2023 Kia Sportage vs 2024 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Kia Sportage emerged with a completely redesigned look that was both exciting and exotic, reminiscent of French automotive styling. Its distinctive features, such as the bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar, added a touch of class to this compact crossover. The interior saw a shift from leather to synthetic leather upholstery, offering a more durable and animal-friendly option, although it lacked the luxurious feel of genuine leather. The driver’s seat provided excellent visibility, and the dashboard was dominated by an impressive display, though the cabin had its share of hard-wearing plastic and piano-black surfaces.

In contrast, the 2024 Volvo XC90 exuded a sense of luxury and practicality with its subdued and earthy exterior paint palette. The SUV offered a range of appealing wheel designs and a Bright theme with chrome and polished metal accents. Inside, the XC90's design was dated but featured rich materials, especially in the Ultimate trim. Buyers could choose between wool-blend upholstery or ventilated Nappa leather, complemented by an Orrefors crystal shift knob and natural wood trim. The XC90 allowed for more customization in terms of paint, wheels, and upholstery, catering to discerning customers.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the Sportage delivered a fuel efficiency of 25 mpg city, 32 highway, and 28 combined with FWD, and 23/28/25 with AWD. While more powerful than its predecessor, the Sportage lacked a turbocharged engine option, which limited its performance appeal. The X-Line and X-Pro trims added rugged visual cues and off-road capabilities, with the X-Pro featuring all-terrain tires and specific drive modes.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 combined a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery and a 107-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total of 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque. This plug-in hybrid offered 32 miles of electric-only range and an estimated 27 mpg in hybrid mode. The XC90 featured multiple driving modes, including Pure, Power, Hybrid, and Off-Road, with up to 9.9 inches of ground clearance. Despite its power, the XC90 prioritized luxury over performance, with a firm ride and less engaging handling.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, now larger than its predecessor, offered impressive interior space with 41.3 inches of rear-seat legroom and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The front seats provided ample storage, but the technology controls were overcomplicated, with touch-sensitive buttons that could be frustrating to use while driving.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8, even in its base Core trim, was well-equipped with power-adjustable and heated front seats, leather upholstery, and a four-zone climate control system. The SUV could seat seven or six with optional captain’s chairs, and the third-row seats were more accommodating than expected. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use but expanded to 65.5 cubic feet with it folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with the second row down. The climate control system struggled in hot conditions, and interior storage was adequate rather than abundant.

The 2023 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface on EX and higher trims, paired with a panoramic driver information display on the SX trim and up. While the technology was impressive, the wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on higher trims were puzzling, and the icons on the screen were difficult to distinguish. Wireless charging and rear USB-C ports were standard on higher trims, and a Harman Kardon stereo was included on select trims.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in technology, offering Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant. Apple CarPlay and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard, with premium sound system options available. The infotainment system was intuitive, and the digital voice assistant was generally effective, though the digital instrumentation panel could be confusing. A head-up display and surround-view camera were available to enhance the driving experience.

The 2023 Kia Sportage came equipped with a comprehensive suite of collision-avoidance tech and advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. However, the Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 was synonymous with safety, earning a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS in 2023. While the XC90 included expected safety features and unique systems like large-animal detection, it lacked innovation in ADAS and did not offer a hands-free driving system. Pilot Assist, Volvo’s semi-autonomous system, had limitations but generally performed smoothly.