavy foot, nevertheless it’s not on a hair set off. The electrical motor additionally supplies sufficient energy to maintain the Sportage shifting at average speeds with out sluggish acceleration.

Kia mentioned a full recharge would take about two hours utilizing a 240-volt Level 2 AC charging station, and that proved correct regardless of utilizing a comparatively low-power station. That charging time, mixed with the Sportage’s 34 miles of vary, ought to make all-electric driving pretty achievable for every day commuters. The lack of DC quick charging will seemingly imply relying extra on the gasoline engine for highway journeys, however that’s additionally the case with most different plug-in hybrids.

The Sportage additionally will get cheap gasoline financial system in hybrid mode, at 35 mpg mixed. In combined driving, whereas ensuring to maintain the battery pack topped up, we noticed an indicated common of round 44 mpg after per week with the Sportage.

2024 Kia Sportage PHEV: How DT would configure this automobile

Kia solely presents the Sportage PHEV in X-Line and X-Line Prestige specs, however you’ll have to improve to the latter to get the total array of driver aids and the curved dashboard show. An upgraded Harman Kardon audio system is normal on the X-Line Prestige as effectively.

X-Line Prestige pricing begins at $45,485, or $4,500 greater than the bottom X-Line mannequin, which in flip is simply over $2,000 greater than the costliest Sportage Hybrid. That lower cost, together with higher driving dynamics, make the hybrid a more sensible choice total — particularly when you don’t have a house charging setup.

If a plug-in hybrid is a should, although, the Sportage PHEV is sensible within the context of its rivals. It prices about the identical because the mechanically equivalent Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid, and presents equally beneficiant guarantee protection. The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid has barely extra electrical vary, however is simply out there with front-wheel drive. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV impresses with EV-like driving dynamics, however its infotainment system falls in need of Kia’s.

But Kia buyers ought to significantly think about the Toyota RAV4 Prime. Set to be rebranded because the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid for the 2025 model year, it falls inside the identical worth vary because the Sportage PHEV, however presents extra electrical vary, a greater driving expertise, and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the Sportage PHEV has a number of good factors, the RAV4 performs the identical function higher.