2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid set to be front-drive only

Homologation data for the upcoming 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid has been published on the federal government’s regulatory website, revealing the petrol-electric version of carsales’ reigning Best Medium SUV will be offered here exclusively with front-wheel drive.

All-wheel drive is fitted standard on two of the three Sportage Hybrid models offered in the US, but carsales understands the all-paw powertrain hasn’t been made available to the Australian market.

The revelation means Kia’s local division will be without a direct competitor for the all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 variants and other key rivals such as the Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER.

Kia executives have also spoken previously about the likelihood of the Sportage Hybrid losing ground to the RAV4 in terms of pricing.

Lifted straight out of the bigger Kia Sorento Hybrid, the Sportage’s electrified powertrain pairs a 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 44kW/264Nm electric motor for combined outputs of 169kW/350Nm.

That sees the Sportage Hybrid as more powerful than both the RAV4 (160kW) and X-TRAIL e-POWER (157kW), but it can’t match the Haval H6 Hybrid which churns out 179kW/510Nm.

The petrol-electric Sportage’s combined-cycle fuel economy claim of 5.9L/100km is also higher than the RAV4 Hybrid (4.7L/100km) and H6 Hybrid (5.2L/100km), but sits below the X-TRAIL e-POWER (6.6L/100km).

The other key competitor for the Sportage Hybrid is the just-launched Honda CR-V e:HEV RS, which is also front-drive only and produces 135kW/335Nm from its hybrid powertrain. Fuel economy for the new CR-V is a claimed 5.5L/100km.

Transmission duties in the Sportage are taken care of by a six-speed automatic as per the Sorento HEV, while maximum braked towing capacity drops from 1900kg (diesel) to 1650kg (hybrid).

Hybrid variant details aren’t listed in the homologation data, but Kia Australia product planning manager Roland Rivero has previously indicated the hybrid powertrain would be offered in at least two different trim levels Down Under, one of which is almost certain to be the flagship GT-Line.

The other is expected to be the second-tier SX grade, though Rivero also said the hybrids would be more expensive than their all-wheel drive diesel equivalents.

Pricing and specification details for the Sportage Hybrid will be announced in the coming months as the Australian versions enter production (from October), with the first examples due in local showrooms early next year.

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