A Kia XCeed PHEV arrives with 141 CV and a 58-kilometre range

Kia continues to put strong pressure on its main European rivals, whose dominance is hanging by a thread after the interesting push from the Korean brand. To further refine its market strategy and try to turn its check into checkmate, Kia is launching a PHEV variant – plug-in hybrid – of the XCeed. The Korean crossover now opts for a version far more committed to protecting the environment, one that will benefit from the coveted Zero label, a badge that does not detract from the XCeed’s more than adequate performance for everyday driving.

The South Korean firm has already shown its clear expertise when developing PHEVs, with the Niro and Optima serving as clear examples of this. In this way, Kia skilfully combines the sculptural figure of the XCeed with a powertrain that will allow it not only to venture into the heart of major cities such as Madrid, but also to save money thanks to its electric mode.

Although the Kia XCeed PHEV shares many elements with its combustion-engined variants, there are certain styling differences worth highlighting. The striking front end is now dominated by a closed grille designed to improve aerodynamics, as are the new 16-inch wheels – 18-inch as an option – details that are complemented by the charging port positioned on the left-hand side.

The cabin remains largely unchanged, except for a set of indicators specific to this plug-in hybrid version of the Korean crossover. The infotainment system now features a new function designed to provide information on the nearest charging stations, the available range in electric mode and a real-time diagram of how the mechanical system is working.

Turning to the mechanical layout, the XCeed now combines a combustion engine and an electric motor working together to give it its PHEV status. More specifically, the Korean engineers have opted for a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 44.5 kW electric motor, together capable of delivering 141 CV and 265 Nm of torque. We must not forget the 8.9 kWh battery, which allows the crossover to travel up to 58 kilometres in electric mode.

In this way, Kia continues to expand its greener offensive, which grows substantially with the addition of the XCeed PHEV. This variant is already available in Spain, a country where the Korean brand has set a starting price of 26,150 euros.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverKIA XCeed14 versions · from 28,585 €