2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid SUV

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid comes with only the X-Line and X-Line Prestigevariant. The car gets Power-adjustable exterior mirrors, Remote keyless entry, a 12.2-inch instrumentation display, LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, Dark tinted rear privacy glass, a 60/40-split folding, a reclining back seat, LED tail lights, an 8-inch touchscreen display. It is also expected to get LED fog lights, a heated windshield, a heated steering wheel, All-terrain tires, multi-terrain driving modes, and alloy pedal covers. There are plenty of driver assistance Lane departure mitigation, Lane-keeping systems, Driver attention warnings, Parking sensors, and Forward collision mitigation.

The Premium Package is available as an option for the Sportage Plug-in hybrid X-Line trim which is priced at $1,500. 

Premium Package includes

• LED interior lighting
• Smart power tailgate.
• Panoramic sunroof

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The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid comes in the X-Line variant which is priced at an MSRP of $44,402 and comes with several features such as LED fog lights, a heated windshield, a heated steering wheel, All-terrain tires. You can also add the Premium Package which is available as an option.

Release Date

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid has already been released.

The 2022 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid comes with a 1.6L turbocharged Inline 4 and Full Parallel Hybrid System that makes 261 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque that comes with a standard AWD. The standard transmission is a 6-speed automatic transmission. The electric motor is an AC Synchronous Permanent Magnet Motor which generates 89 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid battery voltage of the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in hybrid is 360 V. The EVSE 240V charging time is approximately 2 hours.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid offers the identical power and torque output as the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in-hybrid. It is less as compared to the Toyota RAV4 Prime but more Escape PHEV. The Sportage Plug-in-hybrid is slower to reach the 60 MPH mark as compared to the Tucson Plug-in hybrid Escape PHEV, and the RAV4 Prime. The Sportage plug-in hybrid also lags behind the Tucson Plug-in-hybrid, the Escape PHEV, and in terms of quarter-mile timing. 

2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid Ride and Handling

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid has a swift ride and handling capability with a plenty of features that enhance your overall experience. The plug-in hybrid slightly improves the lag in agile handling which was significant with the dull base powertrain. With an impressive AWD and a center-locking differential, the car stays composed even on uneven terrains. A multi-terrain driving mode is also available in case you plan to go out for off-roading.

2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid Braking Performance

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid comes with vented disc brakes on all four of its wheels. The brake pads of the SUV are expected to last about 45,000-65,000 miles. It comes with 12.6 in front brake rotors and 11.9 in rear brake rotors. The Kia Sportage Plug-in hybrid has a minor nosedive, which is impressive for a vehicle of such dimensions. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist, Hill Hold Control, and Electric Parking Brake are the additional braking features that come with the car. 

The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has larger front brake rotors as compared to the Toyota RAV4 Prime. The Sportage Plug-in-hybrid comes with the biggest rear wheel brake rotors. It's also heavier than the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 Prime, which may enhance the overall momentum while cruising. The car covers more distance while abruptly braking at 60 MPh to come to a halt. 

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid comes with a fuel economy of 35.6 MPG in a city, 35.1 MPG on a highway, and 35.3 MPG combined with its plug-in hybrid engine. To compare, the AWD powertrain on non-hybrid engines offers a fuel economy of 23 MPG in a city, and 28 MPG on a highway. It offers 25 MPG combined. The Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid comes with a 14.3-gallon fuel tank capacity. The range of travel is not available for the Sportage plug-in hybrid.

The Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid comes with better gas mileage as compared to the RAV4 Prime. Amongst the rivals, the fuel economy of the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid is not yet available. The fuel tank capacity of the Sportage Plug-in hybrid is smaller than the and the RAV4 Prime. The range of travel of the Sportage, Tucson, Escape PHEV, and RAV4 Prime is not yet available. 

The number of interior features available with the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid is astounding and it comes with impressive fit and finish. Aside from the Sportage Plug-in-hybrid base trim, all trims provide a plethora of interior features like heated front seats, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, wireless phone charging, and leather-wrapped steering wheels. The car gets a front headroom of 39.6 inches and gets a front legroom of 41.4 inches. The rear headroom and legroom are 39.4 inches and 41.4 inches respectively.

