The 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid estate SUV has still been closed for Australian showrooms, with first deliveries scheduled for early next year, the company confirmed.
Kia’s rival to the best-selling Toyota RAV4 hybrid is expected to hit Australian showrooms in early 2024, ending any delays, after production begins in South Korea in late 2023.
The hybrid Sportage on Kia Australia’s radar when the current generation line-up was unveiled 18 months ago, however, the hybrid has been slow to arrive in Australia due to a lack of a proper edition for local showrooms.
A right-hand drive hybrid Kia Sportage is available in the UK; however, this is the short body edition built in Slovakia and sold in Europe, which the long body style built in South Korea and sold in Australia.
A hybrid edition of the long-bodied Kia Sportage manufactured in South Korea alongside petrol and diesel models destined for Australia. However, until this announcement, you can not have right-hand drive.
Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected to bring a $4,000 premium over hybrid versions of the Kia Sorento.
The existing Kia Sportage is priced at $32,795 plus highway prices for an entry-level S gasoline manual, or $40,195 for the same diesel-powered, car-driven, all-wheel drive S-Class, at $52,720 plus highway fares for a flagship. GT diesel line AWD.
A Kia Australia representative told Drive that the local store expects more Sportage Hybrid models than it has won so far from Sorento Hybrid models (of which only about twenty make it to Australia a month).
As a result, Drive understands that Kia Australia plans to offer hybrid strength in more of a sleek styling of the Sportage, possibly the GT-Line, plus a less expensive S, SX or SX trim.
The Kia Sportage Hybrid is powered by a 1. 6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 44kW/264Nm electric motor and a 1. 2kWh battery, which Kia says combines for 169kW.
In overseas markets, there is a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It remains to be shown what combination will be in Australia.
South Korea’s reported fuel consumption is 6. 0 L/100 km for front-wheel drive hybrid models, compared with 7. 7 L/100 km for an all-wheel drive diesel or 8. 6 L/100 km for a turbocharged four-wheel drive. . – Driving with gasoline.
More main points are expected about the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid closer to its local launch early next year.
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