With a plug socket, 43 miles of pure-electric range and the lowest BIK tax rating in the range, is the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid taking charge against its rivals?…
On sale Now | Price from £38,395
With its late arrival to the range, the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has a lot to live up to. The family SUV has already been on a bit of a winning streak in What Car? road tests, with the hybrid model claiming victory over the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Kuga, and the entry-level petrol engine fending off the updated Mazda CX-5. No pressure, then.
Of course, Kia hasn’t exactly rewritten the family SUVs rulebook with the Sportage, but it’s a great all-rounder with a wide enough choice of engines to suit most people’s needs. You can have it as a petrol (with or without mild-hybrid assistance), a diesel and a hybrid, and now, at the top of the range, is this plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model.
Until recently, the diesel would have been the go-to choice for company car drivers, but the PHEV commands the lowest benefit-in-kind (BIK) car tax rate of any Sportage, at 8% for the 2022-23 tax year. It has an official electric-only range of 43 miles – longer than PHEV versions of the Ford Kuga (39 miles) and Hyundai Tucson (38 miles), which sit in the higher 12% BIK tax band.
The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is available in most trim levels, from GT-Line through to 3, 4 and GT-Line S. Kia expects fleet drivers to go for the small jump up in the P11D price and head for the top-spec model.
So, if this is the fastest, cleanest and most fuel economical Sportage on sale, and is also cheaper than rivals as a company car, is it time to form an orderly queue?
What’s it like to drive?
The Sportage PHEV produces 256bhp from its 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 7.9sec. Power is sent to all four wheels and a six-speed automatic is the only gearbox available.
Regardless of whether you drive in hybrid or full electric mode, there’s plenty of muscle in reserve for everyday driving. If you switch to full EV, you’ll be able to keep up with traffic at an adequate pace. It’s not quick, but you rarely struggle around town or in city traffic.
The Sportage doesn’t feel much different in Hybrid mode, with the engine only kicking in at the very last second when you pin the accelerator pedal to the floor.
Twisting the drive mode dial out of Eco and into Sport sharpens up the response of the accelerator pedal considerably, bringing out the best in both the petrol engine and the electric motor. The car’s performance is quick, especially in the middle of the rev range, and while there isn’t much reward for working the engine hard, you’re not punished with a harsh-sounding engine either.
Occasionally, there’s a brief pause between pressing the accelerator and the vehicle actually setting off from a standstill, so you still have to plan for those gaps in traffic when exiting junctions. Where the Sportage PHEV excels and feels the most effective is when you flow through a series of roundabouts, picking up from crawling speed to the national speed limit with a determined level of pace.
The Sport mode wouldn’t be our default option for every journey, though. While we welcome the sharper accelerator response, the sudden power delivery is almost too blunt. The more linear response in Eco mode makes it the smoothest way of making progress.
That also ties in well with the Sportage’s quiet interior. It remains a hushed companion, with only the faintest whine from the electric motor at low speeds and the petrol engine subtly waking up in the background. In Hybrid mode, you hardly notice the petrol engine and electric motor working in tandem.
All Sportage Plug-in Hybrid models come with 19in wheels, but road noise is kept to a minimum, with the tyres only generating a bit of rumble over scarred surfaces.
The ride is at the firmer end of the scale, but it successfully rounds off bumps with little noise or thumps in the process. Besides, the flipside of this is the tight body control that keeps the Sportage level and flat over undulating roads. Combined with the accurate and well-weighted steering, it makes the Sportage one of the best family SUVs at balancing comfort and handling.
What’s it like inside?
It’s a good game of ‘spot the difference’ inside the Sportage PHEV because the interior is almost identical to other versions. You get a button below the drive mode dial labelled HEV/PHEV to switch between Hybrid, full electric mode or Automatic (which makes the decision for you in the background).
The total number of miles the car thinks you’ll be able to cover based on the amount of petrol and battery charge available is shown by a gauge on the digital cockpit screen. You have to scroll through the trip computer to find out how far you can go on battery power or petrol individually.
If you like the sound of twin 12.3in infotainment screens, you’ll have to skip GT-Line and head for the 3 model. If you’re considering going for a higher-spec 4 or GT-Line S model, be aware that the standard-fit panoramic sunroof reduces headroom for taller passengers.
The PHEV Sportage has a smaller boot than the petrol models, but you still get 540 litres of space with the rear seats up. When you fold down the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat backrests, you get a big load bay with a 1,715-litre capacity.
Otherwise, the plug-in hybrid version is as spacious and comfortable as every other model in the range – you can read more in our full Kia Sportage review.
Keyword: 2022 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid review: price, specs and release date