Returning To Its Roots: Kia Releases North American Market 2023 Sportage

Back in 1994, Kia, a then-new Korean automotive manufacturer, entered the North American market with two affordable vehicles: the Sephia subcompact car, and the Sportage compact SUV. Fast forward nearly thirty years later, and Kia has proven that it can go from a manufacturer whose original focus was on affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles to a world-class manufacturer selling stylish, sporty vehicles. For 2023, Kia is redesigning its compact Sportage crossover SUV (CUV), which is now more luxurious and more capable than ever. While Kia has yet to release any pricing information on the all-new 2023 Sportage, the Korean automotive manufacturer has released details on the North American-spec model. Read on to find out about the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage lineup. NOTE: Any and all pricing discussed in this article includes a mandatory destination fee, but does NOT include any applicable taxes, or other fees.

Due to the fact that there are several articles on DriveTribe already covering the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage, we won't go into detail about what's new, and instead suggest you go and read those articles for more details. The all-new 2023 Kia Sportage will be available in seven distinct trim levels: base LX, mid-level EX, well-equipped SX, luxurious SX Prestige, sporty X-Line, off-road capable X-Pro, and range-topping X-Pro Prestige, which is the Sportage's most complete lineup ever. We'll begin by discussing what's standard equipment on every all-new 2023 Kia Sportage. Every all-new Sportage includes standard features such as a column-mounted motor-driven power steering system (C-MDPS), a McPherson strut front suspension system, a four-link (multi-link) independent rear suspension system, LED daytime running lamps (DRL's), privacy glass, an electronic parking brake (EPB) with auto-hold functionality, a front USB-C charging port, a split-folding and reclining 60/40 rear bench seat, second-row rear seat air vents, a cruise control, power windows and door locks, a remote keyless entry system with a panic alarm, multiple airbags, a rollover sensor, a side-impact sensor, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, height-adjustable front seatbelt anchors, dual rear cargo area remote second-row rear seat release levers, an engine immobilizer system, forward collision avoidance assist (FCA) with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane following assist (LFA), a lane keeping assist system (LKAS), driver attention warning, hill-start assist control (HAC), downhill brake assist control (DBC), a high-line tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), speed-sensitive power door locks, impact-sensing automatic door unlock, park range door unlock, the LATCH rear seat child anchor system, rear occupant detection, walk away lock, and a rear park distance warning system (PDW-R). That's a generous amount of standard equipment, especially for entry-level models of the all-new Sportage.

The all-new 2023 Kia Sportage lineup starts with the base LX trim. Even as the base trim level of the all-new Sportage lineup, the LX still includes a generous amount of standard equipment. Included on the base LX trim are standard features such as seventeen-inch (17") tires and aluminum-alloy wheels, all-season tires, a tire mobility kit (TMK), MFR-type LED front headlamps, LED rear tail lamps, a 12.2-inch (12.2") instrument cluster with an integrated 4.2-inch (4.2") Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) LCD display screen, air conditioning, an eight-inch (8.0") touchscreen infotainment system with wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and Bluetooth, and a six-speaker audio system. A temporary compact spare tire and wheel, heated exterior side mirrors, and dual heated front bucket seats are all options on the base LX trim.

Adding more convenience features onto the base LX trim, the all-new mid-level 2023 Kia Sportage EX is also a bit more luxurious than the base LX trim. Added onto the base LX trim are features such as eighteen-inch (18") tires and aluminum-alloy wheels, LED turn signal indicators for the exterior side mirrors, heated exterior side mirrors, Qi-compatible wireless device charging, two rear USB-C charging ports, "SynTex" (leatherette)-trimmed seating surfaces, a ten-way, power-adjustable front driver's bucket seat with two-way adjustable lumbar support, dual heated front bucket seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a dual-zone fully-automatic temperature control (FATC) climate control system, a 12.3-inch (12.3") touchscreen infotainment system with wired (ONLY) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM Satellite Radio with an included paid trial subscription, one-touch up/down functionality for both power front windows, a smart keyless access and entry system with a push-button starter, rear blind-spot collision avoidance assist (BCA-R), rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist (RCCA), and Safe Exit Warning (SEW). Available options on the mid-level EX trim include a flush-type roof rack, dual illuminated front visor vanity mirrors, LED interior lighting, and a heated steering wheel.

