2023 Kia Sportage Slated for Updates, U.S. Specs Unclear

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey
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2023 kia sportage slated for updates u s specs unclear

Kia’s Sportage has slipped a bit below the radar recently, thanks to the brand’s mega-popular Telluride and a strong media push to get the news about the new Sorento out there.

Yet it hasn’t been forgotten. Indeed, it’s slated for updates for 2023.

Parsing the details is a bit tricky, as Kia’s press release is meant for global media and U.S. specs aren’t broken out. The brand’s U.S. media website didn’t even have a release as of 10:15 CST this morning, so we’re sourcing the folks over at the blog about autos, AKA Autoblog. That site reports the base engine will be a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 178 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Those are global numbers — AB thinks the output could get tweaked to match the power that the engine makes in another application: The K5 sedan.

A dual-clutch, seven-speed automatic seems the likely gearbox. We doubt that the American model will get the available diesel engine — or manual transmission.

We might, however, get two electrified models — a “regular” hybrid and a plug-in. Specs have not yet been released for either.

We do know there will likely be an electronic suspension with continuously active damping and a system that uses a combination of supplying torque to/braking of individual wheels to make for tighter turns. That latter bit should be part of the hybrid package.

A Terrain mode can adjust to unpaved terrain for light-duty off-road runs, and do so automatically. An X-Line trim will provide a more rugged look, while a GT-Line trim will use two-tone color schemes for a sportier appearance.

Kia did provide a length — 183 inches, which is a gain of six over the current/outgoing model. Autoblog notes the rear headroom and legroom numbers seem to suggest the Kia betters its class rivals.

As is often the case, the full picture has yet to be revealed, especially for the American market. If the Sportage tickles your crossover fancy, watch this space.

[Images: Kia]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Jul 07, 2021

    The best and most successful Kia models (like the Telluride) have the old logo on the vehicle. This vehicle has the new logo and is Not Recommended. [2022 Telluride will get the new logo - this is a Big Mistake.] (ToolGuy notes that the new brand slogan of "Movement that inspires" has been downplayed on the Kia U.S. website. But they do have a Subaru-style 'heart' now. [Along with a glaringly obvious reference to Soviet farming which we shall ignore.]) Corporate Psychotherapy Moment: Kia has an upper limit problem (and is actively self-sabotaging). [Trigger warning: The link below, while referencing a book written by a man, is written by a woman. (I know many TTAC readers are not comfortable around females.)] https://www.drnorthrup.com/do-you-suffer-from-an-upper-limit-problem/

    • See 5 previous
    • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Jul 07, 2021

      @dukeisduke I spy, with my little eye: https://www.kia.com/us/en [Hint: Bottom left quadrant of the page.] (No one does homework anymore, do they?)

  • APaGttH APaGttH on Jul 07, 2021

    Mercury Village Nautica edition colored interior of navy blue and white? Be still my heart.

  • TheEndlessEnigma Ah Mini, the news no-one was waiting for.
  • TheEndlessEnigma Gruesome Newsom has spoken, you are now required to bow and do his bidding.
  • TheEndlessEnigma $7900 is asking a bit much, they are asking about $2500 more than is appropriate for a private party sale. This is a $5500ish car at best.
  • Tassos While the Fit is an intelligent design and while I have owned and liked Hondas for decades, asking for $8k, even in worthless 2023 devalued Idiot Joe Biden dollars, for n 11 year old, SUB-civic Subcompact, with 120k miles and who knows what hidden issues, is way too damned much.And as always, you should ask YOURSELF, if you even think bidding on such a tiny, unsafe at any speed (NO passive safety, NO active safety) vehicle:"HOW MUCH IS MY OWN LIFE WORTH"?Or, if you had the bright idea to buy this POS for your college bound kid or grandkid,"HOW MUCH IS his or her LIFE WORTH"?
  • SCE to AUX Seems like a good car at a good price. $7900 can buy a real junker these days.
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