News Editor Joel Stocksdale gives us a closer look at the all new 2023 Kia Sportage.
TranscriptJOEL STOCKDALE: Hi, everyone. I'm Joel Stocksdale. And I'm here at a studio in Detroit, Michigan checking out the all new Kia Sportage. It is the longest running nameplate in the Kia lineup, and it is their kind of compact Toyota Rav4 or Honda CRV competitor.
And the big thing this year is, well, it's bigger, it's a little over three inches longer wheelbase, and just over 7 inches longer overall. And that puts it right in line with Rav4 and CRV it makes it one of the largest vehicles in its class.
And it pays off on the outside, as well as on the inside, where it has significantly more cargo space, and more legroom. The whole thing is significantly different on the outside, whereas the old one kind of looked like a little bit of a sporty, kind of maybe a little bit frog like.
This one has some really wild LED lights. These LED lights are standard and got this cool boomerang shape. And it still has a little bit of the key a signature grille. But it does look distinctly different from the other SUVs and Kia's line up the seltos, the Sorento and the Telluride.
It's available in two different sizes globally. But we only get the larger version. And it's available in two kind of main styles.
This white one is what most sportage is are going to look like. This one looks through xe models will look like this with single body color. It's got the silver highlights along the window Sills.
But there will also be a version that's a little bit more rugged looking. The X line and the X Pro models. This is an X Pro. And it gets an available two tone roof black accents.
It has different front end rear bumpers. Make it look a little bit more rugged, it's got available LED fog lights. And these come with standard all wheel drive all the X models. And they all get a 2 inch lift in ground clearance, versus the standard models. And the X Pro, in particular, comes with 17 inch alloy wheels, with Goodrich all-terrain tires for a little extra off road capability.
Now, all of these come with a standard 2.5 liter naturally aspirated four cylinder. It makes 187 horsepower. Just a little bit more than last year's 2.4 liter.
And instead, of a six speed automatic, it comes with an eight speed automatic transmission, front wheel drive is standard and all wheel drive is available. And as we mentioned, the X models get all wheel drive as standard.
Of course, in addition to the exterior, the interior has been updated quite a bit as well. X pro shows off the available dual 12.3 inch screens for instruments and for infotainment. And they are curved displays that are all housed under one glass top.
It looks sharp and stylish and have cool graphics. And there's another very interesting feature about this. And that's this climate panel.
And is a climate panel right now. But at the touch of a button, it becomes the infotainment shortcuts and buttons, as well a volume knob and tuning knob. Whereas when you go back to climate, it's temperature for the knobs.
And it's-- it's a stylish interior. It's got nicely integrated air vents and kind of a asymmetric design. The back seat is also very comfortable. It has a few extra inches of legroom. Thanks again to the longer wheelbase and overall length. And they even recline. And that brings us to the back.
Sportage does get more space. The cargo capacity has increased to 39.6% cubic feet. So the new Kia sportage goes on sale next year. It will be built at Kia's factory in Georgia.
And pricing has not been announced yet. Should be close to about what the old sportage came in at. And while the naturally aspirated four cylinder will be standard, there is a hybrid coming down the line.
And while they haven't said anything about it, we could possibly see a plug-in hybrid coming down in the later future since plug-in hybrids are available on the larger Kia Sorento, as well as Kia's Cousins over a Hyundai with the Tucson.
For Autoblog, I'm Jill Stockdale.
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