- According to Kia, its Sportage compact SUV will be available in the United States by 2023.
- It will be available in LX, EX, SX, X-Line, and X-Pro trim levels, with the same base engine as the Hyundai Tucson.
- The Sportage will go on sale in the United States in early 2022, with a hybrid model following shortly after that.
Kia is almost ready to launch its redesigned 2023 Sportage in the United States, and we now have a slew of new details on the vehicle that will hit our shores in the first quarter of 2022. It is larger than the previous model and comes in a wider range of trim levels. It has an interesting design on the inside and out, as well as an off-road variant known as the X-Pro, which is available in limited quantities. After a four-cylinder gasoline engine makes its debut, the company plans to introduce a hybrid model in the future.
There is a 3.4-inch increase in wheelbase over the previous model, and the overall length is 7.1 inches longer. A large cargo area of 40 cubic feet is achieved with the rear seats folded, outstripping the Hyundai Tucson and the Honda CR-V, which are both from the company's own line of vehicles. As with the global model we saw earlier this year, the United States version has a distinctive headlight setup.
A naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four will produce 187 horsepower in the Sportage, just as it does in the Hyundai Tucson. Front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission come standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. Kia will introduce a hybrid version of the Sportage in the future, but the company has not released any information about the vehicle's engine. As an added bonus, AWD models have a little more ground clearance, and there are two models available that emphasize the Sportage's off-road ability: the X-Line and the X-Pro.
In addition to different bumpers and wheels, a beefier roof rack and black trim, the X-Line offers a more aggressive stance. Additionally, the X-Pro is equipped with 17-inch wheels with BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, a heated windshield, and LED fog lights, among other features. Another set of trim levels is comprised of LX, EX and SX, and models with a Prestige package that includes additional amenities are available on the SX, X-Line and X-Pro models as well.
A modern-looking interior with two large screens is available on higher trim levels, including a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen. The LX model with the smallest screen has an 8.0-inch display. Underneath the infotainment screen is an interesting touch panel that controls the radio and the HVAC system, and the two physical knobs on either side can change function depending on what's displayed on the screen, becoming either volume and tuning knobs for the audio system or temperature knobs for the climate control system.
Driver-assistance systems, such as lane-keep assist and forward collision warning, are standard across the board, but blind-spot warning and adaptive cruise control are available as optional extras.
Price details for the 2023 Sportage have not yet been announced by Kia; however, we expect it to begin at a higher price than the current model, which ranges between $25,265 and $36,425. Initially, only the nonhybrid model will be available for purchase in the United States; the hybrid model is expected to arrive a few months later.