Looking at its current lineup, it’s hard to believe Kia was once a byword for cheapness. In fact, the only nameplate remaining from those bad old days is the Kia Sportage. Since its launch in 1993, the Sportage has evolved from a curiosity to a true mainstream crossover SUV. But it was still missing something.
Design and interior It’s easy to spot a 2023 Sportage thanks to a radical new front fascia with blade-like LED daytime running lights encapsulating triangular headlights. The way the lights blend into the grille gives the Sportage a somewhat alien appearance. The rest of the exterior styling is fairly conventional, however, which means anyone approaching this car from behind is in for a shock when they see that front end.
Tech, infotainment, and driver assist All 2023 Sportage models benefit from a major infotainment upgrade. Kia now offers a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen placed side by side to make one long curved display, something previously seen on only on luxury cars from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. However, that setup is only available on the top SX-Prestige model. The LX and EX models get 8.0-inch and 12.3-inch touchscreens, respectively, with a stand-alone instrument cluster.
Driving experience The Sportage Hybrid’s powertrain consists of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission assisted by a single electric motor. Total system output is 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The base LX model gets standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, while the EX and SX-Prestige are all-wheel drive only.
Enthusiastic driving is not what this car is about, though. It’s just an ordinary crossover designed for everyday transportation. While some crossovers will try to humor driving enthusiasts, the Sportage doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.
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