2022 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2022 Kia Sportage presented a mixed bag in terms of design. While Kia's signature tiger-nose grille was a hit on models like the Stinger and Sorento, it seemed out of place on the Sportage, resembling a Halloween party mustache. Despite this, the Sportage excelled in other design aspects, with a stylish four-dot running light signature reminiscent of the Porsche Macan and a symmetrical rear reminiscent of Volkswagen. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels added to its well-proportioned and planted stance. Inside, the Sportage boasted a Germanic design with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and metal pedal covers. The interior offered a high-contrast look with available black, gray, and beige colors. The user-friendly buttons and knobs made adjusting the stereo, cabin temperature, and infotainment system a breeze, enhancing the upscale feel of the SUV.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid took bold design risks, riding on the N3 platform shared with the larger Sorento. It was 7.1 inches longer with a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase, benefiting rear-seat legroom. The new model featured a radically styled front end with angular LED headlights and "boomerang" LED daytime running lights, giving it a distinctive face. The Sportage Hybrid LX came with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, while other models had 18-inch wheels. The interior was centered around a large optional infotainment display, with large air vents flanking the touchscreen and instrument cluster. The minimalist design was more elegant than the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and contrasted with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's ruggedness. The use of SynTex artificial leather upholstery, while animal-free, felt somewhat cheap, and the gloss black trim quickly accumulated fingerprints.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models featured a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, providing a competitive but unremarkable powertrain. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, boasted a robust 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque, making it ideal for those living at higher elevations. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with the option of Kia's Dynamax all-wheel-drive system. The SX Turbo delivered quick acceleration, with maximum torque available from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm, creating a sudden surge of power. The SUV's MacPherson strut front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension provided a smooth and compliant ride, though the steering could have been sharper.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid featured a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor, producing 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain, shared with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, offered more horsepower than competitors like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape hybrids. The Sportage Hybrid's powertrain delivered smooth and predictable acceleration, with seamless transitions between electric and gasoline power. The well-tuned transmission provided smooth shifts, and the cabin remained quiet and comfortable. While not a driver's car, the Sportage Hybrid offered a pleasant driving experience, though the steering felt artificially heavy in Sport mode. The Hybrid's maximum towing capacity was 2,000 pounds, 500 pounds less than the non-hybrid version.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, though on the smaller side of the compact crossover scale, offered a remarkably roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided front-seat occupants with perforated leather upholstery, ten-way power adjustment for the driver, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger. Heated and ventilated front seats and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel were standard. Rear-seat legroom was generous, and rear passengers had access to air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. However, the Sportage's maximum cargo volume was limited, with 60.1 cubic feet available with the second-row seats folded and 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat. The smart liftgate technology was a convenient feature, though it could be turned off if not needed.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid offered slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version but remained competitive in its segment. It provided more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids but less for second-row passengers. Rear-seat legroom was best-in-class, tied with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. The dual-level cargo floor added flexibility, with 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Sportage Hybrid's rotary shift knob allowed for better use of space between the front seats, and the center console storage bin offered decent space. Clever cupholders and a large bin for phones with USB ports and optional wireless charging added to the interior's functionality.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came equipped with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trim levels included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo featured wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for stereo volume and radio tuning, and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system was becoming outdated, lacking a WiFi hotspot and offering wired smartphone mirroring.

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 featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the SX-Prestige had a panoramic display combining the 12.3-inch screen with a digital instrument cluster. The panoramic display was visually impressive and user-friendly, though Android Auto didn't utilize the entire screen. Touch controls on a thin bar below the screen added to the dashboard's clean look, with analog knobs for audio volume or temperature adjustment. Hybrid models included four standard USB-C ports, with additional rear USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, and an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system available on higher trims.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received favorable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating for an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of testing. The base LX trim included 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 offered advanced features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, a blind-spot view camera, a 360-degree camera system, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Highway Driving Assist. While competitors lacked features like Remote Smart Parking Assist, the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered adaptive cruise control as standard.