The 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid will arrive in Australia imminently, finally giving the Korean brand a rival to the hot-selling Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
For the first time, the Kia Sportage adopts hybrid power alongside its existing turbo-diesel and petrol offerings.
Available in both mid-range Sportage SX and flagship Sportage GT-Line guise, the two Sportage Hybrid variants are priced at $45,950 and $55,420 before on-road costs, respectively.
This means the Sportage SX is $3000 to $8400 more than its turbo-diesel and petrol counterparts respectively, while the GT-Line electrified option raises its price by $2500 over the diesel and $5500 above the petrol.
In the case of the Sportage SX Hybrid, it’s closely priced to a similarly equipped version of the best-selling Toyota RAV4, which starts from $45,810 before on-road costs in GXL 2WD guise – or $140 less than the Kia.
However, the Sportage GT-Line Hybrid comes at a $4010 premium compared to the front-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid, the most popular variant from the model’s lineup.
As previously reported, the Kia Sportage Hybrid misses out on an all-wheel drive system like its Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail e-Power rivals, instead delivering all of its power to the front wheels only.
The Kia Sportage Hybrid is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is mated to an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery and a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission – producing 169kW combined.
This is 9kW more than the RAV4 Hybrid 2WD, which uses a 2.5-litre non-turbo petrol engine alongside its electric motor.
Standard equipment from the Sportage petrol and turbo-diesel is expected to be carried across to the hybrid, with the SX coming complete with 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto).
Stepping up to the Sportage GT-Line Hybrid will add a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, heated and ventilated front leather seats, wireless phone charging, a panoramic sunroof and more.
Sportage GT-Line turbo-diesel
The Kia Sportage’s suite of standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot assist, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and speed sign recognition, among other features.
Kia Australia has previously said it expects to have better supply of the Sportage Hybrid than the electrified Sorento, however it might not be able to keep pace with the RAV4.
“We can confirm supply will be better than that of Sorento or Carnival [HEV]. But nowhere in the realm of RAV4 Hybrid,” said Roland Rivero, general manager for product planning at Kia Australia, last month.
Forecasted monthly sales are approximately 200 examples per month, equivalent to about 15 to 20 per cent of Kia Sportage demand.
Sportage GT-Line turbo-diesel
In contrast, hybrid models account for around 80 per cent of total RAV4 sales.
More official information about the Kia Sportage Hybrid – such as photos, specifications and options – will be released closer to the model’s launch in the coming weeks.
The new Sportage Hybrid will enter a growing mid-sized hybrid SUV segment that includes not only the aforementioned RAV4 Hybrid and X-Trail e-Power, but also the GWM Haval H6, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester hybrids.
The Sportage’s Hyundai Tucson platform-mate is also getting a hybrid option for Australia. It’s expected here mid-year.
Pricing
- 2024 Kia Sportage SX Hybrid: $45,950
- 2024 Kia Sportage GT-Line Hybrid: $55,420
The above prices exclude on-road costs.
Kia Sportage Hybrid drive-away pricing
| State/territory | Sportage SX Hybrid | Sportage GT-Line Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $50,552 | $60,496 |
| Victoria | $50,926 | $60,793 |
| Queensland | $50,210 | $59,964 |
| Western Australia | $51,630 | $61,995 |
| South Australia | $50,485 | $60,334 |
| Tasmania | $50,479 | $60,328 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $50,655 | $60,599 |
| Northern Territory | $50,260 | $59,961 |
MORE: Everything Kia Sportage
MORE: 2024 Kia Sportage price and specs
MORE: 2024 Kia Sportage review
