2023 Kia Sportage Review
Kia’s SUV lineup is as hot as it gets. The foursome of Seltos, Sorento, Sportage and Telluride are all big winners no matter which metric you use and now it’s time for the sales leader to enter its next generation. This is the all-new 2023 Sportage and its gained some distance from its subcompact-sized Seltos sibling, growing by over 7” in length and now boasting class-leading rear legroom and cargo capacity. Applying the “Kia for everyone” approach that has recently worked so well for the brand, the Sportage is available in 4 regular trims, an X-Line model sporting an off-road appearance and perhaps the most exciting news, 2 X-Pro trims truly capable of trail adventures with B.F. Goodrich all-terrain tires, 17” off-road wheels and various drive modes – though curiously – not one labeled off-road – just Normal, Sport, Smart and Snow. Both X-Line and X-Pro come standard with all-wheel drive providing 1.5” of additional ground clearance as compared with the outgoing model. Though Kia is holding back on giving us all of the available powertrain to come, we know a hybrid will join the lineup at a later date. For now, all Sportage models use a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder targeting 187 horsepower and if it follows the formula of the new Hyundai Tucson, it’ll generate 178 pound-feet of torque through a conventional 8-speed automatic transmission. But it’s likely this new cabin design that’ll have people talking, particularly on the top end models, with this available dual panoramic curved display, and a new living space concept inspired by high-end outdoor products, furniture and modern architecture. A 360 degree camera, a Harman Kardon premium audio system and Hyundai/Kia’s excellent infotainment offerings are more reasons to go SX trim or higher. And Kia is jamming the Sportage with driver assistance features even at the base LX level with items such as LED headlights with high beam assist and lane keeping assist while more equipped Sportage models receive the semi-autonomous Highway Driving Assist with navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and the video-based blind spot view monitor. Pricing and other specifics will be revealed closer to the Sportage’s market launch early in 2022.
2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid Review
One of the worst vehicles I can ever recall testing was the original Kia Sportage; so underpowered that it struggled up the most modest incline. Flash ahead 23 years and Kia now leads the industry in dependability, they’re the most awarded brand in J.D. Power’s APEAL study and they’re at the forefront of electrification. Take for instance this all-new 2023 Sportage - available in gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.
There’s part of me that thinks gas-electric hybrids have had their day and another that realizes they still have relevance. With a deluge of all-electrics currently hitting the market the humble hybrid can feel like yesterday’s engineering, especially those without the added benefit of a plug. But understandably not everyone is ready to take the EV plunge and, in that case, this Sportage Hybrid - returning 38 mpg across the board and loaded to the gills at a very palatable price – makes a compelling proposition. Appearing especially audacious in matte paint, this top dog SX-Prestige with all-wheel drive is as good as it gets in the hybrid CUV segment. Significantly bigger than before and awash in Kia’s hallmark high feature content you really have to nitpick to find fault with this new Sportage. Its bold design bests that of its corporate cousin the Hyundai Tucson, there are luxury-level amenities including the coveted height adjustable power passenger seat, and it drives without the sense that it’s carrying around a hybrid anchor. The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine is married with a smallish 44 kW motor to combine for 227 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of peak output via a 6-speed automatic transmission. A lithium-ion battery pack weighing about 80 pounds stores the 1.5 kWh of energy produced from the generator and during times of regenerative braking or coasting. The Sportage starts in Eco mode every time contributing a hint of laziness to the throttle response but it’s not aggravating as it often is with these sorts of economy-minded drive settings. I still don’t get though why Kia doesn’t make Smart mode the default setting which automatically adapts between Eco and Sport based upon the driver’s habits. Dialing into Sport adjusts steering effort and powertrain control logic, eliminating any Eco mode sluggishness. There’s also a pleasing ride quality that’s comfort-tuned for journeys taking full advantage of the Sportage Hybrid’s gaudy 521-mile driving range. And this gasoline-electric hybrid technology has advanced over the decades to where there’s far more pure electric operation than ever before…at slow speeds for short distances mind you but still vastly more available. Personally, I judge a hybrid’s drivability based upon the seamlessness of the engine/motor transitions and secondarily on brake feel: are they intrusive? How are the levels of noise, vibration and harshness? The benchmark hybrid is the new Toyota Venza and this Sportage gets pretty darn close to that level of sophistication. The turbo-4 is a little buzzy and these eco-friendly tires generate some notable noise otherwise the drive is exactly what’s desired in a small utility – comfortable and amply powered with sufficient 4-wheel traction for some light off-roading. 8.3” of ground clearance and a 4WD Lock Mode with downhill brake control give it a little cred.
