2023 Kia Sportage PHEV: PRO WINTER ROAD TEST & WHAT IT DID TO MY ELECTRICITY BILL

2023 Kia Sportage PHEV Review: Here's the most up-close and detailed review I can give you on the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV).
My tester is AWD-equipped and rolling on a set of Kumho Wintercraft tires. Plenty of testing on snow and ice reveals a pleasing driving machine for winter enthusiasts, and we compare to the Toyota RAV4 Prime in the snow as well.
Here are more than 11 minutes of my key impressions, demonstrations, walkarounds and road-test highlights. Happy shopping!
✅Back seat demonstration
✅When do you charge it?
✅What are the effects on your hydro bill?
✅Road test
✅Detailed interior examination
✅How it drives in the snow
✅PHEV hints and tips for beginners
✅Rough-road ride quality examined
➡️ 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV SPECIFICATIONS / PRICING (🍁Canada🍁)
As Tested: $48,995 (approx)
Engine: 1.6L i4 turbocharged hybrid
Power: 261 horsepower; 258 lb-ft of torque
Drive: AWD
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Towing Capacity: 2,000 lbs.
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➡️ Instagram:
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#phev
#kiasportage2023
#kia

[@haroldsimard7263]

Nice review Justin, thank you !

[@KT-iu2ov]

Great job. I hope you channels keeps growing. You deserve it.

[@joewinn809]

Great review. Thank you!

[@yuyifu2262]

Your videos are hidden gems to me, lots of useful information that you can’t really find on other popular car review youtubers’

[@beaublack1407]

Good review-thanks.

[@WpnX81]

Aside from providing another great review Justin, I have to give you and your team a round of applause for the production value of your videos. Keep up the amazing work folks! P.S. "Smashed out crater fields" describes so many roads across Canada.

[@JustinPritchard]

Much appreciated! Thanks, this is why we do it! 👌 Cheers from snowy Sudbury!

[@ericbrouet]

Finally someone who reviews a car in the winter! Not in my budget though, but excellent review!

[@Jojjaaa]

Nice video thanks

[@chrispritchard1035]

Great information Justin! Getting to be lots of options in this new market! Well done son!

[@JustinPritchard]

Thanks Dad!!

[@Seanheery]

Just subbed here from SW Florida Great review. Your tone of voice and choice of words are welcoming. So many reviewers have become so theatrical and it’s starting to get annoying! Keep em’ coming! 🤙🏽 PS: that snow looks 🤮 😂😂

[@colincroft2704]

Very good/thorough review including some nice details I hadn't seen in others like the special ICE mode for heating (low RPM). What were the winter temps you were testing this vehicle in? And despite the winter temps you were still seeing about 50km usable EV range?

[@KasimTurkoglu]

Hi Justin thank you for the great video. Do you have any idea where rear window heater in sportage prestige model ?

[@stephenwinter8892]

Greetings from oakville Ontario thanks for the presentation I'm looking at the 2023 mitsubishi outlander phev as my choice because of the level 1,2 & dc fast charging 685 total kms on the two electric motors and 60km of pure electricity please give me your thoughts

[@natecowan6913]

I've watched several videos on the PHEV Sportage and none went into the full detail of how the battery and fuel system work together. Thanks!

[@JustinPritchard]

Thanks! (That's why I do it!) Cheers from north Ontario 👌😁

[@markkennedy5335]

Justin I was having my morning coffee wondering if you have done a Sportage Hybrid test. Well an hour later this review pops up. I prefer the Sportage over the Tuscan. I don't think we would be interested in a (PHEV) as we are empty nesters and downsizing to a condo. Great review none the less. Hey Justin might you do a Sportage Hybrid review down the road? I hear they are just arriving in Canada is that right? Keep up the great work. Cheers from NZ

[@JustinPritchard]

Hey Mark Must have been on the same wavelength :-) Thanks for the feedback, this was a fun piece to create because there are so many different layers of things to cover. The technology definitely is impressive. I don't have any plans for a Sportage hybrid review in the immediate future though I did drive the Tucson version when it came out two years ago and found it quite good. Just not a fan of that interior at all. Would definitely choose the Kia, although the drive between the two is fairly similar. On another note, I've just been in the new CR-V hybrid for a few weeks and their new twin motor driveline is the best one on the scene right now. Stay tuned!

