The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid: A Fun-to-Drive, Fuel-Efficient Crossover for City-Dwellers and Suburbanites
If you’re in the market for a well-rounded city crossover at a reasonable price, the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid is worth a long look. Completely redesigned for 2023, this crossover is fun-to-drive, fuel-efficient, and put together well.
Powertrain and Performance
The Sportage Hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (177 horsepower, 195 lb-ft of torque) with a permanent synchronous electric motor that makes 59.3 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a starter/generator motor that makes 17.3 hp and 31.9 lb-ft of torque. The resulting 277 system horsepower and 258 system lb-ft of torque are plenty to give the Sportage a sprightly feel around town. The juice is supplied by a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion battery, and an eight-speed automatic transmission gets the power to the all-wheel drive system.
Acceleration is one thing, ride and handling are another. The Sportage is engaging, despite a bit too much artificialness in its steering feel, and it’s sporty enough to stave off crossover-induced depression. Ride is not sacrificed.
Interior and Features
Kia manages to make an all-digital display work – though as is the case with any of these screen-heavy interiors, repair costs may be a concern. It helps that Kia’s infotainment system is simple and intuitive to use. There is a disturbing lack of knobs and buttons, but the setup works well enough that once you’ve gotten the hang of things – and it doesn’t take long – you can do what you need/want to do while minimizing distraction from the duty of driving.
Kia’s neat little swap system – swap between audio and HVAC controls at the touch of a button – helps here, though it does occasionally confound. On the disappointing side, my mid-trim EX tester is saddled with dummy buttons for a function that’s not there – I am guessing cooled seats. Some materials felt a bit cheap, though.
Safety Features
For $30K, the Sportage Hybrid comes with standard features like forward-collision assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, driver-attention warning, dual-zone climate control, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, heated front seats, and keyless entry. Opting for an EX over the LX adds 18-inch wheels (instead of 17s), LED turn signals, UVO infotainment, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, navigation, push-button start, satellite radio, heated steering wheel, and rear USB ports.
Price
The only options on my tester were a package that added a sunroof and hands-free liftgate, and carpeted floor mats. Total price? $33,860 with destination.
Competition
Kia’s biggest problem here isn’t anything related to the Sportage per se – it’s that most of the competitive set is strong. Most of the alternatives on offer are also well-rounded, though some are going to cost more when similarly equipped. There are a lot of good choices at this size and price point.
Conclusion
The X-Pro Sportage is for “light” off-roading while the hybrid is for urban and suburban commuters, and it’s well-suited to that role. So well-suited, in fact, that it’s worth considering if you’re in the market for a brand-new crossover. The entire package is well put together, balancing fun-to-drive, functionality, and fuel economy.
Secondary Headers:
Powertrain and Performance
Interior and Features
Safety Features
Price
Competition
Conclusion
