For the 2023 model year, Kia introduced a redesign of its longstanding Sportage. And this compact crossover has a lot going for it. The Kia Sportage earned a good overall rating from Consumer Reports. And though the Sportage isn’t perfect, CR notes some aspects are particularly strong. However, arguably the best part is the 2023 Kia Sportage’s interior. 

The 2023 Kia Sportage’s interior really shines

In its evaluation of the new Kia Sportage, Consumer Reports mentions plenty of positives about the SUV’s interior.

CR’s first impression of the Sportage’s interior is the amount of room it gives riders, possibly more than other vehicles in its class. In addition to providing plenty of space, the SUV has comfortable and supportive seating. The front seats, in particular, earned praise for their lumbar support controls. 

In addition, the 2023 Kia Sportage interior feels upscale thanks to its infotainment and climate control system, centered on a large dashboard display. Consumer Reports notes that some of the touchscreen functions aren’t the easiest to find while driving, but the overall appearance gives the cabin an element of class. 

Accessibility can be a problem in SUVs, and even compact crossovers can require riders to take a potentially tricky step to enter or exit. But the 2023 Kia Sportage is different — its large door openings and lower seats make it easy to access.  

The 2023 Kia Sportage’s rear seat comfort earned a perfect score from Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports gave the 2023 Kia Sportage high scores in several evaluation categories. Areas such as noise, braking, and emergency handling received excellent ratings. However, the Sportage earned a perfect score in only one category: rear seat comfort.

Like the cabin overall, the rear seats in the Kia Sportage give passengers plenty of space, with the available legroom particularly impressive. The seats are comfortable and provide ample support for riders’ backs and thighs. If adjustments need to be made to the seatback angle, the Sportage makes that easy too. 

If rear riders need to charge a laptop or tablet, the Sportage also has that covered. USB ports in the backs of the front seats give easy access to rear passengers. 

But this model also has some issues

Though the 2023 Kia Sportage is an accessible and comfortable compact SUV, Consumer Reports testers note some issues. The most notable is acceleration. With its 187-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the Sportage takes a full 10 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.

Previous model years had turbo options, but Kia ditched them for the redesigned Sportage. That means if power is a concern, buyers will be out of luck. However, the 2023 model offers adventure-focused trims, such as the X-Line and X-Pro, for buyers interested in camping and light offroading.

Despite the acceleration issue, the 2023 Kia Sportage offers plenty of perks. One significant benefit is the low purchase price. The base model starts at $25,990, a bargain for a stylish and well-appointed SUV.