The Kia Sportage is a popular compact SUV that offers fuel-efficient powertrain options, comfortable seating for five adults, and a long list of standard features. In addition, the Sportage features 12 unique trim levels, some offering all-wheel drive (AWD) and others with up to 43 mpg combined city and highway. The redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage presents three reasons that make it the right crossover to buy. 

Three reasons to buy a 2023 Kia Sportage

TrueCar ranked the 2023 Kia Sportage at the top of its latest “Best SUVs” list using its “proprietary ranking algorithm.” Features such as price, interior comfort, standard features, and technology factor into the ranking.

The newest Sportage, with its hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options, spacious interior, long list of standard features, low price, and exceptional warranty, is the right crossover to buy if it’s big enough to fill your needs.

Powertrain options

The gas-only Kia Sportage powertrain features a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter I4 backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. The front-wheel drive (FWD) gas-only Sportage gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg combined, while the AWD version drops to 25 mpg combined. 

The Sportage Hybrid drivetrain also comes in either FWD or AWD options and features a turbocharged 1.6-liter I4 paired with a 1.49-kWh battery and an electric motor to produce 227 hp and 258-lb-ft of torque and includes a six-speed automatic transmission. The FWD Hybrid Sportage gets an EPA-estimated 43 mpg combined, and the AWD uses the same powertrain to get a 38-mpg combined rating. 

The Kia Sportage PHEV drivetrain uses the same 1.6-liter turbo I4 and six-speed transmission as the Hybrid but adds a larger 13.8 kWh Lithium-Ion Polymer battery to make 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

The Sportage PHEV only comes with AWD but has an estimated 84 mpg equivalent with 34 miles of all-electric driving range before reverting to Hybrid mode. On trips longer than 34 miles, the Sportage PHEV AWD still gets an estimated 38 mpg.

Spacious interior

The 2023 Kia Sportage provides enough space for five adults to sit comfortably with front bucket seats and a 60/40 split rear bench seat with folding seatbacks to allow for more cargo.

Upholstery varies from cloth to premium synthetic, depending on trim level. Cargo space behind the back seat measures 40 cubic feet and features a dual-level floor that’s either flat or drops down to accommodate taller items. 

Included features

The base 2023 Kia Sportage LX starts at under $28,000 and comes with Apple CarPlay, Kia Drive Wise, three selectable drive modes, and more.

The 2023 Kia Sportage X-Line Prestige PHEV AWD features the same equipment but starts at $43,190. Besides the obvious PHEV powertrain and AWD, the list of upgrades includes a premium audio system, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a power liftgate, and more.

The 2023 Sportage is the right crossover to buy

While the 2023 Kia Sportage isn’t the cheapest crossover in its class, it does have the best warranty with its five-year or 60,000 bumper-to-bumper and ten-year or 100,000-mile coverage by Kia.

Additionally, with 12 variations to choose from, including gas-only, Hybrid, and PHEV models offering a range of FWD and AWD options, there’s a Kia Sportage to fit any lifestyle.

Finally, the base Sportage LX comes equipped with standard features that rival some competitors’ upscale models, and the features list grows going up the Sportage trim level ranks.