When I was but 25 years old, moonlighting as a car critic while playing a TV weatherman by day, it was all too easy to be seduced by every new tester that was dropped off at my door. After all; there’s no substitute for experience when judging subject matter based largely on comparison. The Daewoo Leganza, I authoritatively declared, would take the U.S. sedan market by storm – it didn’t. But on occasion, even a wet-behind-the-ears journalist like myself could snuff out a complete dud. To this day, when asked about the worst vehicle I’ve ever tested I cite the original Kia Sportage circa 2000 – the epitome of a throwaway car. Flash ahead 23 years and Kia now leads the industry in dependability, they’re the most awarded brand in J.D. Power’s APEAL study, and they’re at the forefront of electrification. This Titanic-sized turnaround is the stuff of auto industry dreams and to complete it less than 2 decades later is hall of fame worthy.

2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige AWD: Not A Throwaway Car Anymore

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige AWD: Not A Throwaway Car Anymore
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 177 @ 5500
  • Torque: 195 @ 1500
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic

IS THE HYBRID STILL RELEVANT?

There’s part of me that thinks gas-electric hybrids have had their day and another that realizes they still have relevance. With the deluge of all-electrics currently hitting the market, the humble hybrid can feel like yesterday’s engineering, especially those without the added benefit of a plug. But understandably not everyone is ready to take the EV plunge and, in that case, this Sportage Hybrid - returning 38 mpg across the board and loaded to the gills at a very palatable price – makes a compelling proposition.

Appearing especially audacious in matte paint, this top dog SX-Prestige with all-wheel drive is as good as it gets in the hybrid CUV segment. Significantly bigger than before and awash in Kia’s hallmark high feature content you really have to nitpick to find fault with this new Sportage. Its bold design bests that of its corporate cousin the Hyundai Tucson, there are luxury-level amenities including the coveted height-adjustable power passenger seat, and it drives without the sense that it’s carrying around a hybrid anchor. The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine is married with a smallish 44-kW motor to combine for 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of peak output via a 6-speed automatic transmission. A lithium-ion battery pack weighing about 80 pounds stores the 1.5 kWh of energy produced from the generator and during times of regenerative braking or coasting for later use.

ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS TRANSITIONS

Press the ‘start’ button and the Sportage commences in the Eco drive mode contributing a hint of laziness to the throttle response but never to the point of aggravation. Though, I still can’t grasp why Kia doesn’t make Smart mode the default setting, automatically adapting between Eco and Sport based upon the driver’s habits. Manually dialing into Sport from the rotary knob on the center console adjusts steering effort and powertrain control logic accordingly, eliminating any eco-minded sluggishness. There’s also a pleasing ride quality that’s comfort-tuned for journeys taking full advantage of the Sportage Hybrid’s gaudy 521-mile driving range.

Advancements in hybrid technology over the years result in far more all-electric operation than ever before, at slow speeds for short distances mind you, but still vastly more available. To judge a hybrid’s drivability is to assess the seamlessness of the transitions between engine and motor and secondarily on brake feel. Are they intrusive or unnatural? How are the levels of noise, vibration, and harshness? The benchmark hybrid is the new Toyota Venza and this Sportage gets pretty darn close to that lofty level of sophistication. The turbo-four is a little buzzy and these green, low-rolling resistance tires generate some notable noise, but otherwise, the drive is exactly what’s desired in a small utility – comfortable and amply powered with sufficient four-wheel traction for some light off-road forays. 8.3” of ground clearance and a 4WD Lock Mode with downhill brake control give it a little more cred.

BUYER BEWARE

This Shadow Matte Gray paint looks amazing and really showcases the Sportage’s design details. It adds $595 to the price and requires special care, so much so that new owners must sign-off on Kia’s admonitions acknowledging the fact that, among other warnings, it shouldn’t be taken through automatic car washes or permeant damage may occur – damage that’s not covered under warranty.

For those craving all the goodies, the SX-Prestige is the trim that delivers. Beyond these Carmine Red synthetic leather seats and satin matte finishes the cupboard is full of charms: heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, a variety of soundscapes to aid in relaxation Kia calls Sounds of Nature, a full-length panoramic glass roof, front seats with built-in coat hangers on the back of the headrests that double as wire management to the rear seat-integrated USB ports, memory settings for the driver’s seat, and top-notch infotainment and electronics packed with features and intuitively controlled. This Harman Kardon sound system with Clari-Fi restoration technology for compressed music also continues to impress as it does in many other Hyundai/Kia products.

CABIN KNOCKS

Kia’s newly introduced dual-personality control panel located below the touchscreen can be frustrating. A press of the finger toggles the array between radio and climate settings so if you forget which one is selected you might just inadvertently raise the cabin temperature as opposed to raising the stereo volume when turning the multipurpose knob. And, Kia’s top-of-the-line, biggest touchscreen still doesn’t support wireless phone projection but does provide a wireless charge pad in front of the center console – a curious mismatch. I’m also not enamored with the new heated windshield with its Land Rover-esque, squiggly little lines that can be distracting.

SMART TALK

This Sportage is blessed with all of the driver assistance tech like Highway Driving Assist with steering support (though not completely hands-free,) turn signal-activated, side camera views that pop-up in the pods on the driver information display, an immersive surround-view monitor with 3D motion control, auto high beams and Smart Parking Assist allowing the car to be guided into and out of tight spots while standing alongside the vehicle using key fob. Even the cargo area is smart with a hands-free, kick-free liftgate, a dual-level floor to add a little more height when needed and remote levers to fold the rear seats for maximum hauling. The previous Sportage was one of the smallest in its segment – this one has best-in-class rear-seat legroom and cargo capacity so that issue has been ameliorated.

WHY NOT JUST GO FOR THE PLUG?

This SX-Prestige AWD with the upcharge paint job and carpeted floor mats stickers for $38,235. The same Sportage, as a plug-in hybrid, retails for $45,035. But it qualifies for a federal tax credit that reduces its net cost to within $200 of this standard hybrid. The plug-in also provides 34 miles of all-electric driving before any gas is used, which only add to the savings. The only disadvantages of the Sportage plug-in: added weight and a much-diminished driving range.

It's also worth noting that if you don’t need all-wheel drive, the front-drive Sportage Hybrid blossoms to 43 mpg with a 589-mile driving range. That model starts at $28,585 but obviously forgoes most of these premium touches.

While makes like Daewoo, Suzuki, Isuzu, and others have failed to adapt to American tastes, Kia is the poster child for perseverance leading to great success.