For those all-new 2023 Kia Sportage buyers who are more luxury-oriented, there's the well-equipped SX trim. The SX trim adds even more luxury amenities onto the mid-level EX trim. These added features include a flush-type roof rack, a height-adjustable smart power rear liftgate, a panoramic dual-pane power moonroof, a 12.3-inch (12.3") full-color Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) LCD instrument cluster, dual illuminated sun visor vanity mirrors, LED interior lighting, LED front fog lamps, a two-position driver's memory system, an eight-speaker amplified Harman/Kardon premium audio system, a smart cruise control system with stop-and-go, a navigation smart cruise control system with curve and zone, forward collision avoidance assist (FCA) with junction turning, and Highway Driving Assistant (HDA1). Features such as a heated front windshield, premium "SynTex" (leatherette)-trimmed seating surfaces, and a heated steering wheel are all options on the well-equipped SX trim.

The all-new 2023 Kia Sportage SX may have a generous amount of standard luxury amenities, but for buyers who want to take it up a level, there's the luxurious SX Prestige trim. The SX Prestige trim adds even more luxury amenities onto the well-equipped SX trim. These added amenities include nineteen-inch (19") tires and aluminum-alloy wheels, LED projection-beam front headlamps, LED rear combination tail lamps, a heated front windshield, premium "SynTex" (leatherette)-trimmed seating surfaces, dual heated and ventilated front bucket seats, a heated steering wheel, a surround view monitor (SVM) system, a reverse parking collision avoidance (PCA-R) system, and front park distance warning (PDW-F) sensors. With all of its standard equipment, the luxurious SX Prestige trim offers no additional options or packages.

For buyers of the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage who prefer a sportier appearance than the standard models can provide, there's the sporty X-Line trim. The X-Line trim, based on the mid-level EX trim, adds many sporty exterior styling features. These added features include nineteen-inch (19") tires and aluminum-alloy wheels, and a raised-type roof rack. Optional features on the sporty X-Line trim include a height-adjustable smart power rear liftgate, a dual-pane panoramic power moonroof, dual illuminated front visor vanity mirrors, and LED interior lighting.

Buyers of the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage who plan to take their CUV off-roading will want to opt for the all-new, off-road oriented X-Pro trim. The X-Pro trim, based on the well-equipped SX trim level, adds many off-road oriented features. These added features include seventeen-inch (17") tires and aluminum-alloy wheels, on/off-road all-terrain tires, a raised-type roof rack, metal foot pedals, premium "SynTex" (leatherette)-trimmed seating surfaces, dual heated and ventilated front bucket seats, and a heated steering wheel. There are no available options or packages on the off-road oriented X-Pro trim.

For buyers of the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage who prefer the amenities of the luxurious SX Prestige trim, but prefer the capabilities of the off-road oriented X-Pro trim, there's the range-topping X-Pro Prestige trim. The X-Pro Prestige trim, based on the luxurious SX trim, adds more off-road capability. Added features include seventeen-inch (17") tires and aluminum-alloy wheels, on/off-road all-terrain tires, a raised roof rack, and metal foot pedals. Being the top-of-the-line trim of the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage lineup, there are no available options or packages on the range-topping X-Pro Prestige trim.

All models in the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage lineup are exclusively powered by the "G4KIII" Direct-Injection (GDi) and naturally-aspirated Inline Four-Cylinder (I4) gasoline engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The sporty X-Line, off-road oriented X-Pro, and range-topping X-Pro Prestige trims all include All Wheel Drive (AWD) as standard equipment, though it's optional on all other all-new 2023 Kia Sportage trims (including the base LX, mid-level EX, well-equipped SX, and luxurious SX Prestige), which include Front Wheel Drive (FWD) as standard equipment. Kia will assemble the all-new 2023 Sportage at its Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) Assembly Plant in West Point, Georgia, which assembles many other Kia vehicles for the North American market. The all-new 2023 Kia Sportage is directly related to the all-new 2022 Hyundai Tucson, which is assembled at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) Assembly Plant in Montgomery, Alabama. Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) models of the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage are likely to be introduced after the gasoline-only models, and turbocharged models may also follow (Kia has yet to announce any other versions of the all-new Sportage). The all-new 2023 Kia Sportage will reach Kia dealerships nationwide in the Spring of 2022, and pricing information will be released closer to that date (we'll have that pricing information for you right here on DriveTribe once it is released). The all-new 2023 Kia Sportage is expected to start at around $25,000 for a base LX Front Wheel Drive (FWD) trim, and should climb to around $36,000 for a fully-loaded X-Pro Prestige All Wheel Drive (AWD) model. What do you think of the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage? Let us know in the comments down below, and stay tuned right here to DriveTribe for more information as it becomes available!