Taking top honors in “best of” lineups is an accomplishment for any spectacular car or SUV to thoroughly enjoy over the holidays, as many buyers here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis will make the important choice regarding what model they want! The 2023 Kia Sportage claimed top honors in the “Best SUV” category in the Motor1.com 2022 Star Awards, thanks to its improvements in performance, roominess, and design over the outgoing model.
The hybrid version is a key and very practical daily driver’s component when it comes to electrification, and the ongoing plans to embrace alternative fuel offerings are clearly laid out by Kia’s “Plan S” global strategy. This was a well-recognized effort on behalf of Motor1.com which was built upon the Sportage’s excellent driving dynamics, superior design, and an excellent array of technology offerings. Boasting a top-notch hybrid not only adds clout to the Sportage lineup, but a unique luster and massive appeal to Kia’s entire portfolio.
This highly regulated and coveted race to the top considers all new vehicles that have been rated by a team of season editors, and then endure a week of facing off with each other on a variety of different terrain tests. Then after a very close look at performance, safety, cutting-edge designs, and comfort, pros and cons are debated, and final winners are selected. As competition gets tighter across segments, this decision becomes tougher for judges each year.
The Kia Sportage hybrid boasted the features and appealing refinement to render it the best for the many scenarios one encounters during every season after embarking on the road. Significantly larger than the outgoing model, the new Sportage boasts some of the most fascinating latest advancements in technology, such as an expanded list of ADAS features and awesome available dual panoramic display screens. The hybrid powertrain employs the winning combination of a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with a 44-kW motor.
The EPA mileage rating holds strongly at 42/44/43 mpg city/highway/combined, and this winning engine combo cranks out 227 horsepower to the choice of either front-wheel drive or active all-wheel drive system. The Motor Trend review team excitedly claimed that “this is a bumper-to-bumper triumph with a wealth of changes to attract diverse buyers.” Their test drive allowed for them to finalize their opinion that this is one of the most spacious compact SUVs out there on the market, and the inclusion of a 12.3-inch touchscreen is a wise move after taking note of what consumers are deeming as sought-after most.
As the season for longer trips is now upon us, everyone on board will love the USB outlets placed just above the floor, and the latches in the cargo area that make folding down the rear seat that much easier. The hybrid also cuts an entire two seconds off of the base model’s 0-60 time, and cuts down on pesky cabin noise to boot. There are so many instances where drivers ask us just what we would recommend shopping for, and as the post-holiday lists populate with productivity and recreation needs, we’d have to render the Sportage as one of our front-running and most eco-friendly picks!
