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

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

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.

  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
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