We were all hungry for the new fifth-generation Sportage when it launched a few months back for Asia and Europe. Finally, the day has come, and Kia unveiled this stylish beast with a host of changes compared to the outgoing generation in the U.S. Kia has also announced that the new Sportage will come in adventure-ready trims: X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige.
Overview
The U.S. launch of the Sportage was imminent as the currently selling one has aging designs, both inside-out, with underpowered engines and inferior safety features. The N3 platform on which the new Sportage rides is the same as the Sorento, and that means the sturdiness along with dimensions get bumped up just like the global model. Kia claims that the new Sportage is now quieter, has better cabin insulation, and even offers a comfortable cabin experience including a wide range of changes. The SUV will arrive in the first quarter of 2022 and will compete with the Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, and the Chevrolet Equinox.
Performance
Although there isn't much information is out yet, the U.S.-spec Sportage will not come with turbocharged engines, well, at least not as standard. Kia has introduced a new 2.5-liter, naturally aspirated, inline-four engine that produces more power than the outgoing model year. The company claimed about 187 horsepower while the torque figures are not available. The engine will come mated to an eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission and FWD as standard. The off-road biased trims will come with AWD as standard or you can pay extra for it to be fitted to your standard Sportage. As for the other engine options, Kia stated that there will be upcoming hybrid variants of the Sportage. The European and South Korean-spec SUV has a PHEV as an option and it is expected that the company is planning to make it happen in the States too. According to the CEO, Kia America,
How does it look?
The new 2023 Sportage looks attractive at every angle if compared to the 2022 model. It is heavily similar to the global variant and that ensures that will outshine competition like the CX-5 and CR-V. The front has a completely redesigned fascia with boomerang-shaped LED DRLs and vertically placed LED headlights. What is more captivating is that huge blacked-out tiger-nose grille. Now if you look closely, the new Sportage has bigger dimensions if compared to the current generation. The length has been increased to 183.5 inches, which is about 7.1 inches more than the current selling Sportage. The wheelbase has been increased to 108.5 inches, up by 3.4 inches. The width and the height have been increased but half an inch, which is nothing noticeable. The ground clearance is set up 8.1 inches and that is with the off-road biased trims. The standard wheel size is 17-inch and that can go up to the 19-inch ones found on the top trims. To me, it is the best-looking compact SUV in its class. Especially the X-Series trims, they look sportier and robust at the same time.
How is the interior?
The interior is where the new Sportage shines. At the reveal, we have seen how the pattern flows through the entire cabin. There are two 12.3-inch panoramic digital - one driver information display and one for the infotainment system. One thing is for sure, the driver will be in a happy place, surrounded by modern touches. The front seats are not exactly the sports ones but they have increased bolstering for better support. The seats have the off-road-tire pattern on the middle and come with animal-free leather with higher trims. The rear is where the longer wheelbase places a crucial role. Now the legroom has been increased to 41.3 inches which is not only better than the 2021 model year but also about an inch more than the like of CR-V and CX-5.
The infotainment system gets the latest bits and now features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There is a new touchpad below the dashboard that can be used for the HVAC system as well as audio control. Other features available are Harman Kardon’s premium sound system, wireless charging pad, 36-degree surround-view camera, and a lot more which remain undisclosed.
How safe is the 2023 Sportage?
Kia has loaded the upcoming Sportage with loads of standard safety tech which include lane-keeping assist, rear-view monitor, high beam assist, reverse parking distance warning, and driver attention warning. Other optional safety features include:
- Forwarded collision mitigation.
- Rear cross-traffic alert.
- Blindspot monitoring.
- Highway driving assist.
- Adaptive cruise control.
Is the upcoming 2023 Sporage any better than the competition?
It is a big question to answer about a car before getting to actually feel how good it is. But by the looks of it, it might be able to perform better than the competition. As per Kia, the interior is the most spacious and that seems quite original. The interior tech is on point and definitely gives a premium feel. We have to wait until Kia launches the 2023 Sportage and will get back to you with a full in-depth review about the same.