Last month, Kia dropped the curtain on one of the most dramatic makeovers we’ve seen in the automotive industry this year. The 2022 Kia Sportage is an excellent compact crossover that checks a lot of boxes for a lot of shoppers, but it’s always been an odd-looking one. For 2023, Kia kept all that was pragmatic and good about the Sportage and wrapped it in a much sharper, more appealing package. But they told us more was coming.
Stylish New Sportage Gets a Fuel-Sipping Option
Here is more. At this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia took the wraps off a 2023 Sportage that gets 39 mpg in combined driving and offers more power than less-efficient models. The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid uses the same powertrain as the larger Sorrento Hybrid. But, given its lighter weight, it offers greater fuel economy. Kia claims it should manage more than 500 miles on a tank.
Kia hasn’t revealed pricing for the Sportage Hybrid. We expect to know that detail closer to its on-sale date, which Kia describes as early next year. A starting price near $30,000 seems like a reasonable guess.
More Power Than Non-Hybrid Sportage
Under the hood, the Sportage Hybrid uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 44-kilowatt electric motor. Together, they give the compact SUV 226 horsepower – nearly 40 more than other Sportage models. Power goes through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on the base LX model. An all-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential is available on the LX and standard on the swankier EX and SX-Prestige models.
The Sportage Hybrid is rated to tow 2,000 pounds. Kia calls that a “class-leading” figure, but we’d be remiss not to point out that a Toyota RAV4 Prime can tow 500 more.
Curved Screens and (Available) Automated Safety Tech
It requires checking a few option boxes, but buyers can purchase the Sportage Hybrid with an extensive technology suite. Two curved 12.3-inch screens – one for the driver’s instrument bezel and one as a central touchscreen – connect to give the impression of one enormous 2-foot screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The cabin is also quite roomy, boasting more rear-seat legroom and cargo space than the RAV4 or Honda CR-V.
Standard safety tech includes automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. But buyers still have to pay extra for blind-spot monitoring, navigation-based cruise control, and Kia’s Highway Driving Assist adaptive cruise control.