This Shadow Matte Gray paint looks amazing and really showcases the Sportage’s design details. It adds $595 to the price and requires special care. New owners must sign this booklet upon delivery acknowledging the fact that it shouldn’t be taken through automatic car washes among other admonitions.
For those craving all the goodies the SX-Prestige is the trim that delivers. Beyond these Carmine Red synthetic leather seats and satin matte finishes the cupboard is full of charms: heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, a variety of soundscapes to aid in relaxation, a panoramic roof, front seats with built-in coat hangers that double as wire management to the integrated USB ports, memory settings for the driver’s seat, and top-notch infotainment and electronics – packed with features and intuitively controlled. This Harman Kardon sound system with Clari-fi restoration technology for compressed music also continues to impress as it does in many other Hyundai/Kia products. The only knocks to this cabin are Kia’s newly introduced dual personality control panel, which toggles between radio and climate settings, so if you forget which one is selected you might just inadvertently raise the cabin temperature as opposed to raising the stereo volume and Kia’s top-of-the-line touchscreen still doesn’t support wireless phone projection but does provide a wireless charge pad – a curious mismatch. I’m also not in love with the new heated windshield with its Land Rover vibes because those little squiggly lines can be distracting though if it was January, I’d likely be praising it. And this Sportage is blessed with all of the driver assistance tech like Highway Driving Assist with steering support though it’s not a true hands-free system, turn signal activated side camera views, a surround view monitor with 3D motion control, auto high beams and Smart Parking Assist allowing the car to be guided into and out of tight spots from outside the vehicle using the key fob. Even the cargo area is smart with a hands-free, kick-free liftgate, a dual level floor to add a little more height and remote levers to fold the rear seats for max hauling spaciousness. The previous Sportage was small – this one has best-in-class rear seat legroom and cargo capacity so that issue has been ameliorated.
This SX-Prestige AWD with the upcharge paint and carpeted floor mats stickers for $38,235. The same Sportage, as a plug-in hybrid, retails for $45,035. But it qualifies for a federal tax credit that reduces its net cost to within $200 of this standard hybrid. The plug-in also provides 34 miles of electric-only driving which only adds to the savings. The only disadvantages of the plug-in: added weight and a much-diminished driving range.
It's also worth noting that if you don’t need all-wheel drive, the front-drive Sportage Hybrid blossoms to 43mpg with a 589-mile driving range. That model starts at $28,585 but obviously forgoes most of these premium touches.
It’s really no surprise, the hits just keep on coming for Kia. Even though the plug-in seems to make the most sense the trifecta of Sportage models will appeal to a wide audience.
