The 2023 Kia Sportage recently received a major redesign that changed many aspects about the compact crossover SUV. As with any redesign, Kia is making a bet that the update succeeds, and it appears that the South Korean automaker’s bet has paid off. Here’s a look at the 2023 Kia Sportage, what’s changed about it, and how those changes are helping it succeed in a competitive SUV market.

The 2023 Kia Sportage’s redesign has paid off

TrueCar created a list of the best Kia vehicles on the market right now, and thanks in part to the redesign, the Sportage came out on top. The automaker gave the compact SUV updates both on the inside and the outside. One of the more obvious changes was to the car’s exterior design, which has a new look that includes boomerang headlights. 

The Sportage also grew in physical size, and it’s now one of the larger compact crossovers on the market. That growth in size means that drivers will get access to more cabin and cargo space, but the SUV is going to have a more challenging time with tight parking spaces. Along with the increased size, Kia also revamped what’s under the hood. 

The old engine was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that got 181 hp, and it was replaced by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that gets 187 hp. Additionally, Kia now offers a hybrid and a PHEV powertrain option to the car.

The South Korean automaker also upgraded the car’s tech features. One of the more notable upgrades was to its digital gauge cluster display, which now measures in at 12.3 inches. 

The pros and cons of the 2023 Kia Sportage

Overall, TrueCar appreciated most of the changes that Kia made. The new hybrid and PHEV options are a standout, as adding either option can make a great SUV even better.

For example, the standard Sportage gets about 29 mpg combined, while the Sportage Hybrid gets about 43 mpg combined. Furthermore, the car critic appreciated the SUV’s increased size, as its increased cargo capacity and seating comfort are good.

Another aspect that the site liked about the Kia SUV was its overall value. It starts at about $26,000, and the hybrid version costs about $1,500 more. This relatively affordable price tag gives the SUV a great value, as it comes with a lot of standard features.

It’s not a perfect SUV by any means, however. The standard engine is less fuel efficient than what the Sportage’s rivals get. On top of that, not every car shopper will like what Kia did with the Sportage’s new exterior design.

That being said, those are minor flaws, and this lack of major issues helps build the case for why the Sportage’s redesign has ultimately paid off.

Why it’s impressive that the 2023 Sportage is the best Kia SUV right now

The Sportage was named the best Kia car by TrueCar, and that’s an impressive feat since Kia has a lot of great cars in its lineup right now. The Telluride, which has won many awards, only came in at sixth place. The EV6, which is the South Korean automaker’s latest EV, came in at fifth place.

The K5 sedan came in at fourth place, followed by the Carnival minivan at third place. The Sorento, which is another midsize crossover SUV, finished in second place.

These Kia cars are great for their own reasons, and just like the Sportage, many have very few flaws. That’s what makes it so impressive that the Sportage managed to top all of them.