What is the 2023 Kia Sportage comparable to?

Neither the base-engine 2023 Kia Sportage nor the 2022 Hyundai Tucson are known for their blistering performance. Few shoppers in this segment have sports-car acceleration at the top of their list, but if they occasionally traverse up a hill with a car full of people or need to pass on a two-lane road, an extra boost of swiftness will suddenly be a big plus. In this case, the SUVs' 187-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four engines merely deliver comfortable acceleration, with an experience we've described as unrefined in the past.

There's an easy solution, however: Get the hybrid. If you can handle the minor price premium, try the quieter hybrid, which will feel slightly quicker. That more efficient option will give you 226 combined system hp with the 2022 Tucson Hybrid and 227 hp with the 2023 Sportage Hybrid. When that's not enough power, a plug-in hybrid is available with both SUVs, though the price jumps by thousands of dollars to the mid- to high-$30,000 range for base trims.

Advantage: You, if you consider the hybrid versions of the Sportage or Tucson.

One of the key differences between the two SUVs is that the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid is offered in FWD form. This allows Kia to compete for the title of most efficient compact SUV hybrid and also lowers the price of entry for hybrid-curious buyers. The catch? Kia only offers the FWD hybrid in Sportage LX form; once you want options above the LX, AWD comes standard.

A 2023 Sportage LX Hybrid is about $2,500 less than the least expensive 2022 Tucson Hybrid (with standard AWD). As for efficiency, you're looking at 42/44 mpg city/highway for the FWD Sportage Hybrid and 38/38 mpg for AWD models like the EX trim shown here. The Tucson Hybrid's base trim (Blue) matches that efficiency, but other trims fall to 37/36 mpg. Non-hybrid fuel economy on both SUVs isn't as competitive with class leaders.

Advantage: 2023 Kia Sportage

One of the best perks of buying a new Hyundai isn't just the five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty (like Kia's) but also the complimentary maintenance. New Hyundais all come with three years or 36,000 miles of basic maintenance visits included, a cool benefit you might forget about until it's time for an oil change.

Advantage: 2023 Hyundai Tucson

Every month it feels like we're hearing about a new off-road-focused SUV. Whether it's Subaru's Wilderness series, Honda's new TrailSport, Hyundai's XRT line, or Kia's X-Pro models, there's no shortage of off-road appeal on the market today. At least for now, this is an easy win for Kia. Because whether you're seeking off-road styling with on-road driving manners (X-Line) or a bit of actual capability (X-Pro), Kia has something to offer. The X-Pro model actually boasts increased capability beyond the other trims, which gives the entire line a tiny bit more credibility. If we really wanted an off-roader, we'd still consider a Ford Bronco Sport or Jeep Wrangler, but between these two, try the Kia in the X-Pro trim.

Advantage: 2023 Kia Sportage

When sporty, boulevard-ready appeal is more your focus, the Hyundai could be the better pick. To be clear, neither the 2023 Kia Sportage nor the 2022 Hyundai Tucson are sporty to drive, but some consumers are satisfied with just the appearance. In that case, try the Tucson N Line, which updates the SUV's exterior styling and adds intricate 19-inch wheels. Inside, you'll find a dark interior with red accents, including on the gear stalk. It's all show and no go, however, as the 187-hp engine carries over.

Advantage: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Heard of the fantastic Hyundai Smart Park feature? Also known as Remote Start Parking Assist, the feature allows you to reverse your car out of a tight parking space without even being inside. The new Kia Sportage now offers this feature, as well, though only on loaded hybrid models. Hyundai includes that tech on top non-hybrid Tucsons.

But Hyundai can't match the Kia's screen real estate. In the Kia, a 12.3-inch screen is mounted higher on the dash than the still-huge 10.3-inch touchscreen in the Hyundai. That said, there's more to life than big screens, and we like the way infotainment works with both brands. We also applaud both brands for offering digital instrument clusters across most trims. The screens aren't as configurable as we'd like, but it instantly makes the cabin feel more modern.

Advantage: 2023 Kia Sportage

The previous versions of both SUVs were on the small side of the segment, but that's no longer true. The Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson now offer very comfortable back seats and enormous cargo areas. The Hyundai can handle 38.7 cubic feet in non-hybrid form or the tiniest bit more as a standard hybrid. That's just shy of the Kia's 39.6 cubic feet in standard form and 39.5 as a hybrid. Match that against the 2022 Toyota RAV4's sizable 37.5 cubic feet, and you'll understand why the Kia and Hyundai both impress us here.

Advantage: The Hyundai and Kia over most competitors

We wish we had better news, but the controls in the new Sportage and Tucson have frustrated us in the past. The Sportage has a couple knobs and screen controls that change function from HVAC to audio functions—it's similar to a system we didn't love in the electric Kia EV6. The Hyundai avoids this, instead opting for touch-sensitive controls that look great (pictured) but simply don't do the job as well as, say, the big, chunky knobs in the RAV4.

One note here: Lower trims of both cars avoid this issue.

Advantage: Neither the Hyundai nor the Kia

We love the Hyundai Tucson's head-turning style but prefer the screens in the Kia Sportage. If you're open to the hybrid of either SUV, we'd give a slight nod to the Kia. Still, the Hyundai has plenty of advantages, from three years of complimentary maintenance to the available N Line model. What we most appreciate with these fresh entries is their larger interiors, instantly making them more competitive whether you're only considering the Hyundai and Kia or the entire segment.