Car Connection Ranks 2023 Sportage and Telluride Tops as New Year’s First Kia Accolades in “Best to Buy 2023” Awards

The Car Connection chose the 2023 Kia Sportage and Telluride as their best buys for 2023, being recognized for both best in economy and family car offerings! 

This is an outstanding achievement that highlights our award-winning and versatile lineup of SUVs. The win for the Telluride once again proves Kia’s expertise in designing vehicles that have the features current customers want along with segment-leading style. The Sportage hybrid is an excellent component and symbol of ongoing efficiency, making a stellar impression on industry experts immediately. 

The Best Cars to Buy 2023 were chosen based on the everyday vehicle that provides the best balance of fuel efficiency, value, safety, interior spaciousness, and drying dynamics after a full year of testing. More than 100 vehicles under $50,000 were evaluated, allowing consumers browsing the web worldwide to find the best car for themselves from different categories. The Sportage hybrid’s 43 mpg combined EPA rating along with the FWD version and 38 mpg combined for the AWD set the benchmark thoroughly for today’s three-row SUV offerings, standing out as a family vehicle with above average cargo and safety ratings. 

The 2023 Telluride hit the scene with a fervor, ready to impress immediately with excellent design cues inside and out. The Edmunds.com review team gave it high praise for its adult-friendly 3rd-row seating, extensive standard features, and incredibly quiet cabin. Since its debut in 2020, it has earned their Top-Rated award each year, rising above the rest in its class with the smoothest ride quality out there and our world-class warranty coverage. The X-Line model features a completely reworked traction control system, and handy 8.4 inches of ground clearance. 

The 2023 Sportage is now in its 5th generation and is Kia’s longest-running nameplate in the US. Proudly assembled in West Point, Georgia alongside the K5 sedan, Sorento, and Telluride, the 2023 model is available in 7 trim levels. Once existing as the smallest model in the compact crossover utility vehicle segment, it has now become the largest. For the nice touch of added utility, the all-new Sportage offers a dual-level cargo floor and 30 percent more extra capacity directly behind the second-row seats. Newly available in the Sportage is a 24.6-inch panoramic curved display which integrates a 12.3-inch infotainment display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. 

2023 Kia Sportage Receives IIHS Top Safety Pick Award

 As we are now raking leaves and enjoying a fully booked activity calendar of fall recreation activities here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, we have taken note of just how important safety is to families who are looking for their ideal next vehicle. The 2023 Sportage and Sportage Hybrid have been awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” award, making the Sportage the ninth Kia vehicle to bring home the meaningful win for either a 2022 TSP or Top Safety Pick selection.

The Sportage is situated on Kia’s brand-new third generation N3 platform, and offers numerous standard Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, including Forward Collision Avoidance with Cyclist detection capability: this is one of the most practical and ingenious lifesaving applications for anyone navigating busy city streets. 

You’ll also benefit from Rear Occupant Alert and Lane Keeping Assist, assuring that every mile driven is 100% protected from any mishaps. The Kia Telluride, Seltos, and Carnival built after March 2021 along with the Sportage, Sportage Hybrid and Soul also received TSP awards for 2022 earlier this year, with the sporty and aggressive K5 and Stinger sedans qualified as TSP+ winners. 

To qualify for a TSP rating, the vehicle needs to prove itself by achieving “Good” ratings in six crashworthiness tests. Here it displays prowess in driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. These vehicles also must have at least one available headlight system that finishes with a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating. 

The 2023 Kia Sportage stands out against the competition with its very comfortable ride quality, spacious seating, and above-average rear cargo area. Boasting a stylish and high-tech interior, it also has roomy seating and a huge cargo area, and the benefit of dirt-kicking and boulder-conquering off-road capability courtesy of the X-Pro trim. The 2023 redesign now has more passenger room and cargo space and provides an ideal reason to celebrate by marking the beginning of the fifth Sportage generation.

The Sportage sees you thoroughly covered if comfort is a priority, with excellent cushioning and support in all the most vital spots. The Kbb auto review team praised the Sportage for its top-notch job of always keeping unwanted noise out of the cabin, leaving the interior completely free of rattling and audible vibration.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid boasts a very sweet new powertrain behind all the delightfully wild styling and the benefit of Kia’s latest driver-assistance technology. It is 7.1 inches longer than the outgoing model, with a wheelbase of 108.5 inches. The new look evokes a much more mature vibe, with a good balance of proportions, and head-turning design accents that attract positive attention no matter where you show up! 

The current year’s hybrid model now boasts more legroom than the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and the SX Prestige trim visually rounds out things perfectly with satin chrome accents for the grille, and wicked glossy black trim for the wheel arches and body. Assuring that the ride will offer the utmost in protection for each passenger on board, Kia has become a dominating industry leader when it comes to arriving safely at your destination as a thoroughly developed priority number one. 

