2023 Kia Sportage
The Sportage Has Grown Up
The Sportage is Kia’s longest-running American nameplate, arriving in the mid-1990s before compact SUVs were really even a thing. Well, as we all know, the Kia brand has grown a lot since then, and so has the Sportage. So, let’s check out this 5th-gen Sportage, and see how much more it offers to reel in today’s savvy crossover buyers.
The Sportage has grown up. That’s the best way to sum up this 2023 Kia Sportage. It not only looks much larger than before, but every exterior dimension of this compact utility has indeed increased. It’s more than 7-inches longer than before, with a wheelbase stretch of 3.4-inches; height and width grow less dramatically, both by about half an inch. All helping it transform from one of the smallest vehicles in the compact utility segment to one of the largest.
It looks more mature too, with Kia’s tiger nose grille taking on a “floating” design, bookended by unique daytime running lights. Hybrids come with 17-inch wheels, but these 18s are an option. That larger size allows for 39.5 cubic-ft. of rear cargo space, which compares favorably with many midsize utilities; max capacity with seatbacks folded is 73.7 cubic-ft.
It also feels more stable too, with a ride quality that’s very smooth for a small SUV; quite comfortable as well; some staffers declaring it was even more comfy and spacious feeling inside than Kia’s midsize Sorento. Adding to the airy feel is an enormous panoramic sunroof.
There’s plenty of glass on the dash as well; side-by-side 12-inch screens for instrumentation and infotainment. Just below the central screen is a panel with a mix of traditional and touch controls for climate and the radio, which in top SX-Prestige trim is a Harmon/Kardon 8-speaker premium system. Thoughtful placement of the multiple storage nooks with USB ports for charging adds greatly to overall usability. Rear seat passengers get some of the best legroom in the compact class, along with reclining seatbacks.
Standard engine for the new Sportage is a 187-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4. But we highly recommend stepping up to this Hybrid; its combined 1.6-liter turbo I4 and 44-kW electric motor are truly a best of both worlds scenario, delivering 40 additional horsepower, 80 more lb-ft. torque, and better fuel economy. Kia even gives you a tried and true 6-speed automatic transmission. On top of all that, the hybrid powertrain just feels much more responsive, and allows more than 500-miles of driving on a tank of gas.
You can still get all-wheel-drive too, which comes with tweaked suspension to add an additional inch of ride height; though it does impact fuel economy quite a bit. Government Fuel Economy Ratings with all-wheel-drive are 38 across the board for City, Highway, and Combined. We got close with a 36.5 miles-per-gallon average on Regular. The front drive version’s Combined rating is 43.
For numbers of a different kind, it was off to Mason Dixon Dragway.
After launching strictly on battery power, the gas engine quickly kicks in. The tach sweeps past 3,000 RPM, and you can really feel some power coming on. We hit 60 in 7.7-seconds, a quite acceptable result for a mainstream compact SUV.
That 6-speed transmission that we very much appreciated in daily use felt a little clunky here at the track; and this little turbo tends to sound more whiney than pleasing. But ultimately, the ¼-mile run is fairly smooth and uneventful; completed in a quite good 15.8-seconds at 90 miles-per-hour. Being based on Hyundai-Kia’s midsize N3 platform pays major dividends when it comes to handling.
The Hybrid adds $1,300 to a base Sportage LX, putting it at $28,585; all-wheel-drive adds $1,800 more. The Hybrid is only available in LX, EX, and SX-Prestige trims; topping out at $37,485. A plug-in hybrid with up to 32-miles of EV range will soon join the party.
The Sportage has played a major role in the Kia story from the very beginning; and it seems we’re really getting to the good part of the book where the main characters go through major transformations that impact where the story goes from here. The Chronicles of Kia are far from their conclusion, but the 2023 Kia Sportage is the plot twist we’ve all been waiting for, and will certainly have us anticipating what’s to come next.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.5L I4 | 1.6L Turbo-4
- Horsepower: 187 | 227
- Torque: 178 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft
- 0-60 mph: 7.7 seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 15.8 seconds at 90 mph
- EPA: 38 combined (AWD) | 43 combined (FWD)
- 60-0 Braking: 116 feet (avg)
2025 Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai Tidies Up The Tucson
When we last checked in with the Hyundai Tucson compact crossover, it was kick off an all-new 4th generation. That was just 3-years ago, and already we’re circling back, as Hyundai has just applied a multitude of update to ’25 model year Tucsons. Let’s see what that means for Hyundai’s best-seller.
