The Kia Sportage Hybrid delivers in almost every aspect. Ride quality is excellent, the interior is roomy, and the rear hatch opens into a spacious cargo area. There's some clever interior storage up front as well as plenty of available in-car technology and a comprehensive suite of driver aids. Fuel economy doesn't live up to expectations, but we have a few complaints about this electrified compact crossover.
Excess
Roomy and quiet cabin
Comfortable ride quality
High fuel economy for a small SUV
More cargo space than most of its competitors
Counter
What's new
Kia's compact hybrid SUV has been completely redesigned
It's bigger and loaded with more technology than the previous model
The first Sportage with a hybrid powertrain
Launching the fifth generation Sportage for 2023
Summary
The Kia Sportage was completely redesigned for the 2023 model year, and for the first time, a hybrid model is available. This is the brand's third hybrid SUV, sitting above the smaller Niro hybrid and below the larger Sorento Hybrid. Looking at it, most people wouldn't mistake this for a Sportage as it looks nothing like the previous model and the interior is a huge improvement over the previous model. This compact SUV is larger, offering more passenger and cargo space. Its load now offers more space than the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid.
Under the hood is a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor, hybrid battery pack, and six-speed automatic transmission. The total system output is 227 horsepower, slightly more than you'll find in the CR-V Hybrid (204 hp) and RAV4 Hybrid (219 hp). Front-wheel-drive models get an impressive combined EPA estimate of 43 mpg, and all-wheel-drive models are rated at 38 mpg.
The new Sportage's interior has a very modern look thanks to a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel combined with a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Both displays share the same curved housing, giving the impression that this is one large, continuous display. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration are standard, and a wireless charging pad and a new surround-view camera system are optional. Kia hasn't forgotten about safety and equipped the Sportage with an impressive array of standard advanced driver aids like lane keeping assist, and if that wasn't enough, there's a long list of additional tech features like navigation-based adaptive cruise. a control system that can slow down before a corner.
When it comes to comfort, the new Sportage Hybrid has you covered.
The interior provides ample space for all passengers, and the rear seats have a class-leading 41.3 inches of legroom. The seats are comfortable and provide solid support, and the interior is quiet when cruising fast. Ride quality is smooth as the suspension effectively masks most road imperfections. The hybrid powertrain has strong acceleration and feels faster than the non-hybrid model.
There's a lot to like about the All-New Sportage Hybrid, making it a great choice for a compact hybrid SUV. In addition to competing with the RAV4 Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid, it also competes with the Escape Hybrid and its Hyundai counterpart, the Tucson Hybrid. Check out our test team's Expert Ratings below to help you decide which hybrid SUV is best for you.
How does the Sportage Hybrid ride?
The Sportage Hybrid is one of the fastest hybrid crossovers in its class.
While we wouldn't call it a great car, it doesn't feel like there's a performance penalty when you choose a hybrid. The turbocharged engine provides smooth power, and you won't feel it when the Sportage switches from electric to gas power. Highway driving is easy thanks to the power and quick, if somewhat clunky, gear changes.
It's not sporty, but the Sportage handles pretty well for a crossover. The steering is fast and accurate. Light in comfort makes parking easy. Switching to Sport increases steering effort (and sharpens throttle response), but there's still not much feedback. Like the powertrain, the brakes are impressive for a hybrid. The pedal is firm rather than soft and supple like on some other hybrid vehicles.
How comfortable is the Sportage Hybrid?
Comfort is one of the advantages of the Sportage Hybrid. It offers a quiet, comfortable cabin and a smooth ride that won't tire your back after hours behind the wheel. The front seats are soft and provide good lateral support without feeling too firm. The back seat is soft but a bit flat. What's impressive is the ride quality. It's smooth and compliant. The suspension flattens out bumps but doesn't feel overly soft or disconnected from the road. This is one of the best crossovers out there.
Kia also keeps it quiet.
At low speeds when the engine is off, there is little external noise in the cabin. Even at higher speeds, wind, and road noise are mild. We also want you not to feel vibrations or hear the petrol engine running at any time as the exhaust sound is not very pleasant. The automatic climate control system can be a little awkward to use at first (you switch panels between climate control and media/navigation) but it works evenly. The placement of the vents is also good, especially at the back.
How is the interior?
The Sportage Hybrid has a charming and well-appointed interior. The driving position offers a decent range of adjustment for the seats and steering wheel, and there's excellent passenger room in both rows, even for tall adults. Getting in and out is also quite easy, aided by the available Smart Park feature, although this is new.
The controls are easy to reach and fairly easy to use, at least once you find the buttons that swap climate control for media and navigation controls. The driving position offers a decent range of adjustment as far as the seat and steering wheel. The infotainment screen and other controls are tilted towards the driver, so nothing is difficult to press or operate. The rearview mirrors and windows provide decent visibility, aided further by the available blind-spot camera system. The available heated windshield will also help in colder climates.
How is the technology?
Like most crossovers in this class, Kia offers plenty of in-car technology and driver assistance with the Sportage. Standard features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (though neither is wireless) and a large number of USB-A and -C ports in both rows. Our test vehicle was equipped with a wireless charging pad as well as a 12.3-inch screen for the instrument cluster and infotainment system. The navigation is easy to operate, and you can use voice commands to enter directions or change radio stations.
