2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. Most trims, except the Seltos S, came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). At the start of the model year, prices ranged from $22,590 to $28,080, excluding a $1,255 destination charge. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a black grille, and robust roof rails, with an MSRP of $28,045, including the destination charge. The Seltos was a small SUV with an appealing design, though the headlights and intricate wheels had mixed reviews. Inside, it showcased a stylish dashboard with contrast colors, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, though the shiny hard plastic detracted from the overall quality. The controls were logically arranged, but the purple accent color for the infotainment system was not universally liked.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, built on the N3 platform like the larger Sorento, was longer, taller, and wider than its predecessor, enhancing rear-seat legroom. Its styling was bold, with angular LED headlights and "boomerang" LED daytime running lights, making it stand out. The Sportage Hybrid LX had standard 17-inch alloy wheels, while other models had 18-inch wheels. The interior was designed around a large optional infotainment display, with a clean, minimalist look. The SynTex artificial leather upholstery felt somewhat cheap, but the gloss black plastic trim and silver metallic finish added a touch of elegance, despite being prone to fingerprints and glare.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque for the LX, S, and EX trims, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbo-DCT combination made the Seltos more engaging to drive, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, and Smart. The AWD system had a Lock function for power distribution, but the suspension tuning was less appealing, with noticeable body motion and limited bump isolation. The Seltos returned 27 mpg in combined driving during testing.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid used a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, assisted by an electric motor, producing 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The base LX trim had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional AWD, while the EX and SX-Prestige were AWD-only. The powertrain provided smooth and predictable acceleration, with a seamless transition between electric and gasoline power. The transmission was well-tuned, offering smooth shifts and quick responses. The Sportage Hybrid had a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, with a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy entry and exit. The Nightfall Edition had a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat accommodated adults comfortably, with generous footroom and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid had slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version but remained competitive. It offered more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids, with best-in-class rear-seat legroom. The dual-level cargo floor provided flexibility, with 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Sportage Hybrid featured a rotary shift knob, large bin for phones, and clever cupholders.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to the S trim level, standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. It included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requiring a cable connection. The system was intuitive, with physical knobs and buttons, but lacked a native conversational voice recognition system.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's standard infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The EX model had a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the SX-Prestige featured a panoramic display combining the touchscreen with a digital instrument cluster. The panoramic display was visually impressive and user-friendly, with touch controls on a thin bar below the screen. Hybrid models had four standard USB-C ports, with additional ports and wireless phone charging available on higher trims.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX offered adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos SX received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, while the NHTSA gave it an overall rating of four stars.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of testing. The base LX trim had standard forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and safe-exit warning, while the SX-Prestige included adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot view camera, a 360-degree camera system, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Highway Driving Assist.