It's impressive, really, until you open a calculator...
At the top of the Kia Sportage range is the plug-in version.
With an equipment list of comfort, safety, power and the possibility to cover tens of kilometers with electric power, you will just have to overcome the price tag
Kenan Cohen
31/07/2022
Sunday, July 31, 2022, 01:31 Updated: 01:45
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When the design department is given a free hand, it produces great things in Kia (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
If there is a controversial issue in the field of car propulsion today - it has to be plug-in propulsion.
These cars that take the hybrid drive and attach a larger battery to it, with external charging capability, thus allowing them to drive pollutant-free for several tens of kilometers, divide the world into those who think it's the worst of both worlds (both gasoline for its shortcomings and electricity for its limitations), And among those who think that it is the best of both (both a greater range than the gasoline engine and an electric drive). This test, it should be noted already - is not going to decide this question.
Are plug-in cars currently the right solution for everyone?
Absolutely not, this car hasn't been invented yet, but plug-in cars have a different role in the meantime - for quite a few people, it's a realistic and logical solution for electric driving on daily trips with the possibility of flexibility on their long trips.
A temporary solution until the time comes to make the transition to an electric car, when these will reach the next stage, of driving ranges and charging speed that will be comparable to gasoline cars.
Plug-in, the best of both worlds or the disadvantages of both? (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
The subject of this test is a Kia Sportage Plug-in.
The plug-in hybrid drive version of Kia's Jeep which we have already met and known.
The exterior design stands out and it's great to finally let the guys at Kia go wild, in the unique green of the test car and in the right lighting its folds and curves stand out even more.
The fact that the country has not yet mowed down the taxation of plug-in hybrids, the outlet allows it to be loaded with many accessories, and the plug-in that comes with the GT Line trim level is indeed loaded with everything good.
Heated, ventilated and electric leather seats, a 12.3-inch dashboard and a multimedia system of the same size with connectivity to Android, Apple and built-in WAZE, an electric trunk door, adaptive Matrix-LED lighting, a panoramic roof and more.
In addition, the entire battery of advanced safety systems that are used plus small bonuses such as a system to prevent lane departure when a vehicle is detected in a "dead zone" and more.
The space in front is very good, it is easy to get into a driving position quickly, the visibility outside is affected by the thick front beams.
The appearance in the cabin is clean, the combinations of colors and textures even make it possible to call it somewhat luxurious.
The quality of the materials is good and would also have received a very good score if it weren't for some hard-to-touch plastics creeping into the lower part of the cabin, reminding us that this vehicle was not really born in its price range.
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Spacious and well-equipped passenger cabin (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
The human engineering gets compliments, its operation is very simple and it is very easy to get used to it.
Take for example Kia's crackdown on the dilemma between physical controls and the desire to reduce them.
They did it with a dual control panel, at the push of a button it switches the controls from the climate control to the audio system.
What's more, since these are still touch buttons, they require precise positioning of the finger and therefore also looking away.
Oh, and one more thing, its big screen will require short drivers to lean forward to reach its far corner - rich people's trouble.
The space in the rear seats is excellent in all directions, and the smart solutions here will make life comfortable for passengers.
Separate air conditioning ports, USB C sockets in the backrests, a hanging hook and a hanging rack on the back of the headrests that can also be used to place the smartphone.
In the trunk you pay the price of the paddle, it's not the volume reduction to 540 liters that bothers like the loss of the spare wheel.
In addition, its key is wide and easy to load, there are hanging hooks, anchoring rings and a 12V socket.
Crack the story of control with physical controls and touch buttons (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
The same 1.6 liter turbo engine from Kia-Hyundai is not responsible for driving the flagship, but this is where the similarity to the turbo gasoline versions ends.
In this version, it connects to an electric motor that adds to its 180 horses more power to a combined 265 hp and 35.7 kg.
Together they go to all four wheels through a planetary automatic transmission (double clutch in the gasoline versions).
With a charged battery its performance is excellent, the power delivery is immediate and smooth, the dual drive puts every horse on the road and the immediacy makes it feel like the actual acceleration is faster than the claimed 8.2 seconds.
After charging the battery we go for a drive to test its electric range - where in regular use without too many attempts to conduct ourselves optimally we covered only about 54 electric kilometers. This is more or less the "standard" for these cars, but come on, it's really , but definitely not the declared 70 km of Kia.
Excellent space and useful solutions for those sitting in the back (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
In everyday driving in the hybrid mode, this is one of the best plug-in units I've met outside of the luxury world
In regular driving in the hybrid mode, this is one of the best plug-in units I've met outside of the luxury world.
