2023 Kia Sportage Owner’s Manual

While the 2023 Sportage’s bold exterior aesthetics aren’t for everyone, no one can argue that it didn’t try to separate itself from the pack of boring compact crossovers.

In a market segment that is heavy with competition, thanks to a long tail of price-friendly options and dependable class leaders like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, it doesn’t hurt to have an immediately noticeable differentiating factor, and the 2023 Sportage leans into this one heavily.

For its new generation, the Kia Sportage returns with a somewhat unconventional, wild look up front, created partly by a unique grille design and an unorthodox set of rhomboid-shaped headlights.

Further adding to the vehicle’s mystic is that it has grown in size and now looks more imposing, as it now uses the same longer-wheelbase platform as the Hyundai Tucson, which underwent its major update in 2022.

This size increase also translates to improvement to the Sportage’s roominess and cargo space, bolstering its chances in this hyper-competitive segment further, especially when you consider that the new Sportage also offers a robust range of standard and optional tech features that can dramatically enhance the overall experience.

While less adventurous than the crossover’s exterior, the interior is eye-catching enough to impress. An optional two-tone color scheme and a more traditional all-black option both provide impressive aesthetics for the interior, thanks to the generous use of high-end plush materials.

Powertrain options are the same as the Hyundai Tucson, with the standard engine being a 187-horsepower four-cylinder 2.5-liter gasoline engine that pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive with an optional all-wheel drive upgrade available. The Kia Sportage is also available in separate hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.