Can't figure out a few things on my new Sportage PHEV

Chuck Hawley

Chuck Hawley

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Hi, Chuck Hawley here, from Santa Cruz, CA.

I finally found a 2023 Sportage PHEV about 120 miles away and bought it last Saturday. I have three questions that I am hoping someone on the forum can help me with.
  1. I can't find how to set a "don't charge during these hours" setting like we have on our NIRO. I see options for setting a departure time, but not a don't charge time.
  2. The "unique" instrument panel arrangement of a digital MPH and digital tach is not nearly as attractive as an analog display. The owner's materials show an option for analog speed and tach. I can't figure out how to change the IP.
  3. I'd really like a simple explanation of what the two drive train options do, and when they should be used. We have the rotary knob (ECO, SPORT, SNOW, SMART) and the button below it (SMART, ELECTRIC, something else.) Lots of permutations and combinations.
  4. Sometimes my HVAC just doesn't put out any air, as if it's gone to sleep. I swear I am not turning it off. There's a manual fan control, plus three level of AUTO, and about a dozen other controls. Mostly I want AUTO everything except temp.
This makes me wonder if Kia hasn't sort of crudded up an otherwise great car? Who needs these loosely defined modes of operation?

Cheers,

Chuck
 
1). Haven't tried this
2). If you don't have the Prestige trim, I don't believe you have the analog displays
3). The first knob (Eco, Sport, etc.) affects gas efficiency and handling - Throttle response, tranny/gear response and steering. Maybe other effects that I'm forgetting. We use Eco most of the time, Smart when on the highway (works better w/cruise control) and Sport when we want to have "more fun". HINT: If you are low on battery during highway road trips, using Sport mode to charge up the battery for 15 min or so, before taking off ramps/local driving. Gives you battery for slower/local driving.
The other EV/HEV button controls use of the battery. EV will prioritize using the battery - Best for local driving and/or you know you will be charging again soon. HEV is best for highway driving, or when you are trying to conserve the battery for later.
4). The 3 levels of Auto are basically fan speed, when HVAC is in use. When you hit it, everything else resets to Auto mode, too. As long as one of those lights are on the Auto button, it will work the way you want and just need to adjust temp, as you wish.
 
OK, here's what I have found out, and thank you Steveo, for your information.
1) To set "don't charge during these hours", you can use the Kia Access App on your phone under the Convenience tab. Go to Remote Charge Schedule, then disable your two departure times (unless you can figure out why you'd need them), and go to the next page pressing the > character. Again, I don't care about the departure times, so go to the bottom of the page and press "Next: Review Off-Peak Times".

This is what you really want. I have a PG&E rate plan which is expensive from 3pm to midnight, so I only charge from midnight to 3:00pm the next day. That's 15 hours of relatively cheap electricity. So, Monday through Sunday, I charge from 00:00 to 15:00, and I choose the option to only charge off-peak.
2) I don't have the Prestige trim, but it's ridiculous to not add a feature that is simply software and has no incremental cost. Really Kia?
3) I agree with your description of the drive modes.
4) The Hybrid Drive Mode is described pretty poorly in Kia documentation, but I think you have three choices:
Hybrid or HEV, which holds the current battery charge level and discharges and charges the HV battery as needed.
Electric, which pretty much tries to run the HV battery down since it avoids use of the IC engine.
Auto, which uses the battery judiciously when it can contribute the most "good" (efficiency.)

For my first tank of gas, I achieved 55.5MPG, and a range of 546 miles. That makes me feel much better about owning a larger, less efficient vehicle than a Niro (for example.) It's still pretty damned efficient.

Chuck
 
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