According to Kia, both cars can travel 37 miles on just electric juice.
The Kia Ceed lineup has finally adopted electrification. It uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain that produces 139 horsepower and 195 pounds-feet (265 Newton meters) of torque. Although it may not seem like much, these electrified compacts from are efficient and take 10.8 seconds to reach 62 mph (100 km/h). The crossover takes 11 seconds.
The heart of the Ceed Sportswagon PHEV or XCeed PHEV are the familiar four-cylinder 1.6 liter gasoline engine from Kappa. This is combined with a six speed dual-clutch automated transmission, a 44.5 kW electrical motor and a lithium-ion 8.9-kWh battery. Kia makes the argument that DCTs are more efficient than electronic continuously variable transmissions because the one in the two PHEVs provides the full output of both the electric motor and combustion engine. An e-CVT converts part of the engine’s output via the electric motor. This results in power losses due to the energy conversion.
The battery pack is located behind the rear seats, alongside the 37-liter gasoline tank. It provides a Kia-estimated electric distance of 37 miles (60 km) for the wagon and crossover. The standard Ceed Sportswagon has a cargo volume capacity of 600 liters (21.1 cubes) when the rear seats are up. However, the electrified version only offers 437 liters (15.4 cubes). The XCeed has a similar trunk volume, but the size of the PHEV’s trunk is 291 liters (10.2 cubes). Both have dedicated areas beneath the trunk floor for the charging cable, which hooks up to the port in the front-left bumper to charge the battery.
The PHEVs are nearly identical in styling to their conventionally-powered siblings. Apart from an extra fuel port, Kia installed a closed grille in order to maximize aero. The wagon also has “eco plug-in” badges. The 16-inch wheels are unique and can optionally be equipped with a set of 17-inch wheels for the Sportswagon or an 18-inch set for the XCeed. The GT Line model also has sportier bumpers on the long-roof version.
Although there isn’t much happening inside, Kia has added a charging indicator to the top of the dashboard so it can be seen from the outside. The highest-spec version has a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. A new button called “Driver Only” on the dashboard turns off all airflow except those closest to the driver. The HVAC system’s impact on the battery can be minimized. The standard equipment includes regenerative brake tech. This technology grabs the kinetic energy generated during coasting and braking, and uses it to charge the battery while you are on the move.
The Ceed Sportswagon PHEV will be available from Kia in Europe as early as 2020.