The 2023 Kia Sportage just made its debut, and it’s a breath of fresh air compared to the 2022 Sportage SUV. It has a stylish new design, improved performance and fuel economy, more interior space, and a wide array of new technologies and features. See the differences between the 2023 Sportage and the outgoing model in this 2023 Kia Sportage vs. 2022 Sportage comparison.

The 2023 Sportage has a better design than the 2022 Sportage

The most noticeable difference between the 2023 and 2022 Kia Sportage is the exterior design, especially for the front. For the 2023 Sportage, the iconic tiger-nose grille has a floating design and a technical look, while the boomerang daytime running lights add a unique touch. Additional new design elements for the 2023 Sportage include notch-shaped taillights, crisp shoulder lines, and angular fenders.

2023 vs. 2022 Sportage: More interior space and new technologies

The 2023 Sportage is larger than the 2022 Sportage. It is 7.1 inches longer and has a 3.4-inch wider wheelbase. This size increase results in considerably more interior space. While the 2022 Sportage only has 38.2 inches of rear legroom, the 2023 Sportage has a class-leading 41.3 inches of legroom for the rear seats. Also, the 2023 Sportage offers more storage space, with a best-in-class rear cargo capacity of 39.6 cu-ft, compared to 30.7 cu-ft for the 2022 Sportage.

In addition to the increased space, the cabin of the 2023 Sportage is more technologically sophisticated than the 2022 Sportage. It offers an available new dual panoramic curved display with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital cluster display. Also, unlike the 2022 Sportage, the 2023 Sportage offers an available Wi-Fi hotspot. 

2023 vs. 2022 Sportage: Improved performance/efficiency and a hybrid model

The 2023 Sportage has a boost in performance. Its base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has a projected output of 187 hp, compared to 181 hp for the 2022 Sportage. Despite its larger size, the 2023 Sportage has a targeted increase of 8% in fuel economy compared to the 2022 Sportage. Also, Kia will later offer a 2023 Sportage Hybrid model, which undoubtedly has even higher gas mileage.

Safety is another area in which the 2023 Sportage improves. It comes standard with eight safety-enhancing driving assistance features. Also, a live feed blind-spot monitor and a 360° surround view monitor are newly available features.

2023 vs. 2022 Sportage: Greater off-road capability with X-Pro trims

The 2023 Sportage elevates its off-road capabilities with the new X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige trims. In addition to the standard all-wheel drive system, these models have several off-road features to handle challenging terrain with ease. This includes multi-terrain drive modes, B.F. Goodrich all-terrain tires and 17-inch matte black off-road wheels. The 2022 Sportage doesn’t offer an off-road focussed model. Also, the 2023 Sportage adds a new X-Line trim to the lineup. It blends sportiness with ruggedness and has exclusive features like 19-inch wheels and gloss black design elements. 

2023 Kia Sportage vs. 2022 Sportage: Many changes and differences

As you can see, with all of the changes for the new model year, there are many differences between the 2023 and 2022 Kia Sportage. This includes a sleek new design, improved performance, and fuel economy, a larger size, more passenger and cargo space, new technologies, a higher level of safety, and greater off-road capabilities with the new X-Pro models. Overall, the 2023 Sportage is a much better SUV than the 2022 Sportage.