2022 Kia Sportage PHEV to hit UK dealers in a few weeks

After unveiling the Euro-spec 2022 Kia Sportage in August 2021, Kia showcased the SUV at the Munich Motor Show (IAA 2021) in September 2021. The new model features radical changes, both inside and out, and it will be available in multiple hybrid variants. Kia announced on December 1, 2021, that the Kia Sportage PHEV will arrive at the dealerships in the UK by the end of Q1 2022. 

Take a look at what we know about the Kia Hybrid SUV.

Design

The Sportage is no more the bug-eyed SUV from yesterday. The ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy that Kia employs with its cars is at the core of the 2022 Sportage. The all-new Sportage is a bolder and muscular-looking SUV that commands attention on the streets. Kia has replaced the rounded headlamps with vertically arranged units and highlighted them with boomerang-shaped LED DRLs. The headlamps flank the modern interpretation of Kia’s ‘Tiger Nose’ grille in black.

Off to the side, you see a newer profile with a gently sloping roofline and a gently rising shoulder line. The strong wheel arches lend the Sportage a very grounded stance. The rear, however, has a plainer look with a roof spoiler, gently sloping windscreen, faux skid plate on the bumper, and wraparound tail lamps.

Platform

The new Sportage PHEV sits on the new N3 architecture. The UK-spec SUV measures 4,515 mm in length, 1,865 mm in width and 1,650 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,680 mm.

Interior

The interiors are a big step up. The overall look consists of rounded edges with sharp lines. Chrome accents highlight the door handles, AC vents and centre console, which have a piano black finish, and the ergonomic positioning of the buttons favours the driver.

Getting down to tech, the Sportage comes integrated with Kia Connect that makes sure the car is connected at all times and offers over-the-air software and map updates. This also brings in other features like Kia Live Services, online navigation, online voice recognition, and calendar integration from the smartphone. Users can connect to their car using the Kia Connect smartphone app allowing for remote control of the car. With just a tap on the smartphone, users can check to ensure the car is locked and windows are closed.

The interior offers 996 mm of legroom and 998 mm of headroom for rear passengers. The luggage capacity measures 591 litres, and with the rear seats folded down, it can expand up to 1,480 litres.

Features

The 2022 Kia Sportage PHEV comes with myriad tech and convenience features. This includes dual 12.3-inch displays for driver’s instrument cluster and infotainment system, Kia Connect features, wireless charging, panorama sunroof, Harmon Kardon premium audio system, 360-degree around view monitor, ambient lighting, artificial leather and suede upholstery, front ventilated seats, smart power tailgate, driver memory seat, 10-way driver’s and 8-way passenger’s power adjustable seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, heated steering wheel, smart cruise control with Stop & Go functionality and Highway Driving Assist, (DCT version only), rear privacy glass, Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA), Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), and many more.

Kia Sportage PHEV Powertrains

The plug-in hybrid variant (PHEV) of the 2022 Kia Sportage features a 1.6-litre T-GDI engine mated to a 66.9 kW permanent magnet traction motor and a 13.8 kWh battery pack. This PHEV setup provides 261 hp (265 PS) of total power. A 6-speed automatic transmission sends power to the wheels. Kia says that the capacity of the Sportage PHEV’s on-board charger is 7.2 kW and claims a leading power density of 1.53 kW/l and an efficiency of 95%.

The plug-in hybrid SUV will also come with the company idle-stop-and-go tech allowing the car’s engine to be switched off when at a standstill and restarted automatically at go. It works in conjunction with ADAS to look ahead for a stop sign or junction and deploy the ISG. This allows for the ISG to avoid unnecessarily switching off the engine.

The Sportage PHEV also comes with an additional Terrain mode drive setting. This is for those who want to pursue outdoor adventures and leisure activities. Terrain mode allows the car to select the best settings depending on the road conditions and environment. This ranges from snow and mud to sand. The other three drive modes include comfort, eco, and sport.

Safety

Kia says that it has reinforced the body of the new-generation Sportage and added several driver assistance systems to the DriveWise ADAS pack. The DriveWise suite now includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Highway Driving Assist (HDA) that adjusts distance and speed and keeps the SUV centred, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), and Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM). The car also gets a remote parking assist that allows the driver to park the car from the outside and a surround-view monitor.

Price & Release Date

The 2022 Kia Sportage PHEV will go on sale at the end of Q1 2022, confirms Kia UK. The OTR prices of the Kia Sportage PHEV start at £38,395. The variant-wise price list is shown in the table below. 

Kia Sportage PHEV Variant	Price (OTR)
‘GT-Line’ 1.6 T-GDi 6-speed auto PHEV AWD	£38,395
‘3’ 1.6 T-GDi 6-speed auto PHEV AWD	£39,595
‘4’ 1.6 T-GDi 6-speed auto PHEV AWD	£41,795
‘GT-Line S’ 1.6 T-GDi 6-speed auto PHEV AWD	£43,795

2022 Kia Sportage PHEV FAQs

Featured Image Source: Kia