The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid vehicle (PHEV) combines the advantages of a gas-powered vehicle with a hybrid’s fuel savings and zero emissions of an electric. It does so by combing a 1.6-liter turbocharged gas engine with a 13.8-kWh battery and electric motor, allowing it to travel up to 34 miles solely on electric power before the gas engine takes over.
The Sportage PHEV, with 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, poses a direct challenge to the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Ford Escape PHEV, neither of which can match the Sportage’s high-tech interior or feature set.
Sportage Plug-in Hybrid X-Line
Starts at $38,690 | See listings
- AWD with locking center differential
- X-Line styling and Syntex upholstery
- Power driver’s seat/heated front seats
- Panoramic sunroof
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Smart power tailgate
- High-beam assist
- 12.2-inch digital instrument display
- 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/SiriusXM
- 6-speaker audio
- Wireless smartphone charger
- Forward Collision Avoidance
- Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance
- See more
Sportage Plug-in Hybrid X-Line Prestige
Starts at $43,190 | See listings
- AWD with locking center differential
- X-Line styling and Syntex upholstery
- 12.3-inch digital instrument panel
- 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio
- Power front passenger seat
- Heated steering wheel/windshield
- LED projector headlights
- LED fog lights
- Junction Turning Detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Remote Smart Parking Assist
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2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line: $38,690
The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line starts at $38,690.
The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line offers most of the amenities customers expect at this price point and then tosses in a few surprises certain to delight buyers and upset the competition.
Along with its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and hybrid-electric powertrain, the Sportage PHEV includes a 6-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Kia’s Drive Mode Select allows adjustable throttle and transmission settings with Eco, Sport, Smart, and Snow modes.
Kia’s Tiger Nose grille dominates the Sportage PHEV’s expressive exterior, flanked on either side by LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs). Around the back, LED taillights and a hidden wiper complement a height-adjustable Smart power rear liftgate. Accessing the X-Line is accomplished via a Smart Key key fob that allows unlocking the doors and activating the push-button start simply by having the fob in your pocket or purse.
Also standard are heated side mirrors, a panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, black raised roof rails, a rear deck spoiler, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Rounding out the exterior features is intermittent wipers, silver front and rear skid plates, and numerous trim pieces in either gloss or matte black finish.
Due to the battery packs occupying much of the cargo space, a tire mobility kit replaces the compact spare tire.
Required safety features include full airbag coverage for the front, front side-impact, and full-length side curtain protection, as well as a tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes, plus traction and stability control. A rear backup camera is also standard.
Kia adds forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking to the required safety systems with pedestrian and cyclist detection, a blind-spot monitor, automatic high-beam headlights, and rear parking sensors.
Keeping the Sportage PHEV on its intended course are lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist, as well as lane tracing that steers the car by following the lane markers. A driver attention monitor analyzes the driver’s attention to the road and warns if a break is needed. In contrast, Kia’s Safe Exit system warns of approaching vehicles when passengers exit the car.
The Sportage PHEV X-Line is every bit as futuristic and stylish inside as out, with a high-tech 12.2-inch LCD digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch TFT infotainment touch screen. Below the infotainment screen are haptic touch controls for the dual-zone automatic climate controls combined with physical temperature control knobs.
Other notable interior features include a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with paddle shifters and controls for audio and cruise control, extendable sun visors with lighted vanity mirrors, one-touch up/down front power windows, and LED overhead lighting.
The X-Line features a 10-way power driver’s seat with 2-way power lumbar support, rear-seat vents, and 60/40 fold and recline rear seats. Heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are standard, as is synthetic leather upholstery for the seats and door panels. Up front, you’ll find a 12-volt outlet and one USB C port, with two additional USB C ports in the rear and another 12-volt outlet in the cargo bay.
The X-Line’s infotainment system consists of a 6-speaker radio with integrated modem, HD radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth streaming, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. Unexpected extras on the entry-level X-line include built-in GPS navigation and a wireless charging pad.
The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line has a starting price of $40,015 after adding the $1,325 destination fee. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect the monthly payment to be around $755. See 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line models for sale near you
2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line includes:
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – Allows seamless integration with the car’s infotainment system, giving it access to your smartphone’s apps, maps, music, and messages.
Wireless charging pad – Allows wireless charging of a compatible smartphone.
Panoramic sunroof – The dual-pane design features a front section that can open or vent, like a traditional sunroof, or be closed to create a vast overhead glass roof.
Robust set of driver assists – Standard driver assists help keep the Sportage PHEV on the road, alert you to potential hazards, and even prevent an accident from occurring.
2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige: $43,190
The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige starts at $43,190.
The X-Line Prestige employs the same powertrain and AWD layout as the X-Line, but with more tech and luxury features.
Building off the X-Line’s equipment, the Prestige combines a larger 12.3-inch instrument cluster with the infotainment screen to form an expansive 25-inch panoramic curved screen. The driver’s seat gets 2-position memory, while an 8-way power passenger seat replaces the base model’s manual seat.
Other upgrades include a heated leather steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with a center speaker and a powered subwoofer.
The Prestige gains LED projection headlights, LED fog light, and LED rear combination lights, as well as a heated windshield, heated washer nozzles, and a solar glass windshield.
The Prestige adds to the X-Line’s equipment on the safety front with a blind-spot monitor, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go. Forward collision avoidance with junction turning warns when making a left turn into oncoming traffic is unsafe. Front and rear parking sensors help avoid bumping into a stationary object that might be out of view, while rear cross-traffic alert and braking can apply the brakes if sensing rear-end collision is imminent.
Another perk is Kia’s Highway Driving Assistant. It works in conjunction with the navigation, adjusting the car’s speed to the federally posted limits. Smart Cruise Control-Curve uses the navigation system to anticipate upcoming curves and slow the vehicle accordingly.
The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige is priced at $44,515 when including the $1,325 destination. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect the monthly payment to be about $840. See 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige models for sale near you
2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige includes:
Heated and ventilated front seats – Help keep occupants warm in winter and perspiration-free in the summer.
Harmon Kardon audio – This 8-speaker system is a must for music lovers, with a dedicated center speaker and a powered subwoofer.
Blind-spot monitor – When activating the turn signal, the BSM shows live video of the adjacent lane.
Heated windshield and washer nozzles – Keeps ice from forming on the wiper blades and freezing over the wiper nozzles.
