2022 Kia Sportage PHEV review: Is it really worth £38k?

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

⭐ If you didn't utterly hate this video and feel I've earned it, please subscribe so you don't miss any new car waffles!

[@retrotechheaven]

Great review, thanks! In the UK, for company car drivers, these PHEV's make a lot of sense. If working for a large Corporation like I do, we get a limited choice of full EV's due to the cost and the excessive lead times. The Sportage in '3' trim, which is still very well specified, comes in just under the magic £40,000 which many company car drivers who aren't Directors get to spend on a car, and this, coupled with the 8% tax BIK (due to having more than 40 miles range on electric only) makes it a cheaper choice vs. something similar (like the Tucson, which jumps into the 12% BIK bracket due to having less than 40 miles Electric only range). I currently drive a Diesel E Class Mercedes which has a BIK of well over £12,000 per year - the Sportage 3 in PHEV is more like £1,500 - that's a huge saving in tax contributions, and I'll be much better off financially when I hand the keys back. I would have loved to have gone full EV but for me personally, the limited choice was enough to steer me down the PHEV route, where I'll get 40 miles zipping around town on electric, but still have a moderate sized fuel tank for non-range-anxiety longer journeys. For sure; in five years when my lease ends, EV choices will be greater, they will be more efficient, and the infrastructure will be way better - this will be my last fossil fuel car I'm sure.

[@bigmacntings7451]

@retro tech heaven, in a similar situation myself. I would love to go full EV but the nature of the job means I need to be very flaxible with schedules. I can easily be doing 2 return trips per day down the M3 which takes me above 250 miles, at which point I need an hour or two to charge...it's not an option for me as time is money.and I need the flexibility in range more that staying in a service station for an hour to recharge. for day to day driving to and from the office and supermarkets etc,no problem.I can easliy cut 90% off the fuel bill, it's just the 10% of the year when all hell breaks loose I have to also be prepared for.

[@bigmacntings7451]

I'm very much hoping the same!!!!.. There's certainly rumours of toyota having a patent with toshiba and pansonic on solid state batteries,allegedly coming out 2025. totally with you on BIK rates, I got my corolla in 2019 because it was one of the lowest emission vehicles I could get on lease at the time.but they moved the goalposts so even that is now 20% BIK. the new ones same spec ar 24%. I have half a mind to come back to the lease company with a total low-ball offer,as they theoretically shouldn't have much of a market!!!!!!..at least not for anything fossil burning!! it WILL have to be a completely sensatioanl off though!! givn I've seen how much depreciation is factored in on the new leases!! £8-10k cash buyout is about right under the circumstances

[@annonymousbald2653]

I drove from Glasgow to Manchester last week, with a full ev battery, I managed to get almost home when the ev ran out.. I did a good 50ish miles around Manchester area too. I started drive in hybrid mode and and then flicked to ev mode, ran the ev range down 4 or 5 miles then back to hybrid where as you say it charges up a small bit,..I got 600 miles to a tank/range. I'll be doing same trip in April too see what difference I get.. Car is brand new so I expect better mpg then..

[@Pdougie2]

You didn't mention how using "-ve" paddle shifter to slow the Sportage, instead of the brake pedal, will maximise the regenerative breaking and significantly improve your fuel economy.

[@AHoundOnAHonda]

Perhaps Tim didn't maximise the "breaking" because he didn't want anything to break.

[@garethfoy4283]

Comparing all 2022 Phev/SUV and a couple of pure lectric - this was really helpful. Great comments - because it’s easy to tell if these things are important to us or not. And funny 😀 All comes down to the deal as usual!

[@AmjidMajeed]

Excellent review, Tim! New subscriber here as well as Disabled driver. Full hybrid Sportage (in GT-Line S) is on order after your cracking review. Sat twiddling my thumbs, hopefully not too long until it's arrival at some point later in the year. It will be accommodating my good self, better half and a Mobility scooter in the boot. A good day to you sir!

