2023 Kia Sportage | Review & Road Test
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The Sportage is Kia’s longest lasting nameplate. This newest version comes with three powertrain options. The gas engine option receives a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline 4 (graphics: 187 hp). Estimated EPA numbers are solid even for this option (FWD: 25 city/32 hwy AWD: 23 city/28 hwy). There are two hybrid options available on the Sportage, a standard hybrid that gets (graphic: 227 hp combined; EPA: FWD – 42 city/44 hwy AWD: 38 city/38 hwy) an 44kW permanent magnetic motor and more than 500 miles of range per tank of gas. And you can get a plug-in hybrid that comes with a 66.9-kw motor and a 13.8-kw hour battery and can run up to 32 miles on pure electric range.
Okay, that’s out of the way, now let’s talk more about the exterior of the Sportage. First thing you might notice, because it’s very noticeable is that the Sportage is now dramatically larger, 7.1-inches longer to be exact with a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase. We’ll get to why that’s significant in a bit.
So, does that put the Sportage into a different segment? I say, yes. The subcompact space is now being occupied by the Soul and the Seltos. That puts the all-new Niro and slightly larger Sportage in a compact spot with the Sorrento in a smaller mid-size space and the Telluride in the larger midsize slot.
If you’re cross-shopping, the Sportage is now going to line up with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Volkswagen Tiguan, Subaru Forester and Ford Escape. Well, that is some stiff competition.
Magically, there is a ton more space in the second row now. Legroom, headroom, galore. This is a truly comfortable place to sit. And there is more cargo space for your stuff. (69.3 cu-ft/36.6 cu-ft)
When you get into the driver’s seat you’re going to be very pleasantly surprised at how much work Kia’s done with the interior of the Sportage.
The cockpit is very driver oriented. The big news is the big screens. Nearly 25 inches stretch from the driver’s side A-pilar to the middle of the car.
That’s a 12.3-inch digital gauge screen and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. (Standard on EX trim and above) It’s nicely integrated, so nothing looks like an iPad slapped on your dash. It’s well thought out and looks great. And most importantly, the interface is intuitive as are all Kia products.
The seats are comfortable; you’ll get cloth only on the base LX and SynTex artificial leather on everything above, the stitching makes it look great, again, only on the base LX model is the stitching molded and not actual stitching, and there’s padding for elbows on surfaces.
Safety equipment takes a front seat in the Sportage with Kia making some pretty advanced features standard including lane-following assist, lane-keeping assist, forward collision avoidance, and a driver attention warning.
More big news from the Sportage comes in some additional trim levels in the X-Line and X-Pro. Yes, Kia is embracing the rugged trend in crossovers and I’m not opposed.
The X-Line is more of an appearance package, which is fine, but it doesn’t really do anything by way of more capability. You will get an AWD system that does a good job of sending traction to where you need it most, so that’s something. But you will get trim specific front and rear bumpers, gloss black side mirrors, roof rack and window surrounds as well as 19-inch wheels. That wheel size alone should tell you it’s not super off-road capable.
The X-Pro goes a few steps further with 17-inch off-road wheels, BFGoodrich all-terrain tires that give you some great traction.
Helping with that capability are extra drive modes with a snow mode that helps prevent slippage maximizing traction and downhill braking.
The Sportage is based on the new Sorento platform, which is a stiffer structure making the Sportage feel more stable even given it’s increased length. It turns with confidence, even in the hybrid when you’re giving it an extra punch with that increase horsepower. A huge improvement in the driving dynamics.
The base LX starts at just under $26,000 and the AWD X-Pro Prestige model, which is the top of the line tops out at just under $37,000. Those prices don’t include Kia’s $1255 destination fee. In between those two extremes you can get the EX, SX, SX-Prestige and X-Line as well as the X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige. That’s a pretty wide array of options for an $11,000 spread in price.
That the Sportage is bigger, drives better, can be more off-road capable, has better fuel economy, more standard features, and looks way better than its predecessor. Welcome to the big kids table, Sportage.
00:00 2023 Kia Sportage
0:40 Engine Options
1:13 Exterior
1:51 Competitors
6:41 Driving Impressions
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