2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2023 Kia Sportage arrived with a completely redesigned look that was both exciting and exotic. Its styling was reminiscent of French automakers, with features like bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and a distinctive grille. The interior offered a mix of synthetic leather and cloth seats, with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob in higher trims. The dashboard featured over two feet of display, though some areas had hard plastic that detracted from the overall feel.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid maintained a similar appearance to its non-hybrid counterpart, with subtle differences like the badge on the liftgate. The RX 500h F Sport Performance stood out with its aggressive styling and unique paint job. Inside, the RX offered a minimalistic design with luxurious materials like Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim. The RX 500h featured artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim, with options for contrasting upholstery.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. It was available in both FWD and AWD, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sportage Hybrid, with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, provided more power, but the gas model was more fuel-efficient than its predecessor, achieving up to 28 mpg with FWD.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the RX 350h, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, with an expected 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance boasted a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine, delivering 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. It included advanced features like adaptive damping suspension and Dynamic Rear Steering, though it averaged only 20.9 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Kia Sportage grew significantly, offering 41.3 inches of rear-seat legroom and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space. The interior had ample storage, but the touch-sensitive HVAC controls were frustrating to use.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided comfort with ten-way power-adjustable front seats and premium leather in the RX 350h. The RX 500h had eight-way power seats with larger bolsters. Rear legroom was good, but headroom was tight due to the battery placement. Cargo space improved to 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat, though it still lagged behind some competitors.

The 2023 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface with a panoramic driver display in higher trims. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were wired on top trims, and the icons were difficult to distinguish. Wireless charging and a Harman Kardon stereo were available on higher trims.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system with connected services plans. The system included cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant. However, the touchscreen allowed only one menu view at a time, and reflections were an issue. The head-up display had dual-function control pads, which were problematic with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Kia Sportage came with standard collision-avoidance tech, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. However, crash-test ratings were not yet available.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid included Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, with features like motorcycle detection and evasive steering assistance. Proactive Driving Assist and Traffic Jam Assist were also available. Some features, like the front cross-traffic alert, had limitations with polarized sunglasses.