Kia Wins Best SUV Category for Sportage Hybrid during Motor1.com 2022 Star Awards
If there is one automaker to read about when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), it’s definitely Kia Corp. In cooperation with its parent group, the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), the two have reported an investment of more than USD 10 billion by 2025 to further EV production goals. Following a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Seoul on May 22, 2022, HMG reported a stronger partnership with U.S. public and private entities to create more green products, like the Kia EV6 and the Sportage PHEV, both growing in popularity. In fact, Motor1.com just named the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid during the Motor1.com 2022 Star Awards.
Last reported (May 2022), 2,417 units of the all-new Sportage HEV were sold. The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid model was revealed back in 2021, and like other models in the Kia lineup, success and popularity will usually lend itself to a greener option. Earlier this year, February 2022, Kia debuted the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV , a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Making up the electric part of the powertrain is a 13.8-kWh battery powering a 66.9-kW electric, able to deliver an all-electric range (AER) of 32 miles. To keep the PHEV in style and make it more capable, the Sportage PHEV was also to get its own X-Line model, and the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-line debuted in August 2022. Making it into a prestigious list by Motor1.com, the Sportage Hybrid continues to outshine the competition as we wait for the Sportage PHEV to hit dealership lots.
“We are thrilled the esteemed editors at Motor1.com have recognized the relentless effort we put into making the hybrid version of our longest running nameplate…Built upon the Sportage’s foundation of superb driving dynamics, cutting-edge design, and vast array of technology, a hybrid not only strengthens the Sportage lineup, but also our ‘Plan S’ product portfolio.” – Steven Center, COO and EVP, Kia America
Plan S is a strategy Kia started in 2020 to produce 11 EVs by 2025 and obtain a 6.6% global EV market share of all EVs sold in the world. With the production of the Kia EV6, the upcoming EV9 electric SUV , and the promise to launch at least two BEVs per year between 2023 and 2027 during the Kia 2022 CEO Investor Day , Plan Sis well on its way to making Kia a successful automaker amongst the EV race. Winning awards and accolades since its release, the Kia EV6 has already shown automakers and consumers the power of EVs. The Kia Sportage Hybrid getting its own spotlight is just icing on the cake.
For a little insight into how the Motor1.com 2022 Star Awards work, new vehicles available on the market today are rated by its team of expert editors using the Motor1.com curated Star Rating system. Rating each vehicle on many factors. Including design, safety, performance, and comfort, the editors debate and vote on a winner for each vehicle category. With a blend of modern styling and sporty visual elements, advancements in entertainment and safety technology, and the combination of a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with a 44-kilowatt motor, the Kia Sportage Hybrid took home top honors in the Best SUV category. Not just best “hybrid” SUV, but the best SUV – period. Now that’s a notch on the proverbial belt for Kia Corp. Check out the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid at Miami Lakes Automall Kia and follow us on Miami Lakes Automall social media for more news on what Kia Corp is up to.
Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media
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