[@maniksharma5877]

Which vechile is better, Mistubishi outlander phev or sportage phev ? My one way commute is 60 km highway and 8 km city.

[@DennisHartman-cm7dl]

Thanks for the great review. At the end you said that there are more powerful and smoother riding options available, but didn't state which models those were. If you consider fuel economy in the mix as well, is there still a better option for the price?

[@JustinPritchard]

Hey, the Buick Envision, Subaru Forester, Honda CRV and Nissan Rogue all have a smoother ride on those worst case scenario surfaces --- ditto the Outlander PHEV. Keeping fuel economy in mind and assuming you're after a PHEV in this size, I don't expect you'll find anything head and shoulders better for the money however. It's pretty good, but you can do a bit better if you're shopping primarily for a comfortable ride,👌👌

[@adamzlublina4008]

Pretty good Bro

[@Ekh0es]

The Sportage is so damn nice.

[@ashleyc999]

Is this gravity grey or shadow matte grey?

[@viggolazar7029]

nice review! When driving on snow, was on winter tire of original tire? thanks, V

[@JustinPritchard]

Thank you! This tester was on a set of Toyo Wintercraft (dedicated winter tire, non studded)

[@specialcookday]

Thanks Justin for showing your Canadian goose🦆🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Joking thank you 4 your sportuage snow drive test. I really need that for my fam trip here So Cal to snowy Mt. I guess I don't need to worry about SUV snow roads drive . 👍

[@JustinPritchard]

My favorite hat! Glad you liked it, thanks! Happy motoring -- enjoy the tiny fuel bill (and lovely weather!) Cheers from snowy Sudbury Ontario!

[@BryKram]

Hello Justin. Were you able to test the the headlights in nighttime driving conditions? How was the overall visibility with low and high beams compared to the competition?

[@JustinPritchard]

Hey there, Well I didn't get any footage in this particular case I did spend at least 2 hours driving in the dark.... On par with the competition, perhaps just a tad more dim than I was expecting out at further distances, still top notch or close to it.

[@sHareLBJ]

Great review. I have a question tho. What does it mean on my everyday drive of 40 km in one way on rural road where you can ocassionaly go 80 km/h, but mostly you go 50 km/h. Is KIA using electricity or gas in my case?

[@JustinPritchard]

If you're going 40km one way at 50 to 80 kmh, you probably be all electric for one leg of the trip, and running gas hybrid on the way home. This car can drive on electric power at highway speed and beyond, no problem. The odd time the gas engine make kick on for a little boost if you're trying to speed up a hill or something but you totally be able to do that on electric power. For the first forty or more kilometres. If you were able to plug in it work, and fully charge throughout the day before driving home, it would be the same thing on the way back. If not, the gas engine would just automatically kick in and keep you going.

[@steventran3024]

Hey Justin, can I charge this car at tesla charge station or level 2 charging? The original charger comes with the car seems so slow at charging. Do you have any tips? Thanks

[@JustinPritchard]

Any level 2 charger will do it, Tesla not compatible though. Included charger is for level 1, ie overnight charging on a standard plug

[@gertlind6698]

why its says 5.2km when its 70km electric distance

[@centauri0]

"More powerful and smother riding options for the dollar?" What other PHEV are you referring to?

[@niranjang7245]

What would be the total horsepower and torque once the battery is depleted after 55kms or so..any info on it..

[@JustinPritchard]

Exactly the same. The battery isn't depleted, just the portion of it used for EV driving. When the battery meter shows "empty", the battery pack isn't actually empty. Battery charge level doesnt affect performance. The battery never truly gets depleted, it just runs in gas electric hybrid mode.

[@niranjang7245]

Thank u and any guess on the reliability of this turbo engine and transmission combo if one were to keep it for long..what would be ur pick between this and outlander phev

[@JustinPritchard]

Reliability is hard to say, too new of a driveline... good warranty though. Personally prefer the drive of the Outlander PHEV a bit more and I like that it's a more proven non turbo engine -- Mitsubishi has built that 2.4L engine family for many years now. Longer warranty too I believe.