Much like the desert town of Tucson, Arizona, played a central role in the American Wild West, the Hyundai Tucson is a crucial character for the Hyundai brand, occupying territory in the ever-expanding frontier of small SUV sales.
Hyundai long ago staked its claim by delivering more for less, and it’s inside the new Tucson where you’ll see the biggest changes. Starting with the pleasant mix of materials, comfortable seating, and airy feel thanks to the available panoramic sunroof, Hyundai has also totally revamped the dash and center console. Instead of being segmented and curvy, the new dash design is horizontal and open, with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen combined into a single housing that stretches most of the way across the dash.
While the look is clearly high-tech, we’re actually more thankful for the low-tech updates that include bringing back some actual knobs and buttons. Getting other small details right includes a head-up display and active driving aids that are more helpful than distracting, and some great sounding audio from the available Bose system.
That revamped center console is slimmed down with more of a floating design, enhancing and opening up storage space. The annoying push-button transmission controls are also gone; shifting duties now taking place with a mini steering wheel stalk.
As before, there are a wide variety of powertrain options; from a 187-horsepower naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter I4 to a 268-horsepower plug-in hybrid. Our Limited trimmed Hybrid falls in between, outputting a combined 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. That’s a slight bump over last year due to a stronger electric motor. Hyundai is one of the few brands that uses turbo power on the engine side of their hybrid setup, a 1.6-liter turbo-four, and it also is one of the only ones with a true six-speed automatic transmission instead of a CVT. Also, the Tucson’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive setup, which is standard on hybrids, is fully mechanical, so gas mileage is not quite as high as competitors that work with rear wheel electric motors.
The hybrid felt surprisingly peppy off the line, with lots of grip and a quick bolt to 60.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 35 across the board for city, highway, and combined; though we averaged just 33 mpg of regular. Still, that’s a much better than average Energy Impact Score, with consumption of 8.5 barrels of oil annually and 4.2 tons of CO2 emissions. An ultra-efficient Blue Hybrid model with less content, smaller wheels, and some aero tweaks does better at 38 mpgs.
Our Limited’s other numbers were pretty favorable at our Mason Dixon test track, too. The Hybrid felt surprisingly peppy off the line, with lots of grip and a quick bolt to 60 in 6.8 seconds. That’s 2 seconds quicker than we got in the base Tucson 3 years ago. Smooth and linear power delivery kept it feeling fast the whole way down the track, with quick and easy shifting in the six-speed automatic. All told, it was a smooth and steady 15.1-second trip to the end of the quarter-mile, finishing at 93 mph.
It proved to be quite nimble in our handling course, too, with virtually no body roll and very neutral behavior. Steering was plenty responsive and traction control intervention minimal. In panic braking runs, the soft pedal kept ABS pulsing to a minimum and initiated stable and fade free stops of a short 104 feet from 60.
Updates for the exterior include new grille, fascias, and wheels; with the unique “through the grille” lighting setup looking like a high-tech set of six-pack abs. Throw in the chiseled body lines and our tester’s Titan Gray paint, and it appears like there’s a little bit of Batman cosplay going on. Even with the Limited’s 19-inch wheels, ride quality is quite good, something that Hyundai made a priority when this gen launched for 2022.
Tucson pricing starts with a front-wheel-drive SE at $30,155; Hybrids start with Blue trim for $34,915, with our Limited Hybrid starting at $42,745.
There’s much to like about the 2025 Hyundai Tucson, it has a great ride, packs a lot of easy-to-use tech, looks cool, and offers plenty of comfort and flexibility; plus, the Hybrid not only delivers elevated fuel economy, but brings a healthy dose of sporty performance along with it. All things that will keep the Tucson’s reputation growing throughout the ute-buying territory.
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 1.6-liter I-4 Turbo
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic
- Horsepower: 231
- Torque: 271 lb-ft.
- EPA: 35 City | 35 Combined | 35 Highway
- 0-60 mph: 6.8-seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 15.1 seconds at 93 mph
- Braking, 60-0 (avg): 104 feet
- MW Fuel Economy: 33.0 mpg