The arrival of hybrids is giving both gas-powered vehicles and very high-tech EVs a run for their money here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, as they offer the best of both worlds and efficiency. When Edmunds released their “Top Rated Rewards” for the year, they had changed things up drastically by providing a focus on electric vehicles. The Edmunds team spent a good deal of time behind the wheel and clocked hundreds of miles while finalizing which vehicles led the pack to claim the spot as segment leader.
The 2023 Kia Sportage took home the top-rated SUV honors, solidly feeling like a gas-powered vehicle when driven, and still nailing down 38-43 mpg. The 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine is paired with a 44-kWh electric motor and a 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The interior is very quiet, comfortable, and meets the mark quite well for slaying the daily drive. Also earning a Top Safety Award from IIHS, the Sportage hybrid earned good crashworthiness scores in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and passenger-side small overlap front, along with roof strength and head restraint categories.
The Sportage Hybrid uses two crash prevention systems, offering a significant step up from the 2022 Sportage’s advanced rated system, which was then only available as an optional add-on. Any vehicle that can claim this coveted IIHS distinction must show an “advanced or superior” rating available, so it is important to check the specific trim level you plan on buying. Doubling down and always prepped for facing off with the likes of competition such as the RAV4 Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid. EPA fuel ratings reside at 39 mpg combined, with an estimated driving range of the Sportage Hybrid currently situated at 500+ miles.
As more families venture further and further away from home and get the urge to explore the wild, they are asking us here at Jim Butler about towing capacities to help with getting the power toys and supplies to the final destination. The Sportage Hybrid comes equipped with a 2000-pound towing capacity, and the adventurous spirit to lead you properly into the wild. Writer Aaron Cole from The Drive was thrilled with the 2023 Sportage’s makeover, claiming that “It has evolved from something slightly blocky to brilliant + bold.”
Very cool flared rear fenders and a rising beltline hunker down near the rear of the car and wrap around the back providing a unique and brash visual punch. Lovers of tech will welcome the 12.3-inch center touchscreen for infotainment and a twin-size display screen for vital driver information. Despite its chunky, knobbier tires, there’s not too much roar inside, and here the Sportage’s driver-assistance features fare excellently on highways and interstates. Even loaded up with a couple of full coolers and camping gear and the family’s furry friends, you’ll be hard-pressed to fit much more with such an abundance of space left in the back.
Kia has long been recognized as a “value brand”, and models such as the Sportage have dramatically improved almost everything to attract gainful positive attention. The Edmunds.com review team gave the Sportage their own esteemed high marks for its comfortable ride quality, spacious seating, and massive rear cargo area. A characteristically soft-tuned suspension allows the Sportage to absorb everyday bumps and gnarly pavement well, and unwanted noise is kept out nicely. A five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty covers the powertrain, and is known as “stellar-level” coverage that no competitors come close to matching!