[@RLuke103]

Did your car arrive? How's it been after a year if you don't mind me asking?

[@googlefriend7685]

Hi mate, when you turn on the ignition, does it make that beeping sound every time?

[@denisegregor]

Why can I not get a GTlineS trim in the plug in petrol hybrid sportage? Ordered today via motability scheme. Is that the reason? Also what's the difference between GTline and GTlineS?? Will the deficit in offering hinder my driving experience massively! Also, excuse my ignorance...Will the car decide which mode to go to if no EV left?? Many thanks

[@linedancer111]

Enjoyed that thank you, have one ordered, but by the time it arrives there will be a new model

[@AutonomousMoo]

I don't know if I want the hyrbid or the PHEV I'm thinking the PHEV so I can charge it once in a while to do city driving to be cheaper as gas prices where I'm at is $6.10 a gallon.

[@simono4991]

The PHEV has been taken off sale it seems - it's no longer available to configure on the Kia UK website. I wonder if this is temporary or not?

[@patsworldvision5517]

Thought these done 232mpg? How?

[@foofighterjct]

My daily commute is approx 50 miles return. A roads and city drive one way, motorway is quicker on the way home. Would you recommend a PHEV or just stick with the mild hybrid? Currently have a diesel which averages approx 50 MPG and your video suggests the plug in will likely match that with added bonus of cheaper electricity for 40ish miles and cheaper petrol. Not sure if the extra £8k (approx) on PCP will be worth it for less fuel costs each month? Any advice welcome!

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

£8k extra is a lot of extra money to offset with electricity… might take you a few years to “pay yourself back” if that makes sense? I’d stick with what you’ve got, personally

[@DontPanicDear]

To commute only? The cheapest option is nearly always to keep what you have 🤓 If you’re changing ending an agreement and starting a new PCP for a commuter car, then I’d go EV. I guess the main issue is, what else do you do with the vehicle? If you don’t do regular drives over 200miles each way, EV is nicer for hum-drum ‘cooking’ cars anyway 😀

[@simschro]

Is that Cassa White or Deluxe White?

[@robc5955]

The moob wobble factor is not boring info, critical in my book. Not many can afford almost 40k outright, but I suspect most will be bought on pcp, I had CRVs from 2013 top spec for the fam, couldn’t afford one but I could afford the pcp, well until I realised 415 quid a month was a lot of money when I couldn’t use it much and had to hand them back immaculate. These days with the kids left home (oh joy and happiness) it’s so much cheaper, NOT. Dad I need 100 quid, or dad I spent all my student loan on crap can you pay my accommodation fees 🤬

[@Hell-Hound1]

Niro or Sportage, what's the difference? and which is best?

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Sportage is slightly bigger - there's an all new Niro coming out in a few months, I'm going to Germany to film it later this month. It's available as a full EV unlike the Sportage! It's just a bit smaller.

[@Hell-Hound1]

@@TimRodieDrivesStuff Thanks. The wife has a Niro ev on order as company car and at a casual glance you'd be hard pushed to tell either car apart.

[@bigmacntings7451]

sportage has a much bigger boot,and in PHEV terms has a slightly bigger battrey,and a little more range. same engine and onboard chager for both model PHEV FWIW.

[@bigmacntings7451]

@@Hell-Hound1 the new niro ev is a good car!!!!, depends what you're using it for though. if you have a lot of gear to move around ie expo's and demo's and field sales etc, the extra boot space is essential!!!

[@Hell-Hound1]

@@bigmacntings7451 Thanks, but things have now changed. Niro was denied by company as not on sale yet. She has had to opt for a Cupra Born V2 e-boost in blue instead. She doesn't need a company car for work, it's just a perk of office and will only average @3,500 miles a year. But with a green bonus of £1200pa from the company after tax and BIK @ 2% it's a free car. She's happy enough, which is a good thing, lol.

[@owascoshaw]

This or the rav4 prime?

