2023 Kia Sportage Road Test and Review

The 2023 Kia Sportage is all-new this year, entering its fifth generation. This compact crossover is Kia’s best-selling vehicle with more than 2 million sold in over two decades on the market. It’s a big deal for Kia, so there are big changes to ensure it continues to be a best seller. Changes include larger dimensions that provide more room for cargo and more room for passengers to spread out and get comfortable.

A new, more fuel-efficient gas engine is a part of the line-up, and Kia added both a hybrid and plug-in hybrid for those who put a priority on fuel economy. There are also new trims designed for those who might wander off the pavement for more rugged outdoor adventures. This is a competitive segment with lots of options from which to choose. Let’s see if the 2023 Kia Sportage has what it takes to be a standout.

There are seven trim levels to chooe from in the 2023 Kia Sportage. The base LX starts at $25,990 with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine, 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available for an additional $1,800. The rest of the lineup adds a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as a standard feature. The mid-range SX Prestige starts at $33,490 with additional features including premium synthetic leather seats.

Next up are three new trims that all feature standard all-wheel drive. The X-Line starts at $30,790 with wood interior accents, while the X-Pro comes in at $34,990. The X-Pro Prestige sits at the top of the lineup with a starting price of $36,790. It adds an 8-way power passenger seat and ventilated front seats. The lineup is comprehensive with lots of choices, all of which are at affordable price points.

Those seven trims get even more choices when you add in the available hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. These are new to the Sportage lineup this year, and they add to the affordability of this crossover by helping you stay on budget even as gas prices rise. The hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and is available in the LX, EX and SX-Prestige trims with pricing from $27,290 up to $36,190. Front-wheel drive is available on the base trim with standard all-wheel drive for the rest of the range.

The plug-in hybrid is only available in two trims with standard all-wheel drive. There’s the X-Line or X-Line Prestige, which is sold exclusively as a plug-in hybrid model. These also get their power from a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with more power than the hybrid offers. Pricing has not yet been announced for these two trims.

The base powertrain in the Kia Sportage is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It offers more power and better fuel efficiency and makes the Sportage more fun to drive. It delivers good acceleration, but with a fair amount of engine noise and just enough power for passing slower vehicles on the highway. It’s not an especially engaging engine, but it is a step up from the prior generation.

The hybrid gets a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 227 combined system horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It provides strong acceleration that makes the Sportage a compact crossover that’s not a chore to drive. The plug-in hybrid, which we haven’t yet driven, also has a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine but with 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

No matter which powertrain you choose, the Kia Sportage delivers good fuel economy that is easy on your budget as gas prices rise. The base 2.5-liter gas engine gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive drops those figures to 23 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined, which is still good fuel economy.

Choose the 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid engine with front-wheel drive and you’ll get an EPA-estimated 42 mpg in the city, 44 mpg on the highway, and 43 mpg combined. That drops to 38 mpg across the board when equipped with all-wheel drive. Official EPA numbers aren’t out yet for the plug-in hybrid, but Kia estimates an all-electric range of up to 32 miles, which bodes well for its fuel economy ratings.

This isn’t an off-road-dedicated crossover that can climb over rocks and tackle the Rubicon Trail, but it does have a surprising amount of off-road capability. There’s available all-wheel drive with normal, sport, smart, and snow modes, which come in handy driving on road, too. The X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige are new off-road-ready trims for those who might head a bit off the beaten path. The X-Pro Prestige even tailors those drive modes for use with all-terrain tires.

We had the opportunity to take the Sportage off-road where we tackled a variety of driving surfaces. These ranged from a simple dirt track to more challenging conditions with loose soil on steeper inclines. Kia even threw in some rutted, uneven surfaces and sharper turns to truly test handling. The Sportage might not be the kind of vehicle you think of taking off-road, but it can genuinely handle adventurous driving.

While you can take the Sportage off road, most of the time, you will likely be traveling down paved streets. Here, the Sportage provides a smooth ride with a suspension system that easily hides road imperfections. Passengers won’t be rattled by pebble road surfaces, and they won't notice uncomfortable sway during quick lane changes at highway speeds, either. This makes it easy on the driver as well with controlled steering that keeps you relaxed rather than tense behind the wheel.

Adding to that smooth ride is a minimum of road noise. The sounds of trucks on the highway won’t wake passengers who may have dozed of, and wind noise is kept at bay. Crossovers are popular choices for families, and the Sportage provides a family-friendly ride that will keep everyone comfortable even on the longest of road trips.

The base trim of the Sportage has an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 6-speaker audio system, and one front USB port. The rest of the lineup gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation while top trims also have a premium Harman Kardon audio system and two rear USB ports. The system is easy to use with intuitive menus. There’s also available wireless charging and the premium sound system provides a fantastic audio experience that’s unexpected in a car at this price point.

While the base screen size is perfectly adequate, the larger screen curves and wraps into the instrument cluster. It creates a very high-tech feel and puts everything within easy view of the driver. Especially when trying to follow navigation, the larger screen and its unique positioning make it far easier to follow while still being easily accessible to passengers.

The Sportage got bigger this year so there’s more room for people and all their stuff. It’s still a compact crossover... just one that’s a bit more accommodating. When it comes to cargo, there’s up to 74.1 cubic feet behind the first row with 39.6 cubic feet behind the second row. There’s also a dual-level cargo floor that lets you adjust the space to hold a variety of items. The Sportage can even tow up to 2,500 pounds when properly equipped, and it has roof rails for yet more cargo.

Inside, there’s seating for five with comfortable and supportive seats all around. It’s an attractive and welcoming space that’s good for long commutes or family road trips. There’s an impressive 41.3 inches of legroom for rear passengers, which makes this workable even for taller adults.

The 2023 Kia Sportage ups its game in the face of stiff competition. It now offers gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains for those who want to maximize their fuel economy. Performance is good, especially in the hybrid, and is matched by crisp handling that makes driving easy. The ride is compliant so passengers can relax, and you can venture further from the pavement than what’s practical in most crossovers. In addition, there’s good room for cargo and people with a solid infotainment system.

A wide range of trims with affordable pricing ensures you can find exactly the features you want at a price that fits your budget. The popularity of crossovers means there are new models with new features appearing all the time. The 2023 Kia Sportage provides plenty of reasons to make sure it sits at the top of the list.