2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid vs 2022 Ford Expedition

The 2022 Ford Expedition underwent significant updates, featuring exterior styling revisions and enhanced infotainment technology. The front of the vehicle showcased a new grille, headlights, and bumper, while the rear was updated with revised taillights, tailgate trim, and a new bumper. Redesigned wheels were introduced across the model lineup, adding to the refreshed look. The Expedition was available in various trims, including the new Timberline trim, which catered to off-road enthusiasts with features like standard four-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, and increased ground clearance. Inside, the Expedition boasted a redesigned dashboard with the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, offering a large 15.5-inch touchscreen display in the latter. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with leather seats and advanced tech, although some materials felt reminiscent of the F-150 pickup.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, built on the N3 platform, was larger than its predecessor, offering increased rear-seat legroom and a slightly taller and wider stance. The Sportage Hybrid featured a bold front-end design with angular LED headlights and distinctive "boomerang" LED daytime running lights. The interior was centered around a large optional infotainment display, with a minimalist and elegant design. While the base models had cloth seats, higher trims offered SynTex artificial leather, which felt somewhat cheap. The Sportage Hybrid's interior was practical, with a rotary shift knob and clever cupholder designs. Despite some materials accumulating fingerprints and glare, the overall cabin experience was pleasant and functional.

The 2022 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque in the test vehicle. The engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and the SUV offered a towing capacity between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds. Fuel economy ranged from 17 to 19 mpg in combined driving, with the test vehicle achieving 16.2 mpg. The Expedition's powertrain delivered a satisfying driving experience, with a signature sound and impressive acceleration. However, the sport-tuned suspension and large 22-inch wheels contributed to a sometimes harsh ride quality. Despite its size, the Expedition was easy to park, thanks to excellent visibility and parking aids. On the highway, it excelled in comfort and ease of driving, making it ideal for long road trips.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid utilized a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a single electric motor, producing a combined 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The powertrain was smooth and provided robust acceleration, with seamless transitions between electric and gasoline power. The Sportage Hybrid's transmission was well-tuned, offering smooth shifts and quick responses. The cabin was quiet, and the ride was comfortable, even with the larger optional 18-inch wheels. While not a driver's car, the Sportage Hybrid was pleasant to drive, though its steering felt artificially heavy in Sport mode. The hybrid had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, slightly less than the non-hybrid version.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered exceptional comfort and space, with power running boards for easy entry and exit. The interior featured power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, along with a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and comfort, while the third-row seat offered good leg support but limited headroom for taller passengers. Cargo space was generous, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 104.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Expedition Max variant offered even more cargo capacity.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid had slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version but remained competitive in its segment. It offered more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids, with best-in-class rear-seat legroom tied with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. The dual-level cargo floor provided flexibility, with 39.5 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 73.7 cubic feet with them folded. The Sportage Hybrid's interior was practical, with a rotary shift knob, large storage bins, and clever cupholder designs.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured Ford's next-generation Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The standard Sync 4 system included a 12-inch touchscreen, while Sync 4A offered a larger 15.5-inch display. Both systems supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with additional features like SiriusXM satellite radio and Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems available on higher trims. Sync 4A had an upgraded voice-recognition system and an adaptive dashcard user interface. However, the system had some quirks, such as accidental activation of the defroster function and issues with Apple CarPlay. The Expedition also offered an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV and Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 for easier trailer reversing.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a panoramic display combining the infotainment screen with a digital instrument cluster. The panoramic display was visually impressive and user-friendly, though Android Auto didn't utilize the entire screen. The Sportage Hybrid also had touch controls for audio and climate settings, with analog knobs for volume and temperature adjustments. Higher trims offered additional USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, and a Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2022 Ford Expedition's safety features were grouped into three Ford Co-Pilot360 packages. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and new features like intersection assist and evasive steering assist. The Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 package, standard on higher trims, included a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. The Expedition also offered Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology, though the lane-centering assist had some issues with accuracy and reliability.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's safety features included forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and a driver attention monitor on the base LX trim. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and safe-exit warning, while the SX-Prestige trim offered adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot view camera, a 360-degree camera system, and Highway Driving Assist. The Sportage Hybrid's advanced safety features, like Remote Smart Parking Assist, set it apart from competitors, though crash-test ratings were not available at the time of testing.