- The 2023 Kia Sportage is an entirely new design
- The old Sportage had a reputation as a very well-equipped small SUV that looked a little odd. The new one is well-equipped and stunning
- A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model gets up to 32 miles on electric power alone
- The 2023 Kia Sportage price starts from $25,990 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Kia Sportage models for sale near you
It’s hard for a compact SUV to stand out. Americans buy a LOT of small SUVs, and manufacturers offer them dozens of choices. The Kia Sportage has always been a well-equipped choice but has never been a beautiful one until now. Completely redesigned for the 2023 model year, the all-new Sportage is now a beauty inside and out. Prices range from $25,990 up to $36,790 (PHEV pricing is not yet available).
Passenger Room and Comfort
Since the last time it redesigned the Sportage, Kia has introduced a new, smaller SUV, the Seltos. To differentiate the two, Kia grew the Sportage for 2023. It’s now almost midsize.
In the front seats, you’ll find passenger room typical for the small SUV class. In the rear seats, you’ll find more room than many rivals – adults can ride back there in comfort.
The seats feel all-day comfortable, and even the base LX model gets heated front seats. Upper trim levels can select power-adjustable, heated and cooled front buckets.
Features and Tech
Most Sportage models use a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower – similar to what you get in a Honda CR-V or Mazda CX-5. Hybrid models get more power – 226 horsepower from the combination of a 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The PHEV model is the best performer of the group, with 261 total horsepower and up to 32 miles of all-electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in.
Cabin tech, though, is where Kia really differentiates the Sportage.
A wide, curved screen takes up more than half the dashboard’s width and most of your attention on first glance. It’s actually two screens – a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel for the driver and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen that handles climate and entertainment functions. Angular air vents lend the dash a cool, high-tech look. The setup is standard on all but the base LX model, which uses an 8-inch touchscreen for infotainment.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment, as is an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot.
Kia’s Drive Wise safety system includes forward collision-avoidance assistance with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-centering, and a driver attention monitor that will warn you when you’re getting too tired to drive safely. There’s no added fee for any of the safety gear.
All Sportage models use an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard for most models, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. AWD is standard on two off-road-oriented trims.
The 2023 Sportage range consists of seven models. The base LX is well-equipped, but the EX adds some cosmetic enhancements in addition to the dual 12.3-inch displays. The SX trim adds a power liftgate and sunroof. SX Prestige pushes the edges of luxury with vegan leather and surround-view cameras.
The X-Line model gets a bit more off-road capability, with 19-inch wheels, a roof rack, and water-resistant SynTex seating. X-Pro models take that a step further, with a multi-terrain drive mode selector that adjusts for different surfaces. The X-Pro Prestige is the kitchen-sink model, with all the off-road gear and all the luxury goodies.
Materials and Design
Kia completely redesigned the Sportage for 2023, taking it from a slightly awkward-looking runabout to one of the best-looking compact SUVs on the road.
Kia calls the look “digital tiger” – a new design language that debuted on the sleek EV6 electric hatchback.
It looks fantastic stretched to SUV proportions, combining angular features like chevron daytime running lights with a curvy hood and sweeping character lines in the doors. Higher trim levels get an optional two-tone paint job with a contrast-color roof.
As good as it looks from the outside, it’s more handsome inside. That big curved display screen looks futuristic. The seats, in either SynTex or vegan leather, are two-tone as well, with a chevron stitching pattern that looks pricier than it is.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
The Sportage has grown to almost encroach on midsize SUV territory. Behind the front seats is 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space – more than what’s found in a Toyota RAV4. Fold them down, and you’ll get a class-leading 74.1 cubic feet. That’s nearly on par with the Sorento, the Sportage’s bigger brother.
More 2023 Kia Sportage
Build and price your own 2023 Kia Sportage to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see Sportage models for sale near you.
