Starting Price: $25,990 | Price Yours
KBB Rating: 4.6 out of 5
The Kia Sportage is all-new for 2023. This popular compact SUV is a little bigger than its predecessor and is now available with an efficient hybrid powertrain. It also returns to its roots a bit with surprising off-road chops in the X-Pro models.
If you’re wondering whether the hybrid is worth the extra cost, you’re in the right place. Let’s take a closer look at the engines available in the Kia Sportage and find the right one for you.
2023 Kia Sportage
Price of entry: $25,990
Monthly fuel cost: $179
2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
187 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
178 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy: 25/32/28 mpg (FWD), 23/28/25 (AWD)
The base engine in the Kia Sportage makes adequate power and torque numbers, but it doesn’t amaze us in any particular category. It’s powerful enough for everyday driving around town and will get you up to highway speed without requiring too much patience. The fuel economy is about average for this class.
It’s worth noting that this is the engine to get if you want a Sportage with decent off-road capabilities. It’s also the only engine available with the X-Pro trims. On top of a rugged appearance package and standard all-wheel drive (AWD), X-Pro has 8.3 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and Multi-terrain drive modes, making it more adventurous.
2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid
Price of entry: $27,290
Monthly fuel cost: $116
1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine + two electric motors
227 total system horsepower
258 lb-ft of total system torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 42/44/43 mpg (FWD), 38/38/38 mpg (AWD)
The Sportage Hybrid is a highly appealing choice in the competitive market of hybrid compact SUVs like the hybrid variants of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The Sportage Hybrid is about as fuel-efficient as the two aforementioned rivals, while also being more than 50 percent efficient than the non-hybrid Sportage.
On top of the fuel economy benefits, it also generates significantly more power and torque than the standard Sportage. The turbocharged Sportage Hybrid is here to prove that the days of the slow, boring hybrid are coming to an end.
One of the few downsides of the hybrid is that it has no X-Pro trims available. You can get AWD, but you can’t get the off-road perks of the X-Pro models.
With gas prices being what they are today, for most buyers, the extra cost of the Sportage Hybrid will pay for itself in just a couple of years in fuel savings.
More 2023 Kia Sportage
Now that you know which engine is right for you, build and price your own 2023 Kia Sportage or Kia Sportage Hybrid to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see all the new Kia Sportage models for sale near you.
Monthly fuel costs calculated at $4 per gallon (remember that?) and 15,000 miles per year, for front-wheel-drive models.
