Kia has expanded its range of low-emission plug-in vehicles, with the addition of the Xceed and Ceed Sportswagon plug-in hybrids.
The new models are available to order now, offering lower CO2 emissions for business users.
Prices start at £29,995 OTR for the Ceed Sportswagon PHEV and £30,695 for the Xceed PHEV.
Both cars use a 1.6-litre petrol engine twinned with an electric motor and 8.9kWh battery.
The Xceed emits from 32g/km of CO2 and the Sportswagon from 33g/km. With all-electric ranges of 35-36 miles, company car drivers will pay 10% benefit-in-kind for either model.
The powertrain’s total power and torque output is 139PS and 265Nm, enabling the Ceed Sportswagon to accelerate from zero to 62mph in 10.8 seconds, and the Kia XCeed in 11.0 seconds.
A six-speed dual-clutch auto transmission allows drivers to shift gear for themselves. Kia says this ensures a more enjoyable drive than other hybrid vehicles equipped with electronic continuously-variable transmissions.
Standard regenerative braking technology allows the new plug-in hybrid models to harvest kinetic energy and recharge their battery packs while coasting or braking.
Both new models feature their own distinctive design features to differentiate them from other petrol and diesel models in the Kia XCeed and Ceed Sportswagon line-ups.
Each car has a new closed ‘tiger-nose’ grille at the front of the car to aid aerodynamic efficiency, and Sportswagon models feature ‘eco plug-in’ exterior badges and GT Line bumpers. The charging port is integrated into the left front wing of each car.
Inside, the new plug-in hybrid models feature a range of new functionalities to enhance usability. Both vehicles are equipped with a charging indicator, a visual aid to tell owners that their car is charging or when the battery is fully-charged. Its location on top of the dashboard means drivers can instantly ascertain the car’s state of charge at a glance from outside the car.
Both cars offer Kia’s eight-inch touchscreen infotainment, or an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and sat-nav with Kia’s UVO Connect telematics. Unique to the new Plug-in Hybrid variants, the systems incorporate new functionality to help owners locate available charging points in their vicinity, or en route to their navigation destination. The screens can show relevant information relating to the powertrain, displaying remaining charge levels in the battery and energy usage graphics.
The Ceed model line-up was engineered from the start to accommodate new hybrid powertrains. This means that the adoption of a plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Kia XCeed and Ceed Sportswagon has had a minimal impact on packaging, with the structure adapted from the start to contain the powertrain’s battery pack.
The battery pack is located alongside a 37-litre fuel tank beneath the rear seats. The Ceed Sportswagon plug-in hybrid provides 437 litres of luggage space while the XCeed plug-in hybrid has 291 litres. There is a dedicated space beneath the boot floor of each car to store the charging cable when not in use.
Deliveries of the new models were expected to commence this month (April) but will be delayed due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
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Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
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