Hybrid

When you’re accelerating from a standstill, the electric motor will take you to about 25 km/h before the petrol engine kicks in. This is especially efficient in stop-and-go city traffic. Under hard acceleration, motor and engine will work together to offer you higher performance and torque. When you’re driving at a constant pace, the electric motor can either add some power to the engine – or the engine can use some of its power to recharge the battery if it’s running low. And when you coast or brake, the Smart Regeneration System reclaims some of that lost kinetic energy to feed your batteries directly.

Nothing. Because HEVs are continuously recharging themselves, this almost never happens in the first place. But if it does, you will simply continue driving on your petrol engine until the battery has regenerated enough power to operate the electric motors again.

Because their petrol engines don’t work as hard as those of traditional vehicles. When asked to perform, for instance during acceleration or at high speed, a HEV will automatically engage its electric motors to unleash more power. This keeps the petrol engine from having to run at maximum, appreciably lowering consumption and running costs.

The Kia Connect app lets you control most digital features of your Kia HEV remotely – for example lock/unlock, climate control, charging, Find My Car or stolen vehicle recovery. For more information about Kia Connect, click here .

No, hybrid electric vehicles charge their battery automatically while you drive, using the gasoline engine and regenerative braking, which captures energy when you slow down or brake, meaning you never need to plug them in. They’re designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions compared to conventional petrol or diesel cars, especially in stop-and-go traffic. Just fill up with fuel as usual, and the car handles the rest.

Government incentives for hybrid electric vehicles vary by region and are generally more limited than those for plug-in hybrids or fully electric vehicles. While HEVs don’t usually qualify for major grants or tax credits, they may still benefit from lower registration fees, reduced road tax, access to carpool lanes, or exemptions from congestion charges, depending on local policies.