Posted on June 24, 2022
The compact SUV segment is absolutely stacked. There are competitors high, low, and all-around, all vying for the attention of potential Alberta SUV shoppers. It's not an easy thing to convince consumers to eye one particular model over another or opt for one brand over the other, especially when there are so many different options available. For instance, what would convince you to go for a 2023 Kia Sportage here at your local Kia dealership in Alberta over a Toyota RAV4? Or a GMC Terrain? Or a Honda CR-V?
Typically you would need some serious reasons to consider one compact SUV over another. Usually, those reasons boil down to style, design, capacity, and performance. Of course, there's also the price...you can't forget about that. But in terms of matching up the ins and outs of one particular model against some of its nearest competitors, what if the 2023 Kia Sportage managed to outdo some of its closest competitors with features it has that they don't? Would you consider it then? Well, consider that challenge being accepted as we put the newest Kia compact against some of its nearest rivals and shine a light on what it does better and why.
Style and "cool" factors are all subjective, but you have to admit that the base trims of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 have very dull wheel designs. Basic five-spoke or six-spoke alloy wheels are used for eight out of the ten trims. You start getting slightly better designs with the Limited and Hybrid Limited. Nothing too special, but the spokes get more geometrically enhanced, and you can see the style begin to emerge. However, that means most of the RAV4 trims are stuck with rather uninspired wheel designs, not so with the 2023 Kia Sportage.
Kia decided to go in the complete opposite direction with the Sportage. Every single trim, from the LX to the X-Line Limited, along with the three hybrid versions, has awesome-looking wheel designs. From unique star-swirl spokes to two-tone wheels with chrome lining, to complex silver snowflake designs, to black glossy razor-edges with silver trimming, there are unique designs for each one. Basically, there's something for nearly every type of driver. They really make the vehicle pop in ways that you don't typically get with a lot of trims for other vehicles. Kia went out on a limb to make every trim feel special and stylistically unique in some way, and that really shines through with the wheel designs.
When it comes to off-road editions, the Kia Sportage was revamped for 2023 to tackle the trail like never before. It's more rugged, more powerful, and more performance-driven than past models, giving many shoppers ample reasons to visit a Kia dealership if they want a compact SUV that can handle casual off-roading around Alberta. Part of that overhaul in performance is attached to the new off-roads, the X-Line and X-Line Limited. These vehicles have been designed to tackle rugged terrain.
In comparison to the 2022 GMC Terrain, the 2023 Kia Sportage offers a much more aggressive off-road component, especially when it comes to ground clearance for improved breakover and departure angles. The Terrain tops out at 17.5 cm of ground clearance for the SLE trim and 20.1 cm for the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Meanwhile, the 2023 Kia Sportage gives you 18.1 cm of ground clearance in the LX FWD and 21 cm of ground clearance in all other trims, a clear and decisive win for the Sportage.
The Honda CR-V is considered one of the top SUVs on the market, and it consistently receives rave reviews and lots of critical praise. There aren't many ways that others within the segment can topple it, but there is one category where the 2023 Kia Sportage absolutely rocks the 2022 Honda CR-V, and that's in the towing department. Yes, towing. Believe it or not, a lot of people still use their SUVs to tow other small trailers, campers, and boats around Alberta, so if this Kia SUV gives you more towing capacity, it's not an insignificant matter.
The 2022 Honda CR-V tops out at 680 kg worth of towing capacity, whereas the 2023 Kia Sportage gives you up to 1,134 kg worth of towing capacity when properly equipped. That gives you an extra 450 kg of towing capacity compared to the CR-V, meaning an extra motorcycle, more camping gear, or even a larger boat. More is better, and in this case, the Sportage certainly gives you more in the towing arena compared to the Honda CR-V.
Cargo capacity is very important in a compact SUV. These vehicles are considered to be cost-effective and very economical, but having enough space is always the give and take with a compact SUV. When it comes to the 2023 Kia Sportage, Kia actually managed to make the Sportage very alluring with its exterior design language and make the interior feel roomy and spacious. In fact, the Sportage actually sports more interior cargo volume over the 2022 Ford Escape.
The Escape manages to offer 974 L of cargo volume behind the second row and up to 1,852 L of cargo volume behind the first row with the second row folded down. The Kia Sportage, meanwhile, delivers a massive 1,121 L of cargo volume behind the second row and up to 2,098 L of cargo volume behind the first row, with the second row folded down. So you get a lot more cargo volume in the Sportage, meaning more space to store your belongings and more space to move around.
At the end of the day, compact SUVs are still vehicles that you drive on the road, and you want to get the most out of them when it comes to performance and handling. If a vehicle isn't fun to drive, then what's the point? Well, with buffed-up performance for the 2023 model year, the Kia Sportage has certainly made itself quite competitive in comparison to many of its nearest segment peers, including the 2022 Subaru Forester. The numbers aren't massive, but they do speak to the improvements that Kia is implementing to make the Sportage more competitive. Not just in a stylistic way but also when it comes to on-road handling and performance.
Where the Forester tops out at 182 hp at 176 lb-ft of torque, the Kia Sportage manages 187 hp at 178 lb-ft of torque with its standard engine. Opt for the Sportage Hybrid, and those numbers bump up to 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That means you get just a little more oomph out of the Sportage by comparison. Is it enough to get you to visit our Kia dealership? Well, it depends on if all the other high points over the competitors are enough reasons to give the 2023 Sportage a go. The all-new design and improved features to make it more competitive with its contemporaries are certainly strong enough reasons to think so.
Categories: Kia Dealership Alberta