Is the 2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro a Good SUV? 5 Pros, 4 Cons

With the launch of the redesigned 2023 Sportage, Kia set out to broaden the appeal of its already excellent compact SUV by adding the availability of a more off-road-ready appearance. Increasingly popular with buyers, the look is offered by various manufacturers with varying degrees of real capability to back it up.

Related: 2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro Review: The X-Pros and Cons of Looking Tough

In fact, Kia has one-upped competitors with not one, but two such butch trim levels for the Sportage: the X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige. The upgrades are primarily cosmetic, largely limited to the requisite blacked-out trim and plastic cladding found on similar SUVs. Still, the addition of all-terrain tires provides more traction in the dirt, even if stepping up to the top X-Pro Prestige trim doesn’t get you off-road essentials like skid plates and tow hooks.

Questionable off-road packages aside, the Sportage remains a worthy choice in a crowded category, long on value and with a roomier and more upscale interior than those found in many competitors, plenty of impressive tech and a comfortable ride.

Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman recently spent some quality time in an X-Pro Prestige trim, and while he found a lot to like, he also uncovered a few niggling faults. You can click the link above for his full expert review; for a quicker look, read on for five things we like about the 2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige and four things we don’t.

Things We Like

1. Cushy Ride

The X-Pro treatment may not do much to turn the Sportage into a Rubicon Trail champ, but its 17-inch all-terrain tires with tall sidewalls help absorb bumps on- or off-road. On pavement, the ride is pliant and comfortable, soaking up bumps without fuss. The trade-off is handling that may not be as crisp as that of some competitors, but the Sportage X-Pro can still be enjoyable to drive in the twisties.

2. Top-Notch Tech

Two big and vivid digital displays dominate the dash, lending a modern, high-tech look that wouldn’t feel out of place in a more expensive vehicle. The center touchscreen is vivid, responsive and logically laid out, while the reconfigurable gauge cluster offers a variety of functional and visually appealing layouts to choose from.

3. Welcoming Interior

Top-quality materials and thoughtful design make the Sportage’s interior a pleasant place to be and raise the bar for the category. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and there’s plenty of leg- and headroom front and rear even with the optional moonroof. Controls are easy to operate, while a low dash and beltline make for good visibility and add a more open and airy feel.

4. Commodious Cargo Space

The Sportage offers an ample cargo area for a compact SUV, with a tall and wide opening that can accommodate bulkier items. A low liftover height helps make for easier loading and unloading, and folding the rear seatbacks allows for carrying even larger items.

5. Strong Value

With a starting price of $27,615 (prices include destination charge), the base Sportage LX trim is competitively priced and well equipped with safety and convenience features. Our loaded X-Pro Prestige came to $38,815, making it something of a bargain compared to the top trims of some competing models.

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Things We Don’t Like

1. Not Really Off-Road-Ready

The X-Pro may look the part of a serious off-roader, and that may be all that many buyers are looking for — but if your travel plans include anything more rugged than dirt roads, be aware that the X-Pro uses the same shock absorbers as those on lesser trims, doesn’t have any added ride height and, as previously mentioned, isn’t treated to serious hardware like skid plates and tow hooks.

2. Unenthusiastic Engine

X-Pro trims are not available with either of the Sportage’s more powerful hybrid powertrain offerings, leaving the base 187-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine as the only choice. While power is adequate for running around town and highway cruising, don’t expect much more than that. Competing turbocharged engines from Ford, Honda, Mazda and others provide more punch.

3. No Payoff at the Pump

Unfortunately, the Sportage’s base engine doesn’t provide a payoff at the pump to compensate for its lack of punch. Its EPA rating of 23/28/25 mpg city/highway/combined is nothing to write home about, nor is the 26.3 mpg we saw in our 300-plus-mile fuel economy test. Sportage buyers looking for maximum mileage might want to stick with one of the two available hybrid powertrains (the front-wheel-drive Sportage Hybrid earns an impressive 43 mpg combined).

4. Tire Noise

Those chunky all-terrain tires may look the part and deliver improved traction in the dirt, but the penalty is increased tire noise. Things get particularly loud at highway speeds, when the soft compound and aggressive tread make for a louder cabin than in trims with more street-focused tires.

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