[@bigmacntings7451]

absolutely my dilemma!!! I really do like the toyota's.excellent build quality and very smooth drive.But the one they've released is overpriced and overpowered in BHP/0-60 terms I would snap up a de-priced+de-rated version in a heartbeat.

[@owascoshaw]

@@bigmacntings7451 it’s the Toyota name and reliability that’s gets me but you get a lot more for your money with the sportage in some cases. Plus JD power has named Kia most reliable for 2022 ( if you belive in that sort of thing)

[@daprinceomar]

I wanted a rav 4 prime but this past year during covid had an average 10-15k markup from toyota dealers. Ill be getting this tomorrow morning hopefully.

[@TheSpudlyMcgudly]

"The lane keep assist is a bit annoying" and turns it off. Euro NCAP will be sending the boys around..

[@lupislune]

Would you have the Ioniq 5 or Kia Sportage PHEV?

[@bigmacntings7451]

horses for courses!!! what is your use case??? if you have a normal day regular job commuting to/from a local office,with facilites to charge at work and home, Ioniq 5. If you have a variable place of employment or customer facing,or limited charging facilities wherever you may end up, go for the sportage PHEV

[@rufusmanning4211]

Hard question. In EV mode, does the engine cut on? I couldn't wait for the PHEV to arrive in the US and bought a full EV Chevy Bolt EUV. Every review I found said that the gas engine started even in EV mode, which defeats the purse of EV mode! What's the reality. In this review it seemed that when he went to highway speed the engine cut on...then cut off? Why did it cut on in the first place? My daily commute is less than 40 miles daily but I didnt' want the gas engine to start regardless.

[@DontPanicDear]

The combustion engine started during the ‘Highway’ section, as Tim ‘Booted it’ He floored the throttle, thus summoning ALL available horses. Once at a cruise, it dropped back to battery propulsion only.

[@kirkby0076]

Cutting in, & out depending on the heavy, foot & speed..

[@knowledgeishere5072]

Which do you prefer between the Tucson and the Sportage?

[@bigmacntings7451]

sportage has a better battery management system and lower drag.hence the better electric range. they are nearly identicl platforms but kia has done a better job on refinement. if you are getting as a company car the kia makes more sense as it comes into the lower tax range.

[@AS7174funy]

I wish you opened what is under the floor of cargo space. If it comes with a spare tire, I would definitely order it.... I believe it will not...

[@DaNte710-o5g]

I think 12v battery back there with the charger

[@bigmacntings7451]

very very difficult decision. If you are buying as a company car this makes a lot of sense. lots of full ev miles and reduced tax rate. for a private buyer the extra £10k is a bit of a big ask. for company car drivers again there is another level to look at. the toyotaRAV4 has 3 extra miles wltp,but an 18kwh battery that supposedly does 10 miles extra per charge on a city drive...I really do like the toyota's,the build quality is absolutely excellent(I currently have a corolla hybrid)....the problem is the RAV4 comes in at £43k for the base model..too much for my budget!! I would absolutely snap up a de-rated version for work purposes......keep the 18kw battery but dispense with the AWD,300+bhp and 0-60 in 6 seconds....and do what they did with the old corolla tourer.....1.8,runs on fumes(atkinson cycle 14:1 compression), not bothered about 0-60 1.8cvt is about 11s and i't fine, but can easily do 70mpg+ in summer on the motorway.very nice car. ideal company motor would be rav 4 size,but FWD only with about 220bhp, 0-60 in 9 ish, and 50 mile+ range(70 mile city). charging at 11kw 3 phase if available on that 18kw battery.They release one of these and it's a total game change.

[@bigmacntings7451]

I sould also add needs to be under £40k because of the VED tax

[@dinuyoro]

For the base model you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

[@gregg5958]

Yes but with a smaller, less satisfying and less integrated looking screen.

[@stephen9746]

Getting one in Jan through my sister in law who works for Kia. Only £240 a month with tax and insurance. A bit of a bargain.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Wow yeah that's great value!

[@chriskimber7179]

using the term 'self charging EV' for a hybrid is a journalism fail.

