Parked outdoors the Rowan Resort within the vivid solar of a Palm Springs morning, it may be simple to confuse the brand new Kia Sportage with a few of the extra luxurious SUVs sitting within the valet circle. What was as soon as among the many smallest and least trendy compact crossovers has taken on a wholly new — and decidedly extra upmarket — look.
The 2023 Kia Sportage has additionally grown bigger and roomier, and it provides an array of game-changing options and choices. Consumers will now have the selection of three completely different powertrains, together with two electrified packages. They’ll even have two new off-roadable trim packages to choose from.
Overview
Kia has fully redesigned the Sportage for 2023 and it’s received loads to win over new patrons, in addition to longtime followers. The brand new mannequin is bigger than the previous SUV, incorporates a tauter, extra sporty look, with a broader “Tiger Nostril” grille and new boomerang-shaped working lights. It additionally picks up a few of the design cues discovered within the South Korean carmaker’s new EV6 battery-electric automobile, notably within the rear liftgate.
If something, much more variations of the Sportage might be out there for the 2023 mannequin yr, from the bottom LX to the Sporty X-Line and upscale SX-Status. Kia is including all-new, “off-road prepared” Sportage X-Line and X-Professional trims, and even a sporty GT-Line is predicted at a later date.
The automaker can be rolling out two electrified fashions, each a traditional hybrid, in addition to a plug-in hybrid that ought to be capable of deal with the every day commute for a lot of American motorists on battery energy alone.
Exterior
The 2023 Kia Sportage shifts to the identical N3 platform as the larger Sorento, and grows a full 7.1 inches in general size, although the wheelbase has been stretched simply 3.4 inches.
The brand new Sportage additionally stands 2 inches taller than the outgoing mannequin. And floor clearance jumps to eight.3 inches with all-wheel-drive variations, 7.1 inches with front-wheel drive.
The fifth-generation Sportage adopts Kia’s newest “Opposites Unite” design language which provides it a extra putting and splendid look. There may be, after all, the model’s acquainted “tiger nostril” grille, right here topped by the latest tackle the Kia brand and framed by commonplace LED headlamps. The Sportage additionally options new, boomerang-shaped LED working lamps.
Delicate particulars, such because the chrome stripe working almost the total method across the roofline, in addition to the “deconstructed” texture of the D-pillar, assist the Sportage stand out in a crowded market of compact crossovers.
Inside
The brand new Sportage design is extra muscular outdoors, and extra upscale inside. The SUV now provides a panoramic curved show that pairs a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. It’s an choice on decrease trim packages, commonplace on fashions just like the Status.
Angular air vents add to the technical really feel of the instrument panel. The uneven heart console locations buttons nearer to the motive force and now incorporates a new rotary e-shifter.
The seats now function actual stitching and, for greater grades, undertake vegan “leather-based” surfaces.
The elevated exterior dimensions translate right into a considerably greater cabin. The place the Sportage was as soon as one of many smallest — and most cramped — choices within the compact class, it’s now among the many roomiest. Kia claims the compact utility automobile now provides segment-leading rear cargo capability of 39.6 cubic ft. The 2023 Sportage additionally adopts a dual-level rear cargo ground.
Powertrain
The 2023 Kia Sportage provides a selection of three completely different powertrain choices, beginning with a base 2.5-liter inline-4 rated at 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. It’s out there in each front- and all-wheel drive, the latter offering an additional 1.5 inches of floor clearance in contrast with the outgoing Sportage. Regardless of the rise within the general measurement of the 2023 Sportage and the increase in engine output, the naturally aspirated four-banger positive aspects an additional 2 mpg, rising to twenty-eight mixed.
The two.5-liter engine is the one bundle out there for the Sportage X-Professional — after which solely in all-wheel drive. Right here, the AWD system provides electro-hydraulic coupling with a center-locking differential to enhance energy distribution when coping with low-grip pavement and off-road situations. X-Professional fashions additionally include a bigger, off-road wheel and tire mixture.
With different trim packages, patrons can go for both a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. The HEV system pairs a 1.6-liter turbo-4 with a single electrical motor and a 1.5 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Energy is directed via a 6-speed computerized and is obtainable both front- or all-wheel drive. The FWD bundle delivers as much as 43 miles per gallon mixed, the AWD system as much as 38.
The PHEV makes use of the identical engine and motor pairing however boosts output to 261 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque by drawing from a bigger lithium-ion battery pack. Whereas closing numbers haven’t been validated by the EPA but, the 13.8 kWh pack is predicted to ship sufficient power to clock 32 miles between prices.
Security and Know-how
Whereas base fashions provide a traditional analog gauge cluster and 8-inch touchscreen, it might shock nobody if nearly all of prospects improve to the dual digital shows. They supply a much more upscale look and extra options. The one downside, oddly sufficient, is that the 12.3-inch touchscreen loses the wi-fi variations of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However plugging in is a minor inconvenience.
