2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid vs 2022 Toyota 4Runner

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner retained its rugged, adventure-ready design, reminiscent of its 1980s SUV roots. Unlike many modern SUVs that have transitioned to car-based platforms, the 4Runner maintained its connection to the Toyota Tacoma pickup, offering a high ride height, boxy proportions, and a sharply angled front bumper for tackling obstacles. Inside, the 4Runner's design was functional but dated, with a dash layout reminiscent of the late 2000s. Despite its age, the 4Runner's appeal lay in its off-road capabilities and niche market for adventure enthusiasts, supported by trims like the Trail Special Edition and TRD Off-Road, which offered features tailored for rugged terrains.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid embraced a bold, modern design with a radically styled front end featuring angular LED headlights and distinctive "boomerang" LED daytime running lights. Built on the N3 platform, the Sportage Hybrid was larger than its predecessor, offering increased rear-seat legroom and a more spacious interior. The cabin boasted a clean, minimalist design centered around a large optional infotainment display, with thoughtful touches like the shape of air vents echoed in the door handles. While the Sportage Hybrid's interior materials, such as SynTex artificial leather, felt somewhat cheap, the overall design was elegant and more refined compared to competitors like the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a single 4.0-liter V6 engine, producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission, delivered reliable performance but felt underwhelming in most driving situations. The 4Runner's ride was harsh and cumbersome, with significant body roll, but it excelled off-road, where its suspension absorbed rough terrains effortlessly. The TRD Pro and TRD Off-Road models featured Crawl Control and a locking differential, enhancing their off-road prowess. The 4Runner could tow up to 5,000 pounds, more than most car-based crossovers.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid utilized a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor, producing 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, shared with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, offered more horsepower than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids. The Sportage Hybrid's driving experience was smooth and predictable, 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 ride, though its steering felt artificially heavy in Sport mode. It had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, slightly less than the non-hybrid version.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner offered a maximum of 89.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the two-row version, with 47.2 cubic feet behind the second row. Opting for the three-row model reduced maximum cargo space to 88.8 cubic feet, with just 9 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The 4Runner lacked a power rear liftgate but featured a power-open/close rear window for easy access. While not the most spacious SUV, the 4Runner provided ample storage for gear, though it could benefit from more efficient cabin packaging.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, despite having slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version, 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 featured clever storage solutions, such as a rotary shift knob and adjustable cupholders, enhancing its practicality.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. While not the most advanced system, it offered straightforward controls with hard buttons and dials, catering to those who appreciated a more analog driving experience. Optional upgrades included navigation, HD radio, and a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system, though a head-up display was notably absent.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's standard infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The EX model featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the SX-Prestige boasted a panoramic display combining a 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. The Sportage Hybrid also included touch controls and analog knobs for audio and climate adjustments, along with multiple USB-C ports and optional wireless charging.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. Additional safety features like blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system were available. The 4Runner earned four out of five stars in NHTSA frontal and side-impact testing, and three stars for rollover testing, with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's safety features included standard forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, safe-exit warning, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, a blind-spot view camera, a 360-degree camera system, and Highway Driving Assist. While crash-test ratings were unavailable, the Sportage Hybrid offered advanced driver-assist tech not found in some competitors.