[@lilpeppa117G]

​@@niranjang7245 you get a 100,000 mile warranty you will be perfectly fine reliability is in line with other SUVs

[@prabhwalia.]

What's the top speed of this car on pure ev mode? Can I drive it on highway with pure ev mode ?

[@JustinPritchard]

Yup, I'm not sure there's a top speed but it can definitely do 120+ kmh on electric power

[@jessicathatsme7945]

When it reverts to gas does it lose it's power?

[@JustinPritchard]

Nope, power is consistent regardless of the displayed battery charge level.

[@traffictraffic]

Does the engine charge the battery while driving, like the Hybrid, or is plugging it in the only way to charge the PHEV?

[@JustinPritchard]

All hybrids charge their battery automatically as you drive around. In a plug in hybrid like this, the same is true. Thing is, the battery is so large that the engine can't charge it fully (hence the plug). The engine can recharge the battery sufficiently for hybrid driving (gas and electricity),, but you'll need to plug in for all electric driving.

[@shivsparkky]

Can you please let us know what Tires are you using for this Vehicle?

[@JustinPritchard]

This tester was on a set of Kumho Wintercraft tires (dedicated winter tire), non studded

[@shivsparkky]

@@JustinPritchard thank you 🙏

[@dssweigart]

I would appreciate some more info on your comment that 100 KM of electric driving could increase your electric bill by only $2 yet the same distance in gas hybrid mode would cost $12. Specifically, what are you paying (all in) per KWH of electricity and also for a liter of gas? Here's why I'm asking... The car has a 13.2 KWH battery good for 55KM. Assuming a charger efficiency of 85% that's 15.5 KW per 55KM or 28KW per 100 KM. Your $2 implies an electric rate of only 7 cents per KWH, is that correct? And since the car gets 14.8 KM/L highway you would burn 6.75 liters per 100 KM at $1.77 per liter (is your gas actually that high)? The reason I'm digging into this is that my electric costs about 21 cents per KWH (total bill with taxes and fees divided by KWH used). So the 35 mile range of the battery requires 15.5 KW totaling $3.25 (and that electric rate is slated to increase again at the end of the year). The car gets 35 MPG highway and a gallon of gas near me is about $3.39. Since the $3.25 and the $3.39 are so close, it would be impossible for me to ever recover the substantial upcharge for the PHEV, so I am thinking I should just get the Hybrid. I'd appreciate your thoughts!

[@srikanthnarayanan]

I live in Quebec and those electricity and gas prices your wrote sound about accurate to me. Electricity rate is stable, indexed to inflation, gas rates rise and fall greatly based on .. who knows. 7 cents / kWh, $1.60 to $1.90 CAD / L of gas.. sounds about right. Also in Quebec, PHEV gets a rebate, HEV gets no rebate, so PHEV models are often less expensive to buy than HEV models. If in your area, the HEV is cheaper to buy and the energy prices are what you wrote, a HEV would be the better choice.

[@dssweigart]

@@srikanthnarayanan Thank you, that's very helpful. I do need to research whether the PHEV meets the US rebate requirement but I suspect not.

[@Kassiedass]

I love the Sudbury, and surrounding areas. I know that a SUV are required to live up there. P.K.

[@JustinPritchard]

They are super common here for a reason! Pretty good place to live I think! See anything familiar?

[@Kassiedass]

@@JustinPritchard No. I was in Creighton for some time, and then I got to see the entire Sudbury Area for about 1 week while working overnight in 2021. I stayed at the Travelodge located at 1401 Paris Street. It is located close to the hospital. P.K.

[@Antiorganizer]

It's very nice, but it's pretty pricey. Long wait times enable dealers to rip off customers with extra "mandatory" fees. This makes obtaining one a horrible experience. That alone is enough to pick something else.

[@JamesMcGillis]

According to KIA, the battery should be fully charged on a regular basis. If you are not going to plug it in daily, buy a regular hybrid, not a PHEV.

[@JustinPritchard]

Of course, I was just making the point for some to understand better how it works.

[@keeponkeepinon76]

I just can't get over the front end design... Not for me.