There’s part of me that thinks gas-electric hybrids have had their day and another that realizes they still have relevance. With a deluge of all-electrics currently hitting the market the humble hybrid can feel like yesterday’s engineering, especially those without the added benefit of a plug. But understandably not everyone is ready to take the EV plunge and, in that case, this Sportage Hybrid - returning 38 mpg across the board and loaded to the gills at a very palatable price – makes a compelling proposition. Appearing especially audacious in matte paint, this top dog SX-Prestige with all-wheel drive is as good as it gets in the hybrid CUV segment. Significantly bigger than before and awash in Kia’s hallmark high feature content you really have to nitpick to find fault with this new Sportage. Its bold design bests that of its corporate cousin the Hyundai Tucson, there are luxury-level amenities including the coveted height adjustable power passenger seat, and it drives without the sense that it’s carrying around a hybrid anchor. The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine is married with a smallish 44 kW motor to combine for 227 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of peak output via a 6-speed automatic transmission. A lithium-ion battery pack weighing about 80 pounds stores the 1.5 kWh of energy produced from the generator and during times of regenerative braking or coasting. The Sportage starts in Eco mode every time contributing a hint of laziness to the throttle response but it’s not aggravating as it often is with these sorts of economy-minded drive settings. I still don’t get though why Kia doesn’t make Smart mode the default setting which automatically adapts between Eco and Sport based upon the driver’s habits. Dialing into Sport adjusts steering effort and powertrain control logic, eliminating any Eco mode sluggishness. There’s also a pleasing ride quality that’s comfort-tuned for journeys taking full advantage of the Sportage Hybrid’s gaudy 521-mile driving range. And this gasoline-electric hybrid technology has advanced over the decades to where there’s far more pure electric operation than ever before…at slow speeds for short distances mind you but still vastly more available. Personally, I judge a hybrid’s drivability based upon the seamlessness of the engine/motor transitions and secondarily on brake feel: are they intrusive? How are the levels of noise, vibration and harshness? The benchmark hybrid is the new Toyota Venza and this Sportage gets pretty darn close to that level of sophistication. The turbo-4 is a little buzzy and these eco-friendly tires generate some notable noise otherwise the drive is exactly what’s desired in a small utility – comfortable and amply powered with sufficient 4-wheel traction for some light off-roading. 8.3” of ground clearance and a 4WD Lock Mode with downhill brake control give it a little cred.
This Shadow Matte Gray paint looks amazing and really showcases the Sportage’s design details. It adds $595 to the price and requires special care. New owners must sign this booklet upon delivery acknowledging the fact that it shouldn’t be taken through automatic car washes among other admonitions.
For those craving all the goodies the SX-Prestige is the trim that delivers. Beyond these Carmine Red synthetic leather seats and satin matte finishes the cupboard is full of charms: heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, a variety of soundscapes to aid in relaxation, a panoramic roof, front seats with built-in coat hangers that double as wire management to the integrated USB ports, memory settings for the driver’s seat, and top-notch infotainment and electronics – packed with features and intuitively controlled. This Harman Kardon sound system with Clari-fi restoration technology for compressed music also continues to impress as it does in many other Hyundai/Kia products. The only knocks to this cabin are Kia’s newly introduced dual personality control panel, which toggles between radio and climate settings, so if you forget which one is selected you might just inadvertently raise the cabin temperature as opposed to raising the stereo volume and Kia’s top-of-the-line touchscreen still doesn’t support wireless phone projection but does provide a wireless charge pad – a curious mismatch. I’m also not in love with the new heated windshield with its Land Rover vibes because those little squiggly lines can be distracting though if it was January, I’d likely be praising it. And this Sportage is blessed with all of the driver assistance tech like Highway Driving Assist with steering support though it’s not a true hands-free system, turn signal activated side camera views, a surround view monitor with 3D motion control, auto high beams and Smart Parking Assist allowing the car to be guided into and out of tight spots from outside the vehicle using the key fob. Even the cargo area is smart with a hands-free, kick-free liftgate, a dual level floor to add a little more height and remote levers to fold the rear seats for max hauling spaciousness. The previous Sportage was small – this one has best-in-class rear seat legroom and cargo capacity so that issue has been ameliorated.
This SX-Prestige AWD with the upcharge paint and carpeted floor mats stickers for $38,235. The same Sportage, as a plug-in hybrid, retails for $45,035. But it qualifies for a federal tax credit that reduces its net cost to within $200 of this standard hybrid. The plug-in also provides 34 miles of electric-only driving which only adds to the savings. The only disadvantages of the plug-in: added weight and a much-diminished driving range.
It's also worth noting that if you don’t need all-wheel drive, the front-drive Sportage Hybrid blossoms to 43mpg with a 589-mile driving range. That model starts at $28,585 but obviously forgoes most of these premium touches.
It’s really no surprise, the hits just keep on coming for Kia. Even though the plug-in seems to make the most sense the trifecta of Sportage models will appeal to a wide audience.