Yahoo Autos 2023 Kia Sportage Review: Exceptional Hybrid steals the show
Pros: Powerful and efficient hybrids; class-leading space; well-executed tech; distinctive design choices
Cons: Slow base engine; X-Line and X-Pro are not available as the hybrid; not exactly handsome
The term “all-new” gets thrown around liberally in the car biz, but when it comes to the 2023 Kia Sportage, it absolutely fits the bill. Kia’s oldest nameplate goes from one of the smallest compact SUVs to one of the biggest, expanding in every dimension to be far more family friendly. It now offers two hybrid options: one is an exceptional, turbocharged conventional hybrid that does double duty as a fuel economy and performance upgrade, while the other is a plug-in hybrid that provides 32 miles of electric-only range and therefore even better fuel economy. Meanwhile, the interior is better-looking, better-made and packed with Kia’s latest, excellent tech.
While it continues to deliver distinctive style and better-than-average value, the Sportage’s newfound practicality makes it a compelling answer to choices like the equally impressive new 2023 Honda CR-V, plus the Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester and the Sportage's mechanically related cousin, the Hyundai Tucson. There’s even a quasi-off-road model in the new X-Line and X Pro trim levels, though they do fall short in terms of ruggedness compared to the Forester Wilderness and RAV4 TRD Off-Road, and are only offered with the sluggish base engine that is the Sportage's weakest attribute.
Add it all up and you have a new entry in the ultra-competitive compact SUV segment that is an absolute must-see. We would steer you toward the Sportage Hybrid, however, as its price premium is negligible, its benefits great and the base engine is disappointingly slow. The plug-in hybrid is also very appealing, but is also costlier and will likely be harder to come by.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
Video Review
What's new for 2023?
The Kia Sportage is all-new for 2023, and not only that, but it’s a significant departure in terms of size and engine choice.
What are the Sportage interior and in-car technology like?
The new Sportage interior represents another advantage over most in the segment. In short, it’s cool. There’s a sense of style here you’re not going to find in a RAV4 or Forester. Beyond the design, there are red, navy and sage green interiors available depending on trim level and drivetrain, with even the EX Hybrid eligible for a particularly cool Misty Gray and Triton Navy combo (pictured above). We really like that Kia includes such aesthetic options along with Kia’s usual generous feature content on lower trim levels rather than keeping them exclusive to high-dollar ones.
Another example of this is the cabin’s main attraction: the giant curved panel housing twin 12.3-inch displays that are shared with the EV6. Found on every trim but the LX, it’s not only an eye-catcher for its curved design and pretty graphics, but like other Kias, the infotainment touchscreen is easy to use. The instrument panel provides crisp, vibrant graphics and a choice of designs that thankfully don't overwhelm you with questionably useful information. Also coming over from the EV6 is the unique row of touch-capacitive “buttons” that serve double duty as climate controls and infotainment menu shortcuts. It is indeed a departure from Kia’s usual ultra-functional cabin controls and we can see how it could be annoying, but after thou they do provide a clean look and we’re definitely seeing a lot worse these days.
How big is the Sportage?
The Sportage is just about the biggest compact SUV. It’s 7.1 inches longer overall than its predecessor with an extra 3.4 inches of wheelbase. Cargo capacity, which was previously sacrificed to provide surprisingly generous rear legroom, is now a segment-best 39.6 cubic-feet. That’s better than even the mechanically related Hyundai Tucson, which aced our luggage test and bested the Toyota RAV4 and previous-generation Honda CR-V. True We had absolutely no problem fitting in all six bags in our luggage test with plenty of room to spare. Oh, and speaking of spares, the Sportage Hybrid still has one. The CR-V and Tucson lose them to make way for their batteries.
Backseat legroom also expands be a class leader with 41.3 inches. It really is as vast as that spec and the below photo indicates. We had no problem comfortably sitting in front of a rear-facing child seat, and also appreciated the ample amount of rear seat recline.
What are the Sportage fuel economy and performance specs?
The base engine is effectively average for the segment: a 2.5-liter inline-four that produces 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. It’s attached to an eight-speed automatic (many competitors have a less desirable CVT), and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 25 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined with FWD and 23/28/25 with AWD. That latter number is awfully underwhelming, as most competitors do considerably better (the CR-V AWD gets 29 mpg combined).
The Sportage Hybrid is therefore highly recommended. This unique combination of 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four, electric motor and six-speed automatic pairs with either front- or all-wheel drive. Together it produces 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, a robust amount that is far more than other hybrids and in keeping with the turbocharged, gas-only engine upgrades of rival SUVs. It returns 42 mpg city, 44 mpg highway and 43 mpg combined with FWD and 38/38/38 with AWD. That’ll in theory save you hundreds of dollars every year on gas, but in several hundred miles of mixed driving, we only managed 32 mpg combined with an AWD EX.
The Sportage Plug-In Hybrid builds upon the conventional hybrid with a much larger battery. It produces 261 hp and 258 lb-ft. When plugged in and filled with electrons, it should return around 32 miles of range, though official EPA numbers were not available at the time of this writing.