The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid 2023 has more front and rear legroom as compared to the Toyota RAV4 Prime. In fact, the Sportage plug-in Hybrid also outperforms all three of its competitors in terms of rear legroom. There is a superior design application in Toyota RAV4 Prime and comes with a hint of modern styling orientation to compete with the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in-hybrid. The Kia has a classy and utilitarian cabin that is without a doubt among the best in this segment.

Some of the key interior features available with the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid include:

• Heated front seats
• Power adjustable seats
• Wireless charging pad 
• Split folding rear seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid infotainment system?

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid infotainment system comes with loads of features and is user-friendly with its massive 12.3-inch curved touchscreen infotainment display. It also comes with essential features such as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, and wireless charging. The car gets what all the trims above SX gets in the regular lineup, and that is an 8-speaker Harman Kardon system and USB type C port. Optional navigation is also available. 

Some of the most notable infotainment features available with the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid include:

• SiriusXM satellite radio
• USB-C port
• Harman and Kardon Sound system
• Onboard navigation
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in hybrid comes with an appealing exterior with authoritative design. The front robust fascia comes with attractive LED headlights and a large grille. Other distinguishing outward styling include sharp shoulder lines, angular fenders, and taillights with notch forms, which set it different from the typical tiny crossover. The SUV measures 73.4 in broad, 63.5 inches tall, and has 8.3 inches of ground clearance.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is longer as compared to the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, Ford Escape PHEV, and Toyota RAV4 Prime. The Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid has the same ground clearance as the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in-hybrid and also has a longer wheelbase as compared to both the Escape PHEV and the RAV4 Prime. The Hyundai Tucson Plug-in-hybrid has an aggressive front face, but the Sportage Plug-in-hybrid has a futuristic modern external style. The RAV4 Prime is distinguished by its geometric style, which we believe is out of date.

Some standout exterior features include:

• Angular fenders
• Powered liftgate
• Panoramic sunroof
• LED tail lights
• 19-inch alloy wheels 
• LED headlights

The 2023 Sportage Plug-in-hybrid provides six airbags which includes dual front, front side, side curtain, driver's and front passenger’s knee airbag. There are a plethora of safety features available with hill start assists, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), driver attention warning, rearview camera, lane-keep assist, stability and traction control, lane departure warning, and rear park distance warning.The current edition of the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid has not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA. The IIHS gave the previous edition of the Sportage Good grades in all categories except headlights, reinforcing our faith in the crossover.

Some of the major safety features available with the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid include

• Traction control
• ABS
• Hill start assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Rearview camera
• Driver attention alert

2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid vs 2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in-hybrid 

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid is almost identical to its sibling Hyundai Tucson Plug-in hybrid, especially when it comes to its powertrain. As per the styling, we liked the design orientation of the Kia Sportage more as compared to the rival. The Sportage is also loaded with more features. The latter is more reliable in the market and offers a more subtle and balanced experience as compared to the rival.

2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid vs 2023 Ford Escape PHEV

While the specifications of the new Ford Escape PHEV and the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid make them fall under the segment, the Plug-in hybrid versions of the latter feel slightly superior. The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid drives swiftly, while the Escape PHEV excels in terms of practicality. Both cars offer a comfortable ride. Unless you want to go with the aggressive Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid by spending slightly more money, we recommend the 2023 Escape PHEV.

2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid vs 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid costs similarly as the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime. The Toyota RAV4 Prime produces significantly more power delivery than its Sportage, and it is not lacking in terms of torque delivery either. The RAV4 reaches the 60 MPH mark quicker than its rival. As a result, the RAV4 Prime is a better choice for long-term acceleration.

The new 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in-hybrid is a tech-loaded SUV with an impressive powertrain. The range of travel of this Sportage is a bit more than the regular Sportage. The cabin of the Sportage Plug-in hybrid is plush and was designed with a pragmatic approach. Moreover, the exterior design of the SUV also looks robust and aggressive which further adds cherry on the top. There are a number of safety features that help to protect the occupants in case of an unforeseen contingency. In our opinion, the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in hybrid is one of the best options, especially at this price point.