Cnet.com Hails 2023 Kia Sportage for Hybrid Version, Coming-Soon PHEV

We would have to agree with the Cnet.com auto review staff here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis when we take a close look at the incoming Sportage SUV: it does “look of a completely different lineage” sitting next to the SUV it replaces. In addition, it offers new hybrid powertrain, much improved cabin technology, and the latest driver assistance features. The new Sportage measures in at 183.5 inches from front to back, 7.1 inches longer than the current model. 

At just .4 inches wider than the 2022 Sportage, the new look carries with it a proportional balance, and charming and modern good looks bound to turn heads immediately. After this massive growth spurt, the interior is more spacious, allowing for more legroom than the competing Toyota Rav 4 hybrid, especially in the second row where it gained 3.5 inches. One of the first things the Cnet.com testing crew noticed was the premium look of the exterior finish, contrasting well with glossy black trim around the body and wheel arches. 

The power source for this coming-soon hybrid is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 paired to a 44-kilowatt electric motor, along with a 15-kilowatt-hour lithium-polymer battery. Together they generate 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or optional AWD. The comfort-tuned SUV that was delivered to the Cnet crew,  came with the Normal, Eco, and Sport user-selectable drive modes, with the Sport option being our personal favorite. 

After dialing it in, you’ll enjoy an increased throttle response, tightened steering sensation, and raised transmission shifting interval. The hybrid is the most powerful available Sportage variant, and proved to be valuable with its smooth acceleration and segment-leading highway passing ability. The front-drive Sportage Hybrid averages 42 mpg in the city, 48 mpg highway, and 43 mpg combined, with the all-wheel drive yielding 38 mpg. 

Those who are rightfully impressed by the Sportage Hybrid’s performance could see the upcoming plug-in hybrid model’s official launch later this year, with a 7.2-kWh battery pack that can be recharged at an outlet or station for up to 32 miles of electric range. Inside you’ll also find the dual-display system that boasts two infotainment screens on the dashboard, with the EV menus seen in the EV6 exchanged for hybrid screens. On the left is the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and information display, and on the right is where you’ll find KIA’s high-ranked UVO touchscreen infotainment system. 

Each trim level comes standard with the amazing and very useful addition of the Drivewise driver aid suite, bringing along forward-collision avoidance with braking assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. We would also have to steer anyone loving the extra things in life toward the Prestige trim, sporting the added luxury touches of premium synthetic seats, rain-sensing wipers, a backup camera, panoramic roof, and leather steering wheel.

2023 Kia Sportage Lineup Wins on New Design Philosophy, Bonus of Industrious Inline 4-cylinder

Like all our other models available here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, the completely redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage continues on with our savvy technology offerings, class-leading warranty coverage, and an awesome off-road appearance package that comes standard with all-wheel drive. All Sportages now come with a naturally aspirated 187-hp 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder, and all-wheel drive as an option on the LX, EX, and SX. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are set to follow soon, and the Sportage X-Pro features all-terrain tires and the ability to jump right off road and handle business!

You can always find the current-model Sportage here at Jim Butler, with one of the nicest cabins in its class, turbo engine, and ideally flashy appearance. One of the rivals consistently spotted within the periscope is the Mazda CX-5, as the Sportage continues to offer up a very entertaining drive while brandishing the new Nightfall Edition package replacing the S trim level, which adds dark 18-inch wheels, passive keyless entry, heated front seats, and push-button start. 

Each Sportage EX now comes with a panoramic sunroof, and the SX Turbo models both add 10 years of complimentary map updates within the useful onboard data set. Every Sportage trim level comes with the benefits of dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, passive entry, and a very useful power-operated liftgate. The EX-Technology package is recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy all the extra time spent inside, even if it is in a downright traffic standstill: it adds adaptive cruise control, leather surfaces, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, an upgraded audio system, and wireless charging. 

The front-drive, base-engine Sportage can easily nail down 23 MPG city and 30 highway, with the front-drive turbo model offering up 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Another comparison that means we know things are being done right is courtesy of the tried-and-true Car and Driver team, who compared the Sportage’s interior to those of Audi’s stature, with a well-executed cabin and a great mix of quality materials to tastefully bring the vibe up a notch. Key safety features include standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and available blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. 

Boasting easy-to-use controls, a great value, and refinement in terms of performance, the Sportage enjoys great performance around town, with its smooth braking and ideally-placed low-end torque. The ride is sporty, the suspension is ample, and every seating position up front offers a good range of motion. The current year’s Sportage was ranked by Edmunds.com as having a distinct advantage over the competition with its five-year/ 60,000-mile basic warranty and shining performance as a daily commuter for those who need a practical and sound vehicle most!