2023 Kia Sportage

　　

Kia Sportage Video Shorts

by zzdcar Test Team

　　

2023 Kia Sportage Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　Perception might not be everything but it's definitely important. Kia has long been seen as a value brand. However, the perception about value brands is that they can be cheap. Kia is out to change that view through compelling design, class-leading technology and smart packaging at a competitive price. You can see that in the midsize Telluride — the zzdcar Top Rated SUV three years in a row — the versatile three-row Sorento and now the redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Kia Sportage LX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$136/mo  for Sportage LX

　　Sportage LX

　　LX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $26,290 MSRPLX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $28,090 MSRPEX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $28,290 MSRPEX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $30,090 MSRPX-Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $31,090 MSRPSX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $31,790 MSRPSX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $33,590 MSRPSX-Prestige 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $33,790 MSRPSX-Prestige 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $35,590 MSRPX-Pro 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $35,290 MSRPX-Pro Prestige 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $37,090 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The Sportage is Kia's compact crossover SUV. Its primary competitors are the best-selling models in the class, the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4. But nearly every automaker has a compact SUV in its lineup, so it's no wonder the Sportage can get lost in the shuffle for a lot of shoppers.

　　Thanks to a complete redesign that dramatically improves almost everything about it, the new 2023 Sportage is more likely to attract positive attention. Highlights include comfortable seating in a roomier interior, expanded cargo capacity, a comprehensive collection of the latest tech features, and some legit off-road chops. Of course, the 2023 Sportage comes with Kia's class-leading warranty too.

　　The outgoing Kia Sportage wasn't terrible, but aside from its powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine option, it wasn't a standout either. The redesigned 2023 model is much more competitive than its predecessor and is an important model to consider if you're shopping for a small, value-packed SUV. Don't forget to check out the Sportage Hybrid and the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, which we review separately.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Sportage drive? The Sportage fails to impress in day-to-day driving. The mildly off-road-focused nature of the X-Pro trim we tested, with its all-terrain tires, makes on-road handling feel a bit softer, but that's less of an issue than the lack of power. It took our Sportage test car more than 9.5 seconds to reach highway speeds of 60 mph, which is very slow and seconds behind class leaders. There are no other engines offered unless you opt for the Sportage Hybrid, which we highly recommend checking out.

　　The engine makes most driving scenarios more work than it should be. The transmission is constantly hunting for the right gear to maximize available power, and the driver needs to plan for passing maneuvers well ahead of when they might need to happen. We otherwise found the steering easy and accurate and the brakes smooth and responsive. Replace the engine with something else and it would be a much better experience.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Sportage? The Sportage has you covered if comfort is a priority. The seats may not offer an extensive amount of adjustments, but they offer excellent support and cushioning in all the right places. The upholstery isn't fancy but feels durable, and if you opt for the higher trim models, the front seats include ventilation and heat functions. The rear seats have a lot of adjustable recline, which will certainly make your rear passengers happy.

　　The Sportage suspension is very softly tuned. That allows the Sportage to absorb bumps and broken pavement well but sometimes causes it to uncomfortably bob up and down around a little more if the road is undulating. Kia also did a great job at keeping unwanted noise out of the cabin and keeping the interior free of squeaks or rattles.

　　We think the climate control layout is pretty slick — the touch panel controls convert to media controls when not in use — but we could see some people not liking it. Interface aside, the system performance is strong and effective at maintaining your target cabin temperature.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below