Choosing between the 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid and the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid usually starts with the engine question: gas-electric hybrid or a plug-in with electric-only range. That is the headline difference, but it is not the only one. The bigger battery in the PHEV changes several other things about the SUV, from the wheels it wears to how much room is left in the back seat.
Both versions share the same body, the same 1.6-litre turbocharged engine as their base, and the same six-speed automatic transmission with standard all-wheel drive. The differences below are the ones a shopper is likely to actually notice day to day.
At a Glance: 2027 Sportage HEV vs. PHEV
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Spec
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Sportage HEV
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Sportage PHEV
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Combined Output
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232 hp / 271 lb-ft
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268 hp / 271 lb-ft
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All-Electric Range
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Not applicable
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53 km
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Standard Wheels
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17-inch (EX), 18-inch (EX Premium, SX)
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19-inch (all trims)
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Rear Leg Room
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1,050 mm
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1,004 mm
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Fuel Tank Capacity
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52 L
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42 L
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Flat Cargo Floor Option
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Available
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Not offered
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Flat Tire Solution
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Temporary spare tire
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Tire mobility kit
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Maximum Curb Weight
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1,812 kg (3,994 lb)
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1,954 kg (4,307 lb)
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Wheels, Tires, and What’s Under the Cargo Floor
The clearest visual difference sits at the corners. Every 2027 Sportage PHEV trim, from EX AWD through SX AWD, rides on 19-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment. The Sportage HEV varies by trim: 17-inch wheels on the EX AWD, stepping up to 18-inch wheels on the EX Premium AWD and SX AWD.
The battery placement also affects the cargo area. The Sportage HEV offers a low cargo floor position in addition to the standard high floor, giving an owner more room to stack taller items. The PHEV’s larger battery pack takes up the space needed for that low floor option, so cargo volume behind the second row is listed for the high floor position only. Rear leg room follows a similar pattern: the HEV offers 1,050 mm versus 1,004 mm in the PHEV.
- HEV cargo floor: high and low positions offered
- PHEV cargo floor: high position only
- HEV rear leg room: 1,050 mm
- PHEV rear leg room: 1,004 mm
Fuel Tank, Flat-Tire Kit, and Curb Weight
The Sportage HEV carries a 52 L fuel tank, while the Sportage PHEV’s tank is smaller at 42 L, a trade-off that comes with having a plug-in battery on board for daily electric-only trips. On the EX AWD trim, the two versions also handle a flat tire differently: the HEV includes a temporary spare tire, while the PHEV comes with a tire mobility kit instead, again a function of where the larger battery sits in the chassis.
That larger battery adds real weight. The Sportage PHEV’s maximum curb weight of 1,954 kg (4,307 lb) runs about 142 kg (313 lb) heavier than the HEV’s 1,812 kg (3,994 lb). Both versions share the identical 1,653 lb (750 kg) standard towing capacity and 2,000 lb (907 kg) maximum trailer weight when properly equipped, so the added weight of the PHEV’s battery does not reduce what it can pull.
Which Version Fits Better?
A shopper who regularly plugs in at home and drives mostly short distances gets the most from the Sportage PHEV’s 53 km of all-electric range, and the standard 19-inch wheels come along with it. A shopper who wants the largest possible cargo floor, the longest range between fuel stops, or simply prefers not to think about a charging cable leans toward the Sportage HEV.
Neither choice comes at the cost of towing capacity, all-wheel drive, or the core Sportage design. The decision really comes down to how the SUV gets refuelled and how the cargo area gets used.
Experience the 2027 Sportage at Lallier Kia Vimont
Seeing the wheel sizes, the cargo floor, and the back seat space side by side makes the differences between the Sportage HEV and PHEV much easier to weigh. Book a test drive at Lallier Kia Vimont in Laval to compare both versions in person.
To learn more about the 2027 Kia Sportage HEV, visit Kia.ca
