Kia has revealed specs for the all-new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, which will deliver a low Benefit-in-Kind band and long electric range when it starts deliveries next month.

The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid delivers combined fuel economy of 252mpg and a 43-mile EV driving range. Along with its 25g/km of CO2, this puts it in the 8% BiK bracket for 2022/23

Priced from £38,395, it’s part of an eight-strong powertrain line-up for the fifth-generation Sportage alongside petrol and diesel engines, available with and without mild hybrid tech, and a full hybrid.

It’s the first time that the Sportage has been available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, introduced thanks to a brand-new architecture.

The plug-in hybrid combines a 1.6-litre T-GDi engine with a 91hp electric motor and a 13.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack, along with a six-speed auto and all-wheel drive. The result is 265hp and 350Nm of torque.

It also offers combined fuel economy of 252mpg and a 43-mile EV driving range that enables most daily commutes to be carried out using electric power. Along with its 25g/km of CO2, this puts it in the 8% BiK bracket for 2022/23 – lower than many rivals.

The on-board charger system is rated at 7.2kW, making it the fastest-charging Kia PHEV to-date, and the battery can complete a full charge in one hour 45 minutes.

Boot capacity for the PHEV is slightly down on the hybrid and brings 540 litres of space with the rear seats in place. These can be folded down in a 40:20:40 configuration, giving a maximum 1,715 litres of cargo space. This compares to 587 and 1,776 litres for the hybrid.

It’s available in selected Sportage trims, starting with the ‘GT-Line’ and running through the ‘3’, ‘4’ and ‘GT-Line S’ grades, the latter priced from £43,795.

First UK customer deliveries of the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid start in April 2022.