2023 Kia Sportage XPRO – The Kia Sportage has been on the market since the early 90s. The Sportage may not always have been successful in the market, but the 2023 Kia Sportage XPRO has evolved into an eye-catching model in terms of value and affordability in its vehicle segment. The main point is that it appears to look and feels like driving a much more expensive purchase than it is.
People who are not car enthusiasts might assume it cost around $50,000 or $70,000 when the price was only about half that, with this 2023 Kia Sportage XPRO specced up to $34,990.
What’s new for the 2023 Kia Sportage XPRO?
Because of its long body, the fifth-generation Sportage has a sharper face and a roomier interior. The addition of two off-road trims, X-Line and XPRO, brings the total number of models to seven, with gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
On and off-road Performance
The 2023 Kia Sportage XPRO has a starting price of $34,990. It generates 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The compact SUV has a city fuel economy of 23 miles per gallon and a highway fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon.
Having said that, the 2023 KIA Sportage driving experience has many endearing qualities. The supportive seats and the relaxed suspension tuning make it extremely comfortable on the open road. The Sportage cruises at highway speeds with little wind and road noise. The steering is light and reasonably precise, but mostly devoid of feel, as we would expect from a vehicle in this segment. The brake feel is predictable, but stopping from 60 mph takes 128 feet, which isn't ideal but beats competitors.
The Features
The dual 12.3-inch displays in the KIA Sportage XPRO give the impression that this is a full-fledged luxury vehicle. Kia also includes a standard assortment of mobile device technologies, such as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as wireless charging. And, while there are some plastics inside the Sportage, the car we tested had a nice mix of soft surfaces and leather that gussied up the cabin.
The seats are well-trimmed and comfortable. The ride is comfortable even with the A/T tires that this model came with. The dashboard is modern and clean. It's spacious on the inside and attractive on the outside.
The geometric surfaces create an appealing interior space, but the dual-mode radio and HVAC controls, which use a single capacitive touch interface to toggle between the two functions, are more contentious.