2023
Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

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$43,190
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New 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • X-Line AWD
    Starts at
    $38,690
    34 mi.
    Range
    5
    Seat capacity
    120 month/100,000 miles
    Warranty
    Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric I-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • X-Line Prestige AWD
    Starts at
    $43,190
    34 mi.
    Range
    5
    Seat capacity
    120 month/100,000 miles
    Warranty
    Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric I-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

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Expert 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid review

18408 2023 Sportage PHEV jpg
Our expert's take
By Jennifer Geiger
Full article
18408 2023 Sportage PHEV jpg

Kia redesigned its Sportage compact SUV for 2023, and the new model added a lot of size, not to mention power and features. The fifth-generation Sportage also welcomed a hybrid variant to the lineup, but that’s not the end of its powertrain updates: Kia announced today that a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will also join the lineup for 2023.

Related: 2023 Kia Sportage Revealed With More Room, More Power, More Style

Powertrain and Electric Range

Power comes from a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine good for 177 horsepower. It pairs with a 66.9-kilowatt electric motor that draws juice from a 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-polymer battery. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is all-wheel drive. Kia expects the Sportage PHEV to have an all-electric range of 32 miles, but published EPA range and fuel economy estimates are pending.

The Sportage PHEV is equipped with a 7.2-kW high-efficiency onboard charger, and Kia says it’ll take the SUV around two hours to charge via a Level 2 charger.

The plug-in model joins the regular Sportage, which uses a 187-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission in front-wheel drive or AWD. It also joins the Sportage Hybrid, which pairs a turbo 1.6-liter four-cylinder with a 44-kW electric motor and much smaller (1.49-kWh) battery for a total system output of 226 hp. Kia estimates the 2023 Sportage Hybrid will achieve up to 39 mpg and have more than 500 miles of total driving range.

Outside, the plug-in blends in with the rest of the new Sportage lineup and has the same upgraded safety, technology and convenience features as the redesigned 2023 model. The plug-in comes in just two trim levels, however: X-Line PHEV AWD and X-Line Prestige PHEV AWD.

Price and Release Date

Kia says the plug-in hybrid will go on sale toward the end of 2022 and starts at $39,785.

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Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

News Editor
Jennifer Geiger

News Editor Jennifer Geiger joined the automotive industry in 2003, much to the delight of her Corvette-obsessed dad. Jennifer is an expert reviewer, certified car-seat technician and mom of three. She wears a lot of hats — many of them while driving a minivan.

2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid review: Our expert's take
By Jennifer Geiger

Kia redesigned its Sportage compact SUV for 2023, and the new model added a lot of size, not to mention power and features. The fifth-generation Sportage also welcomed a hybrid variant to the lineup, but that’s not the end of its powertrain updates: Kia announced today that a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will also join the lineup for 2023.

Related: 2023 Kia Sportage Revealed With More Room, More Power, More Style

Powertrain and Electric Range

Power comes from a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine good for 177 horsepower. It pairs with a 66.9-kilowatt electric motor that draws juice from a 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-polymer battery. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is all-wheel drive. Kia expects the Sportage PHEV to have an all-electric range of 32 miles, but published EPA range and fuel economy estimates are pending.

The Sportage PHEV is equipped with a 7.2-kW high-efficiency onboard charger, and Kia says it’ll take the SUV around two hours to charge via a Level 2 charger.

The plug-in model joins the regular Sportage, which uses a 187-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission in front-wheel drive or AWD. It also joins the Sportage Hybrid, which pairs a turbo 1.6-liter four-cylinder with a 44-kW electric motor and much smaller (1.49-kWh) battery for a total system output of 226 hp. Kia estimates the 2023 Sportage Hybrid will achieve up to 39 mpg and have more than 500 miles of total driving range.

Outside, the plug-in blends in with the rest of the new Sportage lineup and has the same upgraded safety, technology and convenience features as the redesigned 2023 model. The plug-in comes in just two trim levels, however: X-Line PHEV AWD and X-Line Prestige PHEV AWD.

Price and Release Date

Kia says the plug-in hybrid will go on sale toward the end of 2022 and starts at $39,785.

More From Cars.com:

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Available cars near you

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Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
5 years / 60,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
10 years / 100,000 miles
Battery
10 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
5 years / 60,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
6 years or newer / less than 80,000 miles
Basic
12 months / 12,000 miles
Dealer certification
165-point inspection
See all CPO program details