The Sportage is available with a multitude of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view monitor, and park assist. We like how it works in practice. Adaptive Cruise kept a good distance without constantly hitting the brakes, and we didn't get any false alerts with any of the collision systems. Smart Park will pull the Sportage out or into a parking spot from the key fob. This is a neat party trick.
How is it stored?
This is where the Sportage Hybrid excels. With 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 73.7 cubes with the rows folded, the Sportage Hybrid is one of the roomiest crossovers in this class, hybrid or not. Unlike some of its competitors, the Sportage Hybrid doesn't lose out on space compared to its non-hybrid counterparts. The load floor is wide and flat, and the rear seats fold down from the hatch. The rear seats have LATCH car seat anchors and are roomy enough for larger car seats.
Storage in the rest of the cabin is also excellent.
The center console has a small, hooded cubby in front of the shifter that houses a USB port and wireless pad, though it's big enough for more than just a phone. The cup holder is great and can be saved to make another container and reassembled with the push of a button. This is great if you always use a cup holder for your phone or sunglasses.
What about fuel savings?
The Sportage Hybrid with all-wheel drive has an estimated fuel economy rating of 38 mpg city, highway, and combined. The front-wheel-drive base model does even better, with 43 mpg combined. Unfortunately, our AWD model only got 34.5 mpg on a 115-mile Edmunds evaluation loop. That said, it's a highway-based route, and most of its competitors also underperformed in Edmunds testing. We saw better fuel economy in daily driving around town where the Sportage could make better use of its hybrid powertrain.
Is the Sportage Hybrid a good value?
The Sportage Hybrid is one of the most affordable hybrid crossovers on the market, although it doesn't feel cheap or cheap from the inside. Even our loaded test vehicle undercut most of its competitors when matched feature for feature. Build quality is excellent, with a nice interior design and nicer upholstery than you'd expect from this class. Front-wheel drive is standard, although all-wheel drive is available. There's a decent array of standard technology and more to choose from on higher trims.
Kia offers a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty but covers the entire powertrain and battery alone for 10 years/100,000 miles. It was an extraordinary thing that no one else could match. Kia also includes roadside assistance for five years/60,000 miles
The Sportage Hybrid is fast enough for its class, but it's not the most entertaining crossover to drive. The handling isn't bad, but the steering, suspension, and brakes are tuned for comfort, not making for twisty roads. That said, the Sportage looks sharp. The exterior design, especially the front, is very striking. We applaud Kia for offering affordable matte paint, which does a lot of good.
Which Sportage Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?
Unless you want the most efficient model, we recommend going with the mid-level EX trim. It features simulated leather upholstery and heated front seats and adds more technology including a large 12.3-inch touchscreen and a wireless charging pad. All-wheel drive is also included. You also have the option to add the EX Premium package, which adds a panoramic sunroof, hands-free liftgate, and sharper-looking LED interior lighting.
Kia Sportage Hybrid Model
The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid is a compact SUV offered in three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX Prestige. This car is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine combined with a hybrid system. The total system output is 227 horsepower. You have the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive on the base LX trim, but the EX and SX Prestige are only available with AWD.
LX
The base Sportage Hybrid is equipped with the following key features:
17-inch wheels
LED headlights
Digital instrument panel
Keyless entry
The driver's seat is height adjustable
Dual-zone automatic climate control
8-inch touchscreen display
Six-speaker audio system
USB-C media/charging port
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Power-adjustable outside rearview mirror
Rear parking sensors
Automatic windshield wipers
Automatic emergency braking (warns if there is a frontal impact and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Lane departure warning (warns you if the vehicle starts to move out of its lane)
Lane-keeping system (makes small steering corrections to help keep the vehicle in the center of its lane)
Driver attention alert (issues a warning if sensors determine you are tired)
High beam assist
EX
Stepping up to the midlevel EX trim adds:
18-inch wheels
All-wheel drive
Heated outside mirrors
Roof rails
Simulated leather seating
Heated front seats
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated steering wheel
12.3-inch touchscreen display
Dual USB-C charging ports (front and back)
Wireless smartphone charging pad
Keyless entry and ignition
Blind spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while the car is in the vehicle's blind spot)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if vehicles behind you are about to cross your path while you are reversing)
Safe exit assist (can prevent passengers from opening the door when traffic is approaching from behind)
The EX Premium Package is only available on the EX trim and includes:
Panoramic sunroof
Hands-free rear door
LED interior lighting
SX Prestige
The upscale trim includes the EX Premium package and adds the following luxury and technology features:
Upgraded LED headlights
LED fog lights
Heated windshield and windshield washer nozzles
Black exterior trim
Improved digital instrument panel
Improved simulation skin
Power-adjustable front passenger seat
Driver's seat memory function
Ventilated front seats
Eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
Front parking sensors
Navigation-based adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front, can also react to traffic signs and regulate speed, and can also slow down on highway bends)
Highway Driving Assist (combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping system for highway driving)
Rear automatic braking (applies the brakes automatically to avoid collisions with objects behind the vehicle)
Surround view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Sportage Hybrid and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Remote parking assist (allows the driver to use the key fob to remotely guide the vehicle into or out of a parking space)
Blind spot display monitor (when the turn signal is activated, the vehicle's blind spot area is displayed on the digital instrument panel)
The SX Prestige trim is not available with any optional packages, but all models can be optioned with the following stand-alone features:
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Cargo cover
Crossbars
Interior ambient lighting
Sidestep
Tow hitch with cable harness (Prestige SX trim only)
