The new Kia Sportage Hybrid has broken cover overseas and looks set to join the Australian line-up in 2022, some months after the fifth-generation mid-size SUV range launches here later this year.
“We are keen to bring in the hybrid, however right-hand-drive production out of South Korea is not yet confirmed,” a spokesperson told carsales.
“If it is confirmed, it will arrive later than the petrol and diesel models scheduled for quarter four this year.”
Kia Australia is pulling out all stops to get hold of the hybrid version of the new 2021 Kia Sportage, which will hand it a rival for the top-selling Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
Given that the first official details were released on Kia’s public website in South Korea, it’s almost certain the hybrid will be built in Korea, which should in turn guarantee its Australian introduction, although launch timing will depend on early demand in its home market.
This is different to the situation faced by Hyundai Australia and the related new-generation Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, which is currently built in Europe and won’t be heading Down Under in the near-term.
The Kia Sportage Hybrid gets the same powertrain as the petrol-electric Tucson, which marries a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine (132kW/265Nm) with an electric motor (44kW/264Nm) for a combined output of 169kW/350Nm.
Korean-market specifications show the greener Sportage, which uses a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, will have a combined-cycle fuel economy figure of 5.9L/100km.
By comparison, the Australian-spec Toyota RAV4 Hybrid appears to be more economical with a 4.8L/100km local rating.
The bigger, more advanced fifth-generation Kia Sportage is set to arrive in Australia from around November this year, powered by a choice of two petrol engines and a diesel.
The new model ushers in the brand’s new design language and features a high-tech cabin layout with a huge touch-screen and digital dashboard.
The hybrid version has its own economy-related menu items as part of the infotainment system, while on the outside it’s differentiated by HEV badges and unique alloy wheels.
Expect the Sportage Hybrid to be offered at a premium of $2500-$3000 over regular models, as per rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Subaru Forester e-Boxer.
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version will also be offered with the new Sportage overseas as a rival for the MG HS PHEV and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
However, Kia Australia’s spokesperson said: “We are not considering PHEV at this stage.”