More or less at the same level as the Mastelantis that can be found in the Peugeot 3008 and 508 among others.
The combination between a supercharged gasoline engine that needs the high rpm and an electric unit that provides the power instantly creates a "round" package that is very pleasant to use. The planetary gearbox fits this character perfectly. There really isn't a bad word to say about this side of the business.
After the battery runs out , discover the other side of plug-in hybrid cars - the one that without the electric juice in the batteries turns it into a heavy M-A-V-D hybrid car with 1.9 tons and a gasoline engine that needs to be moved with minimal boost of the electric system. What a mountain - you will be fine, but if by chance it arrived just before the ascents to Gilboa, well, I hope you are not in a hurry.
540 liters is still fine, but you will have to manage without a spare wheel (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
We ironed close to 600 km in a variety of driving conditions and types of roads, and every descent from it was as if we jumped into a supermarket for a moment
In terms of its road manners, the regular Sportage was very surprisingly good in this generation, the plug-in version maintains this positive impression.
Even at a very fast pace, with a switch to the "sport" mode that spurs the engine and the gearbox, it demonstrated very adequate capabilities.
The added weight of 250 kg and the lower center of gravity curbed the annoying bouncy that I remembered from the Sportage. This weight is probably also responsible for the much better ride comfort in the plug-in, because here there is much less of that "judge" on broken roads and small disturbances. And this is despite 19-inch rims with 50-section tires and good luck when you have to buy such a quad. We covered close to 600 km in a variety of driving conditions and types of roads, and every descent from it was like jumping into a supermarket for a moment.
Regarding fuel consumption, as usual, with plug-in cars, the nature of their use changes the whole picture.
For a customer who travels up to 40-50 km a day and charges the car - this is not relevant at all. Even for someone who travels 80-90 km a day but does half of the distance on the electric drive - it is not relevant.
Still, the fuel consumption in the test ranged from 15.6 km per liter in the hybrid mode in mixed urban and inter-urban driving to 12.5 km per liter when I abused the car until it ran out of gasoline.
That is, in its two unlikely driving modes - one way or another, an economical package is obtained.
In the right lighting and the right color, its curves pop out (Photo: Kenan Cohen)
Summary
So the Kia Sportage Plug-in is a very impressive vehicle externally, with a spacious passenger compartment, equipped with all the comfort and safety systems.
His power unit is excellent, and the only compromise is when you manage to completely drain his electrical system, a not very common story every day.
The ride comfort is good and the fuel consumption, even in the horror scenario, is still good.
But then comes the question of the 239,000 shekels, because even though at this price it is between its two competitors - the excellent Peugeot 3008PHEV and the Toyota Rav4 Plug-in (I did not forget the MG EHS, with all due respect, it is not there), 239,000 shekels is A lot of money for Sportage, it's really a lot.
The drive is double, but don't do anything beyond occupied paths (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
Because if you pull out the calculator and say this - the price of the most equipped (premium) gasoline Sportage, which is quite similar to the plug-in, is NIS 195,000, that is, NIS 44,000 less (and that's before installing a charging station, right?).
Let's make a strict assumption that gasoline does 10 km per liter and another strict assumption that a liter of gasoline costs NIS 8. So, we have a gap that is worth 5,500 liters of fuel, which is worth 55,000 km and then you have to ask yourself, in how much time are you going to do the same kilometers to justify this gap?
I understand the manufacturer's pricing issue, also the differences between the versions in Israel, even though with a difference of NIS 8,000 from the hybrid - the latter is really unnecessary, I also understand the injustice of taxing these cars. But the bottom line The vehicle itself is excellent, absolutely excellent, excellent in practice, it just doesn't work out so well with the math.
The vehicle is excellent, but you need to know your uses to justify it financially (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
On the technical side: Kia Sportage Plug-in
Engine, drive:
turbo gasoline, hybrid-charged, double
volume (cc):
1,598
power (hp):
265 (combined)
torque (kgm):
35.7 (combined)
gearbox:
automatic, 6 gears
Dimensions :
Length (cm):
452
Width (cm):
187
Height (cm):
165
Wheelbase (cm):
268
Trunk (liters):
540
Performance:
Acceleration 0-100:
8.2 seconds
Maximum speed: 191 km/h
Fuel consumption (test):
15.6 km per liter
Competitors:
Peugeot 3008PHEV, Toyota Rav 4 PHEV
Price:
NIS 239,000
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Vehicle tests
Tags
Kia
kia sportage
Telekar
Plug in
Jeep