Compare similar vehicles

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  • 2023
    4.5
    Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid
    Starts at
    $38,690
    34 mi.
    Range
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    Seat capacity
    120 month/100,000 miles
    Warranty
    Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric I-4
    Engine
    All-wheel drive
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  • 2024
    Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid
    Starts at
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    34 mi.
    Range
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    Seat capacity
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    Warranty
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  • 2023
    4.0
    Hyundai TUCSON Hybrid
    Starts at
    $31,350
    38 City / 38 Hwy
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  • 2024
    4.5
    Kia Sportage Hybrid
    Starts at
    $28,590
    42 City / 44 Hwy
    MPG
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    Seat capacity
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    Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric I-4
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  • 2025
    Hyundai TUCSON Plug-In Hybrid
    Starts at
    $39,730
    33 mi.
    Range
    5
    Seat capacity
    120 month/100,000 miles
    Warranty
    Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric I-4
    Engine
    All-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
    Compare
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Consumer reviews

100% of drivers recommend this car
4.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 5.0
Interior 4.5
Performance 4.5
Value 3.5
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 4.5

Most recent

By Paul from Piedmont, NC
Owns this car
July 7, 2023

Perfect Plug-In For Short Commutes or Long Drives

I have close to 3,000 miles after 2 months on the X-Line Prestige trim. My previous vehicle was a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, so I wanted a vehicle that would allow me to get through some less-than-ideal roads to trailheads on the weekends, with a combination of ground clearance and AWD when needed, as well as use minimal gas (if any) on my daily commutes to the office. The vehicle handles similar to the Crosstrek, in that it is comfortable to ride in, but it does have a little more "sway" and "bounce" in the suspension when going around curves. The engine has similar pickup, even with the electric engine assist. In EV mode, it definitely does not have the aggressive acceleration that the Chevrolet Bolt has. It is fast enough to not be a merging danger on highways, but definitely feels soft. If you are in hybrid mode with the engine running, you can feel a more immediate response when pushing on the accelerator. The technology is well ahead of anything I have been involved with. The Crosstrek had eyesight safety technology, but the Sportage has much more, including very helpful blind-spot cameras. The adaptive cruise control is as good as the Crosstrek, although there is an annoying delay between when you lift your foot off the accelerator and when the vehicle takes over the acceleration. The speed drops several MPH and then picks back up, causing a rubber-band bounce feel. Unlike the Crosstrek though, the spacing between vehicles is consistent and excellent. There is so much technology that it can be initially overwhelming, so it is best to learn it as you drive over the course of a week or three. The odd choice that Kia made as to where to put the data port for your mobile is a bit annoying. There is one data port and the rest of charge-only ports, two of which are USB-C ports built into the side of the front seats, which are convenient for both front and back seat passengers. Since I use Android Auto always when driving, you have to get a very short cable to plug in to your mobile device, or it won't sit flat in the compartment. A better setup would have been built-in wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, which would allow you want lay your phone unimpeded on the charging pad that is built right under the data port. The EV-only mode has been consistently getting me around 34 miles, just enough to get me to my office parking garage where I can recharge it fully during the day. If I only use it for commuting I could basically never use the gasoline up in the tank. When you are in hybrid mode on a fast highway, don't expect to get much more than 34-36 MPG, because the vehicle is heavy riding on 19" tires. If you keep it at 60 or below, you will see the MPG shoot much higher up into the 50s. I keep it in Eco mode all the time. I did pay the extra $500 for the matte paint which makes the vehicle look great and unique, but you do have to take special precautions with it when washing the car, otherwise you it will show every nick and scrape.
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 4.0
Performance 4.0
Value 3.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
18 people out of 18 found this review helpful. Did you?
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By Baloo from Dallas, TX
Owns this car
March 27, 2023

Love new Sportage PHEV Prestige

Purchased a Kia Sportage Prestige Plug-In in Jungle Green with Black interior. We have had it for 3 weeks and about 600 miles on it. We are in love with the car, it is very comfortable and rides very well. I believe that the battery weight adds to the handling and ride; it feels very solid on the road. A few wishes, but no real complaints would be more display options (more gauges, colors, etc) and the Harmon Kardon "premium" audio is just ok; not really a premium system. We got the top trim and I think it's worth it for the "small" stuff; but I do think that Kia should offer more at the base trim (seat memory, display, etc). Kia company needs a lot of improvement. We waited 8 months for our order and we still didn't get what we wanted (wanted light interior) and no communication to dealer about expected delivery date. If you are ordering you will need to learn patience.
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 4.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 4.0
15 people out of 16 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Kia dealers near you

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid?

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid is available in 2 trim levels:

  • X-Line (1 style)
  • X-Line Prestige (1 style)

What is the electric range of the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid?

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid can travel 34 electric-only miles before the gas engine kicks on.

EPA-estimated range is the distance, or predicted distance, a new plug-in vehicle will travel on electric power before its battery charge is exhausted. Actual range will vary depending on driving conditions, trim level, driving habits, elevation changes, weather, accessory usage (lights, climate control), vehicle condition and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid?

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid reliable?

The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid has an average reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid owners.

Is the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
  • Comfort: 5.0
  • Interior: 4.5
  • Performance: 4.5
  • Value: 3.5
  • Exterior: 5.0
  • Reliability: 4.5

Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid history

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