[@untruenorth]

감사합니다!

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

당신은 가장 환영합니다. 치즈 좀 드세요.

[@untruenorth]

@@TimRodieDrivesStuff I mostly work from home and, according to Boris, I already eat too much cheese, so I have to decline.

[@mamba101]

I have a sportage phev as a rental car while my Lexus GS is being repaired (someone hit me). I have to say I disagree with many points here; 1) Sportage is very unsettled driving 2) steering is too light 3) Refinement is not above average, noise on the motorway is not good. 4) MPG when the battery runs out is pretty bad, I’ve seen 9L/100km 5) Screen is just too far away, dangerous to use when driving. 6) Acceleration is so unpredictable, never know how much power it’s actually going to deliver. I’ll happily stick with my CVT, which is smoother and more reliable.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Fair enough!

[@specialcookday]

For all new auto buyers wait till November. Because current economy is falling down and more vehicles are ready. Better deals and much lower interest rates at November.

[@benj5386]

Ah you're one of the WHW podcast afflicted.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Absolutely - I started listening to it in Feb 2021 and have only just caught up (400+ episodes). It's the only podcast I've ever got stuck into - would love to be going to their festival this summer but it's a bit tricky swinging a weekend away from the kids to listen to some men talk about war...

[@benj5386]

@@TimRodieDrivesStuff yeah it's a hard sell.

[@MyTie]

funny chap good stuff

[@DumSpiroSpero864]

I really hate the way Brits says the name. Even the Koreans pronounce it the same as American English.

[@marcoxl50]

Canadians and other Europeans say it the same as we do too

[@Omega-df5nv]

I like the Korean and merican way sounds better

[@Richard-io9xe]

PHEV is just a bad compromise for people who think they should be "green" but daren't go EV for reasons unknown. Massively more expensive than a regular ICE version and you could never make that up front cost back with a tiny electric range. If you want to go electric, go electric and get an EV. If you don't, don't - buy a petrol car. These things are hideously complicated and you are always driving around either lugging an engine around you aren't using, or lugging a motor and battery around that you aren't using. Why would you?. Just get an EV.

[@wdbaudio]

Exactly, couldn't have put it better! I think these were only invented for company car tax relief

[@untruenorth]

Well, thank god you cleared that up for us all Richard.

[@Richard-io9xe]

@@untruenorth you're welcome.

[@kirkby0076]

Just get, the HEV version then, & spend less or the MHEV.. 👍😉 bother better, than the standard ICE version

[@retrotechheaven]

Just my $0.02, but in the UK, for company car drivers, these make a lot of sense. If working for a large Corporation like I do, we get a limited choice of full EV's due to the cost and the excessive lead times. The Sportage in '3' trim, which is still very well specified, comes in just under the magic £40,000 which many company car drivers who aren't Directors get to spend on a car, and this, coupled with the 8% tax BIK (due to having more than 40 miles range on electric only) makes it a cheaper choice vs. something similar (like the Tucson, which jumps into the 12% BIK bracket due to having less than 40 miles Electric only range). I currently drive a Diesel E Class Mercedes which has a BIK of well over £12,000 per year - the Sportage 3 in PHEV is more like £1,500 - that's a huge saving in tax contributions, and I'll be much better off financially when I hand the keys back. I would have loved to have gone full EV but for me personally, the limited choice was enough to steer me down the PHEV route, where I'll get 40 miles zipping around town on electric, but still have a moderate sized fuel tank for non-range-anxiety longer journeys. For sure; in five years when my lease ends, EV choices will be greater, they will be more efficient, and the infrastructure will be way better - this will be my last fossil fuel car I'm sure.

[@floydyboy7619]

For anyone looking to buy / lease one of these take it from me, these are awful cars. I've been unfortunate enough to run one of these for the last 4 months and it is complete rubbish. It runs and drives fine but the infotainment system will drive you mad, it's hard to imagine how Kia could release this awful product onto the market. Please don't be tempted, they really are crap.