The latest Kia Sportage has been in circulation for a while now—I’ve already taken it for a spin and shared my thoughts about it—however, the models that are currently on the roads do not feature plugs. On Wednesday, Kia finally disclosed the pricing for the plug-in hybrid version as it gets ready to hit the market. The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEVwill be priced starting at $39,785 after delivery, positioning it above the highest trims of the gasoline and hybrid editions, as anticipated. Unfortunately, there won’t be any federal assistance in the form of tax credits for the Sportage PHEV, whereas one of its rivals still qualifies for them.
The 2023 Sportage PHEV will come in just two trims compared to the three trims of the hybrid HEV and the seven trims of the ICE model, and it will only be available with all-wheel-drive. The premium X-Line Prestige trim will be priced at $44,285 and will include a variety of luxury features such as a power-adjustable seat for the passenger, a high-end Harman-Kardon sound system, front seats with cooling function, and a heated windshield and steering wheel. Most importantly, this trim will also incorporate Kia’s complete range of driver-assistance technologies.
The sub-$40,000 price tag of the Sportage undercuts the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime’s pricing, which is also not eligible for tax credits, but is higher when compared to the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the 2022 Ford Escape SE Plug-In Hybrid. Ford holds an advantage over all these options as it remains eligible for existing EV tax incentives.
Irrespective of the trim level chosen, the Sportage equipped with a plug boasts a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (similar to the setup found in the traditional hybrid variant). This powertrain is supplemented by a 66.9-kW motor and a 13.8-kWh battery pack. The configuration allows for an all-electric range of 34 miles, with Kia aiming for an overall fuel efficiency of 35 MPG and an electric driving mode efficiency of 84 MPGe, although official EPA figures are pending. Kia claims that the PHEV Sportage can be fully charged using a Level 2 240-volt charger in as little as two hours.
2022 Sportage PHEV / Kia
From my perspective, the appeal of the Sportage with a plug remains strong since its initial announcement. The pricing is competitive compared to other PHEV crossovers currently available, and the powertrain performed excellently in the base hybrid model, despite being less powerful. I anticipate the plug-in version to be equally impressive.
Correction: An earlier version of this article had inaccuracies regarding the figures provided by Kia. The electric motor output is 66.9 kW.