Even though the SUV segment is full of good options, some sport utility vehicles have more to offer than others. On The Car Connection’s Best Car to Buy list for 2023, Kia and Hyundai were well represented.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid made Car Connection’s Best Car to Buy list

On the Car Connection’s Best Car to Buy list, the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid snagged the best economy car for 2023. The Car Connection says that in the past year, new car prices have surged and made many vehicles unaffordable. Kia’s Sportage Hybrid is one of the lowest-priced vehicles with the best value, thanks to the standard features.

“It wears a crisp-looking set of body panels, seats five passengers, and wraps those people and their belongings in an interior worthy of a more expensive SUV, thanks to available leather upholstery, wide-screen infotainment, and a sense of style.”

The Car Connection

Starting at $28,585, the Kia Sportage Hybrid gets 227 hp and combines a 1.6L turbo engine with a small battery pack for up to 43 mpg combined. Buyers can opt for all-wheel drive for another $1,800. Kia included automatic emergency braking, front/rear parking sensors, and lane keep assist standard. It makes sense this Kia would make the Car Connection’s Best Car to Buy list for 2023.

Kia’s Telluride SUV wins the Best Family Car to Buy in 2023

The 2023 Kia Telluride was the Car Connection’s best family SUV (it was also MotorBiscuit’s SUV of the Year, in case you missed it) for a few reasons. It has plenty of space in all three rows, premium features at a reasonable price, and good looks. To qualify for this award, the SUV had to have three rows of seats and start under $50,000. The Telluride also checks those boxes.

On top of that, the new X-Line and X-Pro are off-road capable and add a more rugged look. Captain’s chairs are available in the second row, which drops the maximum seating from eight to seven. 46 cubic feet of space in the trunk is big enough for all the luggage you might be carrying around.

Kia’s Telluride starts at $37,000 for the base model and goes up to $50,000 for the SX Prestige trim. Automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, and adaptive cruise control are standard fare.

Don’t write off the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 was the Car Connection’s pick of the best electric car of 2023. For an electric SUV, the Ioniq 5 offers an impressive range for its 77.4-kWh battery pack. All but the base model received the 77.4-kWh battery, which gets 303 miles of range with rear-wheel drive. If you opt for the dual-motor all-wheel drive version, the range drops to 266 miles.

Hyundai equipped the Ioniq 5 with 800-volt architecture that allows for CS DC fast charging. The Ioniq can charge from 10% SoC (State of Charge) to 80% SoC in 18 minutes. A 240-volt outlet at home can charge the EV in less than seven hours.

For 2023, the Ioniq 5 received a more efficient heat pump and the ability to pre-condition the battery for better range. At $47,000, the larger battery pack Ioniq gets important safety features standard. These include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and active lane control.

Other noteworthy winners on the Car Connection’s Best Car to Buy list include the 2023 Porsche Taycan and the Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck. Buyers want SUVs, and automakers are delivering on that request, especially Kia and Hyundai.