Is Kia's 2023 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid The Pragmatic Pluggable? Or An EV Abomination?

Рет қаралды 113,427

Жыл бұрын

Anyway you slice it, the Sportage will use gasoline, even when in "EV" mode if you press too hard on the go-pedal or try to heat the cabin. But is that good or bad? That's a tricky question because it depends on how you look at PHEVs. At their core they are not about eliminating gasoline use, if you want to do that Kia has an EV6. Instead the Sportage is about reducing your consumption while being more affordable and pragmatic than a full EV. Clearly Kia could have made the Sportage burn no gas under any conditions for the first 30+ miles, but doing so would have made it more expensive. Is this the right direction? Or not far enough? You decide.
EV Tax Credits Explained: alexonautos.com/2022-ev-tax-c...
The Mountain Garden: / themountaingarden
Buy Merch! aoamerch.com
Follow AoA on Facebook: alexonautos/

Пікірлер: 279

@Syrinx-Priest Жыл бұрын

I drive a Rav4 Prime, and for average daily driving, I never use the gas engine. For me, the purpose of the gas engine is long highway trips. A full EV would be great for me most of the time, but I really don’t want to have to stop to charge ever 200-300 miles on a road trip. I think a lot of PHEV owners choose a plug-in for this reason.

@03086rm Жыл бұрын

No mentions of the Escape PHEV which has much better real world range and highest MPGe in the class. Seems like auto enthusiasts are turned off by the lack of AWD and bland interior, but it will readily meet the needs of many (most?) US Americans (and has a tax credit!)

@chrissimmons9969 Жыл бұрын

NO WAY I’m paying 7 large just to get the plug in version of this vehicle.

@Snerdles Жыл бұрын

I didn't realize this has a 7.2kw charger. That's really nice as the vast majority of PHEVs (mine included) are stuck in the 3-3.5kw range so charging takes forever.

@barrywiseman7012

Definitely the most comprehensive review I've watched on this PHEV, and most understandable with respect to the choice & cost factor between this model and the regular Hybrid Sportage. Well done

@JamesMcGillis

For 2024, there is an available OEM (dealer installed) front steel skidplate. It is powder coated in white and is wide but not deep. It provides protection from parking lot barriers and curbs. It works on any Sportage.

@jigs8437 Жыл бұрын

I think you got the pricing wrong. PHEV comes in around $47000-48000

@MLHunt Жыл бұрын

Accelerating out of a problem isn't a thing? I've been doing it wrong all these years Alex 🤣

@dslfrk59 Жыл бұрын

Put the keys in your pocket then feel them, you can very easily feel and press the lock button with out pulling keys out or looking at them that's why I think they did that.

@scotts6305 Жыл бұрын

Accelerating out of a problem is a thing

@Qrail Жыл бұрын

Alex, thank you for shining the light on PHEV’s. I have 2. The object for the purchase is the versatility of achieving whatever goal the driver has in mind that day. Run errands around town in electric mode? Done. Take a trip to Reno over snowy Donner Summit? Done. The PHEV is a different bird. I’m tired of EV owners telling me I’m crazy, that I have 2 power trains, that it is twice as costly, blah blah blah.

@davidgiles9751 Жыл бұрын

We've owned the Hyundai cousin (Tucson PHEV) to this for almost a year now. So far it's been fantastic, getting >125 MPG using it as my Wife's daily driver. However, she is religious about plugging it in, which is CRITICAL if you own a PHEV. I installed a level 2 charger in our garage, right next to where she parks, and she loves not having to go to the gas station every week. A PHEV is a fantastic "bridge" vehicle if you're not ready to go full EV just yet. If you want something that gets excellent mileage as a daily runabout, yet you also want something that can go cross country without making compromises on travel and "refueling" times.

@RigiLiquid945 Жыл бұрын

Yes, you are spot on with regards to PHEV's. These should be way more popular than they are. A little bit of fuel can go a long way on the commutes, and for road trips, there's no need to worry about charge stations, but those are still available when you have time for it. Great review of a great car with weird headlights that I've gotten used to.

@MsWoodgnome Жыл бұрын

Once more, yours is the best review. I've seen 20+ but the information you give is still supplementary to the others therefore essential! Well done!

@ConorLennon Жыл бұрын

Alex claims he chuckles at those who never use gas in their PHEV… he then says ‘Why not just buy an EV in that case?’

@ChrisParayno Жыл бұрын

I like the fact that Kia decided to stick with a standard auto 6 speed. Would've been great to have more gears but it just works.

@rogerbaim6070

My reason for considering a PHEV over a standard hybrid, probably even more than reducing my gasoline consumption, is the significant difference in (reduced) cabin noise when in EV mode. I'm really surprised that Alex didn't make any comments about comparative cabin noise, other than providing a single dB number, without indicating what the measurement would have been for the other (non-PHEV) Sportage models. Otherwise, a truly excellent discussion about the Sportage (and, presumably, the Tucson). FWIW, it's disappointing that the Sportage/Tucson PHEVs don't have a mode to lock-out the EV when utilizing the ICE for extended high speed traveling, in order to replenish the EV battery for later in the journey.

@davidcarroll8735 Жыл бұрын

27:50

@JoeHartman80 Жыл бұрын

I just got the sportage PHEV last week and loving everything about it!

@petegalindez9961

Always great reviews…I loved my RAV4 Prime’s ability to just be in EV mode…wish other PHEVs would do it…to clarify, some of us want the PHEV so we can do our daily commute on EV mode only, and then only use the gas when we take longer trips since the EV charging infrastructure in this country blows outside of the TESLA network…and on the subject of the battery and charger in the cargo bay where a spare tire would go, I’m would venture to guess it’s there for weight distribution and safety (closer to the side makes it more vulnerable in an accident). Lastly, why don’t your legroom/headroom comparos include the CRV? I’m guessing bc it’s not a PHEV?