√2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid in line for Australia next year

Kia Australia is one step closer to green-lighting a rival for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – and it may be here late next year.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid may be in Australia from the second half of next year – if it given the green light by Kia management in South Korea.

Kia’s rival to the top-selling Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the Sportage Hybrid is firmly on the Australian division’s radar – and the company has previously said it’s working hard to bring it to Australia.

A company spokesperson has now indicated to Drive that, if it is given the green light by Kia headquarters overseas, it could be in Australian showrooms from the second half of 2023 – pending no further delays.

While the South Korean factory that builds petrol and diesel Sportages for Australia also produces the hybrid, it only does so in left-hand drive, servicing its home market, among others in the region.

A right-hand-drive Sportage Hybrid is built in Kia’s Slovenian factory, however this is the ‘short-body’ version for the European market, rather than the long-body model sold in Australia, South Korea and the US. A Sportage Hybrid for Australia would likely come from South Korea.

Powering the Kia Sportage Hybrid is a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 44kW/264Nm electric motor and 1.2kWh battery, good for 169kW combined.

It remains to be seen which model grades the Kia Sportage’s hybrid powertrain would be offered on in Australia. If stock is limited, Kia may opt to make it available on the flagship GT-Line only, as per the larger Sorento Hybrid.

Prices are yet to be confirmed, however Kia charges a $4000 to $5000 premium for the Sorento Hybrid over equivalent petrol or diesel variants.

The current Sportage range is priced from $34,445 plus on-road costs for a front-wheel-drive S petrol automatic (excluding the price-leader manual base model), to $52,370 plus on-road costs for the all-wheel-drive GT-Line diesel.

Kia Australia has previously indicated an expected launch window (if the green light is given) of the first half of 2023 to Drive in recent months – however this has slipped back to later next year.

If the launch date is pushed back further, it may clash with the current Sportage’s mid-life facelift – which, based on normal Kia model cycles, is due in Australian showrooms in the second half of 2024 (three years after launch).

Stay tuned to Drive for more 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid news as a possible launch next year approaches.

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