2023 Kia Sportage vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. All trims except the Seltos S included standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices at the start of the model year ranged from $22,590 to $28,080, excluding the $1,255 destination charge. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails. The MSRP for this trim was $28,045, including the destination charge.

Inside, the Seltos displayed a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic made the interior look cheap. The build quality was excellent, and the controls were logically arranged with a collection of knobs and buttons. The infotainment system's purple accent color was a minor drawback. Despite some nitpicking, the Seltos was larger, more useful, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct rivals.

The 2023 Kia Sportage arrived with a completely redesigned look, somewhat reminiscent of French automakers like Renault or Citroen. The new design was exciting and exotic, featuring bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) and textured metal trim on the D Pillar. The Sportage was available in seven trim levels: LX, EX, SX, SX Prestige, X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige.

Inside, Kia replaced leather seating upholstery with durable synthetic leather, while the base LX trim retained cloth seats. The view from the driver's seat was excellent, with a large front windshield and a relatively low beltline for better peripheral visibility. The dash featured over two feet of display in trims above the base, but the cabin also had hard-wearing plastic and piano-black plastic, which picked up fingerprints. The dual-zone full automatic climate control was standard above the LX trim.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbo engine provided a more engaging driving experience, although the DCT exhibited some quirks.

The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and the ground clearance was 7.3 inches. The Seltos was suitable for light off-roading and snowstorms but not for more challenging terrain. The multi-link rear suspension improved ride and handling, but the suspension tuning was less appealing, with noticeable impacts from bumps and uneven pavement.

The 2023 Kia Sportage introduced a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sportage was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The new engine was slightly more powerful and fuel-efficient than the outgoing 2.4-liter engine, with fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg city, 32 highway, 28 combined for FWD, and 23/28/25 for AWD.

The Sportage no longer offered a turbocharged engine, which was a drawback for those seeking a more powerful driving experience. The X-Line trim added rugged visual cues, while the X-Pro trims included genuine off-roading features like BF Goodrich all-terrain tires and specific drive modes. The Sportage had 8.3 inches of ground clearance on AWD models, making it capable of handling off-pavement trials. However, the X-Pro's off-road features made it less comfortable on-road, with noticeable road noise and vibration.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access due to its ride height and large door openings. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters. The rear seat provided ample legroom and footroom, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a larger vehicle, offered impressive interior space. The rear-seat legroom was 41.3 inches, and the trunk provided 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front seats had decent storage space, including a cubby ahead of the shifter, two tandem cupholders, and a spacious center console bin. However, the HVAC controls were frustrating, with touch-sensitive buttons that could be difficult to locate while driving.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system available on the S trim and standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a wired connection. The system was intuitive to use, with physical knobs and buttons for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface on EX and higher trims, paired with a 12.3-inch driver information display on the SX trim and up. The system looked impressive but had some peculiarities, such as wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on the top interface and similar-looking icons. Wireless charging, rear USB-C charging ports, navigation, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and HD Radio were standard on trims above the LX. A Harman Kardon stereo was included on the SX, SX-Prestige, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige trims.

The 2022 Kia Seltos came with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX included adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered standard collision-avoidance tech and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, lane-departure warning, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and safe exit warning. Adaptive cruise control was available on the SX trim and higher. The SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims included Blind-view monitor and Highway driving assist. The 2023 Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.