You’ll nonetheless get wi-fi cellphone charging and different helpful options, corresponding to a WiFi hotspot that may connect with as many as 5 gadgets concurrently
There’s additionally a navigation system that, relying upon mannequin, can hold maps up-to-date utilizing over-the-air updates. The cloud-based system is ready to revise routing on the fly, as nicely. And it permits Kia to remotely replace a lot of the software program on the 2023 Sportage, too.
The brand new crossover additionally boasts a broad line-up of superior driver help programs, together with Lane-Preserving Help and Ahead Collision Alert with Computerized Emergency Braking. Blind-Spot Help, distant parking help and 360-degree encompass view can be found as choices on low and mid-range trim packages, and commonplace on high-trim variations.
Driving Impressions
In two days driving between Palm Springs and Los Angeles I had the chance to clock vital mileage in each the 2023 Kia Sportage Status Hybrid and Sportage X-Professional Status fashions.
The Status Hybrid’s gas-electric drivetrain delivers stable acceleration and was greater than competent heading out of Palm Springs on California Route 79. That’s a torturously slender and fast-climbing mountain street that may go away uninitiated drivers with clammy arms and chilly ft.
The powertrain is responsive, if not overwhelmingly fast. Extra spectacular have been the crossover’s steering and dealing with. It made simple work of the state route’s tight turns, displaying surprisingly little physique roll regardless of its general top and added mass. Steering was exact and predictable.
Halfway via my first day behind the wheel I received to change to the brand new X-Professional mannequin and expertise a excessive desert off-road course Kia arrange. Although removed from the intense situations one may expertise in a spot like Moab, the course nonetheless offered an opportunity to see how the X-Professional may deal with completely different off-road situations, together with moguls, deep ruts, steep climbs and unfastened grime. It confirmed itself nicely, particularly with the middle differential locked and, the place wanted, Hill Descent Management activated.
2023 Kia Sportage Specs
| Dimension | L: 183.5 inches/W: 73.4 inches/H: 65.4 inches/Wheelbase: 108.5 inches |
| Weight | 3,375 kilos |
| Powertrain | 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine; 8-speed transmission and FWD/AWD |
| Gas Economic system | 25 mpg metropolis/32 mpg freeway/28 mpg mixed |
| Efficiency Specs | 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque |
| Value | Base value: $25,990; As examined: $36,790, plus $1,255 vacation spot cost |
| On-Sale Date | Out there now |
Wrap Up
For the reason that COVID pandemic struck, thousands and thousands of People have taken the chance to set out on America’s again roads and trails. In flip, automakers have launched an assortment of extra off-road-oriented mannequin strains — like the brand new Wilderness sequence from Subaru.
In actuality, most motorists won’t ever expertise something a lot rougher than a gravel street. For many who aren’t going to problem one thing just like the Rubicon Path, the Sportage X-Professional line is a stable selection. No marvel Kia expects it to generate almost a 3rd of the nameplates gross sales going ahead.
For extra standard driving situations, Kia provides loads of different choices, together with the hybrid mannequin that I used on my second day’s drive again to Los Angeles. It’s an equally spectacular bundle, particularly if you issue within the added gasoline economic system.
I’m trying ahead to driving the plug-in hybrid at a later date. Count on that model of the 2023 Kia Sportage to succeed in showrooms by the third quarter of this yr.
Relating to pricing, there’s a 2023 Kia Sportage for just about each finances. The crossover begins in front-drive LX trim at simply $25,990, with the all-wheel-drive model leaping to $27,790. On the higher finish, the all-wheel-drive-only Status Hybrid begins at $36,190. The X-Professional — additionally restricted to AWD — ranges from $30,790 to $36,790. (Add $1,255 for supply charges to all these figures.)
Whereas the 2023 Kia Sportage is probably not the cut price basement choice it was partly generations, it not must be. It’s grown greater, extra luxurious and way more competent. It’s additionally much more enjoyable to drive, on-road and off. And that ought to have rivals like Subaru, Honda, Mazda and Toyota trying over their shoulders.
2023 Kia Sportage — Steadily Requested Questions
Is the Kia Sportage a dependable automobile?
Kia routinely scores at or very close to the highest within the J.D. Energy Preliminary High quality and Automobile Dependability Research. The Sportage, specifically, is among the many most dependable of compact SUVs.
The place is the 2023 Kia Sportage constructed?
Whereas some variations of the fifth-generation Sportage will proceed to be imported from South Korea, nearly all of the 2023 fashions will shift manufacturing to the Kia plant in West Level, Georgia.
Which variations of the 2023 Kia Sportage provide all-wheel drive?
All variations of the fifth-generation Sportage could have all-wheel-drive choices. The X-Professional packages and the Status Hybrid will solely include all-wheel drive.
