2023 KIA Sportage Review, Pricing, and Specs
The 2023 Kia Sportage should separate itself from the throng of compact SUV class of crossovers with its truly extroverted styling. The Kia’s unconventional face features a set of alien looking headlights and a distinct grille design. Its bodywork is sleek and muscular, and its taillights draw comparisons to those on the new all-electric Kia EV6.
We don’t know what powertrains the Sportage will have, but they’ll likely be shared with the recently redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson, with which it shares a platform. That suggests a 187-hp four-cylinder engine will be standard; a hybrid or plug-in hybrid could also be offered. Likewise, we think the 2023 Sportage could be available with a turbo-four that makes around 280 horsepower, especially if it’s inherited from the mid-size Sorento SUV.
What’s New for 2023?
The 2023 Sportage introduces an all-new generation when it reaches showrooms presumably sometime early next year. The current generation is unchanged for the 2022 model year. While we’ve now seen images of the global version of the all-new Sportage, we’ll get more details about the U.S. spec when it’s revealed in July 2021. There is also a new color for the Sportage it’s called Sage Green.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Kia hasn’t said how much the 2023 Sportage will cost or exactly what trim levels will be available. We expect its current lineup to be similar to the next generation, and we don’t expect each model to be priced much higher than they currently are.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, the Sportage looks to make an impression with a snazzy design highlighted by a huge digital display on the dashboard and other various eye-catching details. The images we’ve seen show an attractive two-tone color scheme, and the shape of the air vents on the dash are particularly distinct. The center console boasts a rotary shift knob, a push-to-start button, and myriad other controls that blend into the piano-black bezel. The digital instrument gauge cluster has been redesigned too which a lot more features than the previous generation models.
Fuel Economy and Real World MPG
In its segment, the Sportage lives near the bottom of the fuel-sipping hierarchy, well below what the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V achieve. The front-drive, base engine Sportage earns 23 mpg city and 30 highway, according to the EPA. Those numbers drop by 1 and 4 mpg, respectively, when all-wheel drive is added. The front-drive turbo model has EPA estimates of 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, but those figures drop to 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with all-wheel drive.
The all-wheel-drive SX Turbo returned a measly 23 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen. The Kia’s real-world result is substantially lower than the 29 mpg we saw on an all-wheel-drive, turbocharged CX-5. For more information about the Sportage’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every model is fitted with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that includes standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The system is easy to use thanks to physical knobs and buttons, but its menus have small icons, and the design doesn’t look as sophisticated as the rest of the interior. Desirable options are wireless device charging and built-in navigation.
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
The 2023 Sportage offers an assortment of standard driver assistance technology as well as a couple of options. For more information about the Sportage’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Kia offers a significantly better warranty plan than its competitors, but rivals such as the Chevy Equinox and the Toyota RAV4 include complimentary scheduled maintenance whereas this ute doesn’t.
- Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.