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Efficiency – practicality – comfort: modern expectations for SUVs have come a long way since the days of military vehicles for public roads. One of the best examples of an SUV that exceeds modern standards is the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid. This supremely efficient Sportage Hybrid is a complete package.

How efficient is the Kia Sportage Hybrid?

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid drives in front a mountain range with a windmill in the foreground.
2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid | Kia

According to MotorTrend, the Kia Sportage Hybrid can achieve 42 mpg city and 44 mpg highway in its front-wheel drive configuration. All-wheel drive Sportage Hybrid models take a slight efficiency hit, with ratings at 38 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

The Sportage Hybrid achieves this level of efficiency by combining the efforts of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine and a 44-kilowatt electric motor. Together, it all makes 226 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. According to MotorTrend, it’s enough to help the 2023 Sportage Hybrid accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds.

Does the Kia Sportage Hybrid have good range?

The Kia Sportage Hybrid has an outstanding maximum range between fill-ups.

According to MotorTrend, the hybrid crossover has a range of over 500 miles. In ideal conditions, Kia claims the Sportage Hybrid can have a maximum range of just under 600 miles.

With that range, you can drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco and still have nearly 200 miles left in the tank. It’s an impressive feat.

Does the Kia Sportage Hybrid need to be plugged in?

No – the Kia Sportage Hybrid is not a plug-in model.

Kia currently has two Sportage variants with electrified powertrains. As explained above, the Sportage Hybrid has a gas engine and electric motor that work together. However, the electric motor doesn’t need external charging.

The 2023 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid operates a little differently. It also uses a gas engine and electric motor, but its batteries can use external charging. The SUV also has an electric-only driving mode, unlike the standard hybrid.

How much is a Kia Sportage Hybrid?

The Kia Sportage Hybrid starts under $30,000. According to MotorTrend, its starting MSRP is just $27,490.

That’s a fantastic value for an SUV with so much performance and features. In fact, one could make the case that the Sportage Hybrid is one of the best SUVS for the money in 2023.

If you’re looking for a compact SUV with excellent efficiency, utility, and comfort, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid.

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Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Scott Prewitt

Scott Prewitt joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2023 as a Staff Writer for the SUV section. During college, he began his career in journalism as Editor in Chief of The Creightonian. After graduating from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News and Public Relations, Scott spent time in a local newsroom. He soon found his way to the world of automotive journalism and has been writing about cars since 2017.

A passion for all things automotive began at a young age. Playing Gran Turismo racing games in the early 2000s sparked an interest in cars and Scott began devouring Car and Driver stories when he was in the fourth grade. Since then, Scott’s enthusiasm for autos has grown to become the focal point of his career as a journalist.

By combining the skills that earned him the News Graduate of the Year 2016 and the Omaha Press Club Recognition & Academic Scholarship with a craving for knowledge of automotive industry, Scott covers a wide range of content from breaking news about the latest SUV models to designated off-road and overlanding rigs. His reporting is informed by personal experiences like road trips, intriguing automotive history, and time spent poring over various outlets and YouTube channels. Scott is drawn to car culture because, in his own words,  “these vehicles are a combination of purpose-built engineering and emotive, expressive design.”

The personal aspects of the autos world are of particular interest to Scott, and he is fascinated by the relationship between humans and cars. Years of writing for dealerships across the country and time in the corporate communications world lend to his expertise as a writer here at MotorBiscuit.