2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2023 Kia Sportage

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse was a practical choice for those who needed the utility of a minivan but preferred the styling of an SUV. It offered a range of trims from the base LS to the luxurious High Country, with prices starting at $33,700. The Traverse featured a light restyle for 2022, with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with various appearance packages like the Redline Edition. The RS trim, which was tested, showcased blacked-out trim and 20-inch wheels, giving it a sporty look. Inside, the Traverse RS boasted black leather upholstery with contrast stitching and a logical layout, though it was criticized for its use of hard plastics in some areas.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, on the other hand, arrived with a completely redesigned look that was both exciting and exotic, drawing comparisons to French automakers. It featured distinctive boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and a textured metal trim on the D Pillar. The Sportage offered seven trim levels, including the new X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, which was durable but not as luxurious as real leather. The Sportage's interior was spacious, with a large front windshield and a dual-display setup in higher trims, though some controls were criticized for being overly complicated.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a single engine option, a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds and offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The Traverse delivered a firm yet compliant ride, with a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg combined for the AWD model. It excelled on highways and in mountainous terrain, though it was noted for having more road and wind noise than desired. The RS trim's tires were not ideal for spirited driving, but the Traverse's handling was predictable and trustworthy.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It was available with both FWD and AWD, with fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg city, 32 highway for FWD, and 23/28/25 for AWD. The Sportage lacked a performance engine option, which was a drawback for those seeking a more dynamic driving experience. However, the X-Pro trims provided off-road capabilities with all-terrain tires and specific drive modes. The Sportage handled off-road conditions well, though the X-Pro's on-road performance was less refined due to its rugged setup.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a spacious interior with seating for up to seven passengers in the RS trim, which featured captain's chairs in the second row. It had power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The Smart Slide function in the second row made accessing the third row easier, though the third-row seats were not as comfortable as those in larger SUVs. The Traverse provided ample storage space, including a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo capacity was generous, with 23 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a compact crossover, offered impressive interior space with 41.3 inches of rear-seat legroom and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Folding the back seat expanded the cargo area to 74.1 cubic feet. The Sportage's front seats featured typical storage options, including a cubby ahead of the shifter and a spacious center console bin. However, the Sportage's technology controls were criticized for being overly complex, with touch-sensitive buttons that could be difficult to use while driving.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the LS and LT Cloth models, while other trims received an 8-inch high-definition display. The system offered Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and access to connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The RS trim featured a Bose premium sound system, though it was not particularly impressive. The Traverse's voice recognition system was praised for its accuracy and ease of use, and the available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera enhanced visibility.

The 2023 Kia Sportage boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface in the EX trim and above, paired with a 12.3-inch driver information display in higher trims. While the technology was impressive, the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the top interface was puzzling. The Sportage offered wireless charging, rear USB-C charging ports, navigation, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and a Harman Kardon stereo in higher trims. However, the icons on the screen were criticized for being too similar, making it difficult to find the desired function while driving.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features were available in higher trims, such as adaptive cruise control and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most collision-related tests from the IIHS, though it was rated "Acceptable" in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 model at the time of writing.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of collision-avoidance tech and advanced driver assistance systems as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims included advanced features like the blind-view monitor and Highway driving assist. However, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had crash-tested the 2023 Sportage at the time of writing.