Following the recent reveal of its all-new Sportage SUV, Kia has now announced the Hybrid version in South Korea, and it also happens to be the most powerful model in the range, with combined system outputs of 169 kW and 350 N.m.
The Kia Sportage Hybrid is fitted with Kia’s familiar 1,6-litre direct injection turbopetrol engine, which produces 132 kW and 265 N.m, but in the case of the Hybrid model it’s paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox and an electric motor that produces 44 kW and 264 N.m. Kia claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 5,98 litres per 100 km for the new Hybrid model.
Sadly, the Kia Sportage Hybrid is only available in front-wheel drive format, probably in the interests of efficiency, but buyers can opt for unique, model-specific 17-inch and 18-inch wheel designs.
The new-generation Kia Sportage line-up is currently under consideration for South Africa and there is no word on whether the hybrid model will form part of the local range. A more likely contender, however, is the new 2-litre turbodiesel engine, which produces 137 kW and 416 N.m.
With overall length growing by 175 mm to 4 660 mm, the Kia Sportage is now among the largest vehicles in its class. Sitting atop a 2 755 mm wheelbase (up 85 mm), the cabin is said to offer class-leading legroom and luggage capacity – the latter totalling 637 litres with the seats in place.
As previously reported, the new Sportage also features a huge dual-screen infotainment and digital instrument system, housed in a slim, curved display. This includes a 12-inch central touchscreen as well as a 12-inch instrument cluster featuring the latest-generation full thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display graphics.