Perception might not be everything but it's definitely important. Kia has long been seen as a value brand. However, the perception about value brands is that they can be cheap. Kia is out to change that view by having you look at it as a brand that offers excellent value. You can see that in the midsize Telluride — the Edmunds Top Rated SUV three years in a row — the versatile three-row Sorento and now the redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage
The Sportage is Kia's compact-class SUV. Its key competitors are the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5, so it's no wonder that it can get lost in the shuffle for a lot of shoppers. The 2023 Sportage retains its comfortable seating, broad set of tech features, and class-leading warranty from the previous generation and then adds even more technology, expanded cargo capacity and some off-road chops
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What's under the Sportage's hood?
Both Kia and parent company Hyundai have been expanding powertrain lineups for their small SUVs, so it should come as no surprise that the Sportage is available with a variety of engines
The standard motor is a 2. 5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque on tap. The Sportage is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offers a choice between front- and all-wheel drive
All-wheel drive comes standard on the new X-Line and X-Pro trim levels, which are aimed at off-road enthusiasts, or at least those who are curious. The X-Line merely looks the part, with unique front and rear fascias, gloss black exterior styling elements and a roof rack. The X-Pro goes even further, with all-terrain tires, additional traction modes and drivetrain tuning that accounts for the all-terrain tires, plus useful features such as LED foglights and a heated windshield. All Sportages with all-wheel drive get a lifted stance and 8. 3 inches of ground clearance, which isn't too far off from the outdoorsy Subaru Forester and its 8. 7 inch. The front-wheel-drive Sportage has a more typical 7. 1 inches of clearance
Electrified versions, which come in the form of a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, will be available in Q2 [of 2022]. The hybrid comes with a 1. 6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that is paired with an electric motor and produces 227 hp combined. That's pretty strong for a hybrid SUV, and its fuel economy is attractive, too. an EPA-estimated 43 mpg in combined driving with front-wheel drive, or 38 mpg with all-wheel drive
The plug-in hybrid information is not yet available, but it's worth noting that the Tucson and the Kia Sorento — the Sportage's big brother — are both available with a 261-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain. We believe this to be the exact powertrain that will make its way into the Sportage as well
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How's the Sportage's tech?
The Sportage offers several features that are hard to find in rivals, including ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a surround-view camera and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Sportage also comes with a number of advanced driving aids as standard. Forward collision alert with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors and lane centering assist comes on every Sportage. Upper trims models are outfitted with blind-spot monitoring, a blind-spot camera, and an adaptive cruise control system that can automatically reduce speed when you enter a zone with a lower speed limit
Kia also added an interesting cluster of controls to the new Sportage. It's the slim digital display located underneath the center touchscreen that's further complemented by two control knobs. In photos, you might see it with climate control buttons, say for fan speed and temperature control. Or maybe a photo is showing it displaying controls for navigation. In fact, it serves as a reconfigurable control interface for the Sportage's climate, navigation and audio systems. Passengers can toggle between all three
In our initial testing, we found it to be a clever way to free up space on the dash and help give it a sleek look. However, there's no haptic feedback to the screen buttons, so it can be hard to tell whether you've actually pressed one of the buttons or not. The extra attention needed to operate the screen's controls means more of a chance for driver distraction
The Kia Rio is a good car at a great price. Available as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, the Rio offers simple transportation while delivering impressive city and highway fuel efficiency. Many of its competitors, such as the Chevy Sonic, Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris have since been replaced by larger and more expensive crossovers but the Rio hasn’t, and it’s one of the best of the few remaining subcompact models on the market today. Power comes from a 120-hp inline-four bolted to a continuously variable automatic. The Rio’s lack of power can make speeding tickets urban legend, but it deserves some credit for a well-tuned suspension. As one of the cheapest cars sold today, the Rio’s standard equipment makes it a tempting choice, and its low price makes it a no-brainer in the sub-$20,000 market
What's New for 2023?
Kia makes no major changes to the little Rio for 2023. Its only notable revision is the addition of an oil-level sensor that will notify the driver should the oil level need replenishing
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We think the several hundred dollars that separates the base Rio LX from the S model is worth the upcharge. The latter adds a center armrest, cruise control, rear USB outlet, split-folding rear seat with adjustable headrests, and keyless entry. The S also has desirable options such as forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, SiriusXM satellite radio, LED headlights, and more. Since the hatchback adds more cargo space and slightly better passenger volume, we'd recommend it over the sedan
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Rio is powered by a 1. 6-liter inline-four engine with 120 horsepower, and the only transmission choice is a continuously variable automatic. It’s not the quickest car on the block, but a 2021 hatchback model we tested got to 60 mph in an adequate 8. 6 seconds—on par with many subcompact crossovers. More impressively, the Rio soaks up bumps well for such a small car thanks to its solid structure and well-tuned suspension. It also does a good job of controlling body roll in corners. The numb steering doesn't communicate as much as we'd prefer, but it is nicely weighted and precise
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates the Rio sedan and hatchback will earn 32 mpg in the city and 41 on the highway. Those figures are identical to the Hyundai Accent's and slightly better than the Nissan Versa's. In our real-world 75-mph highway fuel economy test, a 2021 Rio hatchback achieved 39 mpg, some two miles per gallon lower than the EPA highway rating. For more information about the Rio's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Simplicity is the name of the game inside the Rio, and that's not a slight. In fact, it presents a clean, easy-to-use dashboard with climate and audio controls. There is plenty of hard plastic, but it's nicely textured, and the overall interior appearance is mature and sophisticated for a subcompact. Space in the Kia's front seats is more than adequate, but rear-seat passengers won't be nearly as happy due to restricted legroom. The Rio hatchback provides more space than the sedan's trunk, but neither Kia is a good choice if you plan on hauling lots of cargo. We were disappointed to find that the folded seats don't make for a flat load floor in the hatch. Its center console is competitively sized, as are its door pockets
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Rio comes standard with an 8. 0-inch touchscreen that offers the latest wireless smartphone-mirroring options for both Apple and Android phones. An upgraded infotainment system is optional on the S trim level that adds Kia’s UVO telematics system and SiriusXM satellite radio
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
While it doesn't have as much driver-assistance technology as some rivals, the Rio is available with forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and automated emergency braking. However, base models lack such equipment. For more information about the Rio's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS] websites. Key safety features include
- Available forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Available lane-departure warning and keep assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Kia has a well-established reputation for impressive warranty coverage, and the Rio nearly matches its corporate cousin–the Accent–at the top of the segment. However, it doesn't offer any complimentary maintenance