Kia Adds XCeed, Ceed Sportswagon to Electrified Lineup

Ever since its release in 2017, the Kia Niro electric vehicle (EV) has enjoyed a lot of praise and prestigious awards. Hoping to bank on the success of their first long-range EV, Kia also went on to electrify the Soul and Sportage. Now, Kia is expanding its electric line-up even further with the launch of Plug-in Hybrid versions of the recently introduced all-new Kia XCeed and the stylish and practical Ceed Sportswagon.

Both vehicles are powered by a 1.6-liter GDi (Gasoline Direct injection) engine paired with an electric motor and 8.9kWh lithium polymer battery pack to produce a combined output of 139 hp and 265 Nm of torque.

The hybrid powertrain of both the XCeed and Ceed Sportswagon is mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, a gearbox provides “a more enjoyable drive than other hybrid vehicles equipped with electronic continuously variable transmissions (e-CVT),” according to Kia. The difference between Kia’s 6DCT and traditional e-CVT is that it allows the full output of both the engine and motor to be transferred in parallel through the transmission, with minimal energy loss. Comparatively, e-CVTs lose plenty of power from energy conversion, which can hamper drive enjoyment.

Standard regenerative braking technology allows the new Plug-in Hybrid models to harvest kinetic energy and recharge their battery packs while the vehicle brakes or cruises, further enhancing the overall efficiency of the powertrain.

The Kia XCeed Plug-in Hybrid offers the virtues of a stylish, well-equipped crossover vehicle, combined with the efficiency and low emissions of a plug-in hybrid vehicle—a rarity in the compact family car class. Standard features include Kia’s new 10.25-inch TFT LCD widescreen system, DAB radio with MP3 compatibility and Kia’s new UVO CONNECT telematics system.

In EV mode, the Kia XCeed Plug-in Hybrid is capable of travelling up to 58 kms and takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to recharge the battery pack to 100 percent using a 3.3kW AC charger.

The Ceed Sportswagon Plug-in Hybrid edition is made for the top of the estate car range, with a generous specification and long list of standard equipment including 17-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, rain-sensing front wipers, and a new 10.25-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation system.

In EV mode, the Ceed Sporstwagon Plug-in Hybrid has the ability to travel up to 60 kms using a 3.3kW AC charger. Like the XCeed, the wagon’s battery pack also takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to replenish to 100 percent.

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