The Kia hybrid car range
Efficiency & power, your way.
Switching to a Kia Hybrid vehicle is easier than you might think. Kia offers a variety of models with Hybrid & Plug-In Hybrid powertrains. Discover their benefits and which is best for you.
Kia Sportage HEV
Mid-size SUV
Discover the potential of the Sportage HEV. With its cutting-edge technology, unparalleled refinement and remarkable fuel efficiency, it is the urban medium SUV reimagined.
Kia Sorento HEV
Large SUV
Capable, comfortable, captivating. Reinvigorate your drive with the turbocharged Sorento HEV, offering impressive power and control. Available in both FWD & AWD to suit your preference.
Kia Carniva HEV
People Mover
Australia's best selling People Mover, now in hybrid form. With stand out styling, spacious interior, advanced safety and luxurious comfort for 8, the Carnival HEV is here to inspire.
Kia Niro HEV
Crossover small SUV
Sleek yet striking, with bold head-turning design both stylish and aerodynamic. The Niro HEV has innovation, comfort & versatility is at its core with a full complement of advanced connectivity and smart safety features.
How do Kia hybrids work?
When driving off from a stop position
When accelerating from a stationary position and travelling at low speeds, hybrid cars are powered by the electric motor (which draws on the battery power). This is one reason why hybrids are particularly efficient during city driving.
When driving at moderate speed
When cruising, hybrids are powered mainly by the combustion engine ‐ as this is where the combustion engine works most efficiently. Depending on the driving condition (road gradient, engine load) the vehicle may seamlessly transition between petrol and electric power at speeds of up to 120kph.
Under hard acceleration
When you have your foot down firmly on the accelerator pedal, both the combustion engine and electric motor work together to maximise the power output to the wheels. This is thanks to the clever transmission, which combines the torque output of each powertrain at the same time.
When braking or cruising
Whenever you apply the brakes or take your foot off the accelerator pedal, hybrid cars do two things: they stop feeding power to the wheels and use the power of the rotating wheels to recuperate energy while slowing down the car. This produces electricity which is used to recharge the battery for later use. This is known as regenerative braking.
More reasons to choose Kia
7 Year / 150,000 km High Voltage Electrical Vehicle Components Warranty*
7 Year / 150,000km warranty (whichever occurs first) against defects arising in materials or manufacture for High Voltage Electrical Vehicle Systems Components; e.g. High Voltage (HV) Battery System.
Kia Service Plans*
When you purchase your Kia EVs, you have the opportunity to purchase the scheduled services in advance through our Kia Service Plan program.
Roadside Assistance*
Enjoy up to 8 years Roadside Assistance for a complete peace of mind. Terms & conditions apply.
Tuned in Australia
Extensive ride and handling localisation program on most Kias are fine-tuned right here on our roads to suit our driving conditions.
FAQ
- What is a Hybrid (HEV)?
A hybrid car has two powertrains rather than one. Whereas a conventional car is powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric car is powered by a battery/electric motor, a hybrid car is powered by a combination of both. It is able to switch between both powertrains or make them work together to power the car forward with maximum efficiency. As a result, fuel efficiency is greatly improved particularly in stop-and-start city driving.
- What is a Plug‐In Hybrid (PHEV)?
A plug-in hybrid car works in the same way as a standard hybrid car, except that it has a larger battery and gives you the option of charging it from an electric outlet. In the case of Niro PHEV, you can enjoy up to 58kms of pure electric range (NEDC) on one charge. When the electric range is depleted, the car automatically switches to conventional hybrid mode. As 73% of commuters in Australia travel less than 20 km[C] to work each day this means that most people can complete their daily commute on pure electric power.
- How do electric cars work?
Electric cars work by using an electric motor, which gets it’s power from a rechargeable battery pack instead of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE). Then, the electric vehicle is plugged into a charging station or point, the electricity for which can be sourced from a power grid.
- How do electric cars charge?
An electric car is just like any other car, except it uses a battery to drive a powerful electric motor. Instead of refuelling at a petrol station, you simply recharge at home (optional charger available at additional cost), or at one of the growing number of paid public charge points.
Dedicated charging stations or ports are available across the country. However, there are different levels of chargers (Level 1, 2 and 3), which charge your car at different speeds and use different kWhs. The battery power and the how long electric cars travel in a single range, vary greatly by vehicle.
As of July 2022, Australia currently has just over 3,000 charging stations, which range from supercharged to standard outlets. The Electric Vehicle Council of Australia displays a map, which showcases all the active charging stations in the country.
[A]Australian Bureau of Statistics 2071.0.55.001
*Terms and conditions for Warranty, Kia Service Plans and Roadside Assistance can be found here.