The fifth-gen Sportage draws its necessary juice from a lithium-polymer battery pack with a capacity of 13.8 kWh. Power is provided by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 1.6-liter displacement and 177 hp on tap. The combustion mill is teamed up with an electric motor good for 66.9 kilowatts and works together with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Joining the regular hybrid version, the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV will be available in either the X-Line or the X-Line Prestige trim levels. Both get offroad-inspired visual tweaks such as beefier front and rear bumpers featuring chrome accents. It rides on 19-inch alloys with a glossy black design complemented by the window surrounds, roof rack, and side mirror caps – all of which are also finished in glossy black.

Kia will sell the 2023 Sportage PHEV bundled with a 7.2 kW onboard charger, which will fully replenish the battery in around two hours provided you’ll be using a level 2 charger. As standard equipment, the electrified crossover boasts an Integrated Electronic Brake with regenerative braking said to be more efficient compared to segment rivals.

It’s worth pointing out the plug-in hybrid model gets all-wheel drive as standard, along with a plethora of safety kit. From Lane Following Assist and Forward Collision Avoidance to LED headlights (with high-beam assist) and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance, the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV is loaded with safety and driver assistance goodies.

Kia plans to have the Sportage PHEV on sale in the United States from Q3 2022, with pricing to be announced closer to its market launch. For reference, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid begins at $34,900 for the SEL trim and from $42,700 if you opt for the better-equipped Limited.

Source: Kia

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At the heart of the 2023 Sportage Hybrid is a turbocharged 1.6-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine working together with a 44-kilowatt electric motor and a small 1.49-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. With the power of the two combined, the total system output is a respectable 226 horsepower, delivered as standard to the front wheels or to an optional all-wheel-drive setup. In both instances, a six-speed automatic gearbox with a fancy rotary shifter channels the power to the road.

Bear in mind the most efficient version will be the FWD configuration since it’s slightly lighter than its AWD sibling. The latter is standard on the upper-spec EX and SX-Prestige trim levels and can be added at an extra cost on the base LX. Paddle shifters are standard, as are several selectable driver modes: Eco, Sport, Smart, and Snow.

While it looks nearly the same as the conventionally powered model, the 2023 Sportage Hybrid gets its own set of 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels along with “HEV” badging denoting it represents the electrified derivative. Kia says the crossover will tow as much as 2,000 pounds and will use an electro-hydraulic coupling with center-locking differential for the AWD version.

Even the entry-level LX gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration along with no fewer than nine driver-assistance systems, with much more available as optional features. Speaking of which, the dual 12.3-inch screen setup and Harman-Kardon sound system will also cost you extra, as will the 360-degree surround-view camera, and a wireless charging pad.

Following its public debut today in LA, the US-spec 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid will go on sale early next year and aims to cut CO2 emissions by almost 40% compared to its predecessor.

Source: Kia

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Meanwhile, Kia has shared a few teaser overly styled design sketches of the Euro-spec 2022 Sportage, which is expected to be slightly shorter than the international version. You can already tell it’s a smidge smaller since it lacks the fixed glass area located aft the rear pillar where there’s now a more sloped roofline for a sportier look.

This tells us the wheelbase and rear doors will be shorter, thus making it more compact than the global model. Just to get an idea of big the European Sportage will be, the international variant is 4660 mm (183.5 in) long and features a 2755 mm (108.5 in) wheelbase. Width and height should remain the same, at 1865 mm (73.4 in) and  1660 mm (65.4 in), respectively.

Other than that, the styling inside and out should be virtually identical. Kia remains tight-lipped about technical specifications, although it does confirm a plug-in hybrid powertrain will be available. It will pair a turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor good for 66.9 kilowatts and a lithium-ion polymer battery pack with a capacity of 13.8 kWh.

Chances are most of the hardware will be shared with the latest-generation Hyundai Tucson, which it too offers a PHEV option. The electrified setup is good for 265 horsepower and 350 Newton-meters (258 pound-feet) of torque in the Hyundai model, which aims to deliver 35 miles (56 kilometers) of electric range based on the WLTP cycle.

The new Sportage will share the spotlight at the upcoming auto show in Munich with the EV6, Kia’s very first dedicated electric vehicle. The zero-emissions crossover is already available to order in many important European markets, while the plug-in hybrid crossover is scheduled to go on sale before the end of 2021.

Source: Kia

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Some are probably surprised to see the fifth-generation Sportage looks nothing like its predecessor and features quirky headlights with a boomerang-shaped LED daytime running light. There aren’t any visible door handles in these teasers, but it’s only because Kia wanted to make the side profile look cleaner. The actual production model will have them and we’re tempted to believe the real vehicle won’t look as sleek as this.

The greenhouse has also been dramatically changed and it now features a wide quarter glass aft the rear doors. It could be a sign the 2022 Sportage has grown in size, especially judging by how big the rear fenders are. The back is home to fully redesigned taillights that meet in the middle courtesy of what may be a light bar as wide as the tailgate.

Stepping inside the cabin, the first thing you will notice is going to be the vast digital screen that looks like a one-piece setup, but it likely consists of dual displays in the same vein as the EV6 electric crossover. The air vents flanking the ultra-wide display have a unique shape, while the visible switchgear is once again similar to what you’ll find in Kia’s zero-emissions SUV.

Details about the powertrains have not been disclosed, but we’re expecting the electrified units to be largely carried over from the Tucson. Hyundai’s compact crossover is offered with a turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline engine equipped with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology and it delivers either 150 or 180 horsepower. It can be had with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic and buyers get to pick from two- or four-wheel drive.

A full hybrid based around a 1.6-liter turbo engine pushes out 230 hp and works with a six-speed automatic transmission, a 44.2-kW electric motor, a 1.49-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, and a 4×2 or 4×4 layout. The Hyundai Tucson is also available as a plug-in hybrid to serve as the most powerful version by offering a solid 265 hp.

In some parts of the world such as Europe, Kia will likely offer a 1.6-liter diesel engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which in the case of the Tucson delivers 136 hp and is linked to a seven-speed, dual-clutch auto with either two- or four-wheel drive.

The world premiere is scheduled to take place on June 8, with sales of the 2022 Kia Sportage (codenamed NQ5) likely starting before the end of the year.

Source: Kia

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