2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2023 Kia Sportage presented a striking transformation from its previous iterations, featuring design elements that drew parallels with French automotive styles. This new model arrived with a completely revamped appearance that retained a sleek and somewhat exotic look. The unique styling attracted attention and boasted some notable design features, including the eye-catching boomerang-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) framing a distinctive grille and the textured metal trim on the D Pillar, which added a touch of sophistication. Kia offered the Sportage in seven trim levels: LX, EX, SX, SX Prestige, X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige.

Inside, the Sportage replaced leather upholstery with more durable and animal-friendly synthetic leather, although the base LX trim retained cloth seating. Despite being synthetic, the leather didn't emulate the same luxurious feel as genuine leather. The vehicle still included a leather-wrapped steering wheel (EX and above) and a leather-wrapped shift knob (SX and above), maintaining some traditional luxury elements. The visibility from the driver's seat was commendable, with a generous front windshield and a low beltline enhancing peripheral visibility. Except for the base trim, the dashboard featured over two feet of display screens, offering an impressive view. However, the rest of the cabin felt somewhat typical, with a mix of hard-wearing plastic and piano-black plastic prone to fingerprints. One irritation stemmed from a hard plastic plate ahead of the front-seat door handle, uncomfortable for a knee to rest against. Standard dual-zone full automatic climate control was available above the LX trim, adding to passenger comfort.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, on the other hand, sported more subtle styling changes. The front bumper now featured gloss black trim, while the rear bumper had a more squared-off design claimed to improve aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors were introduced, and the rear VW logo became illuminated for added appeal. Despite these updates, the ID.4 didn't resemble a traditional SUV, lacking the upright profile and ground clearance typical of such vehicles. While distinguishable as an EV compared to VW's gasoline models, its appearance might not fully satisfy SUV enthusiasts.

Built on VW's MEB platform, the ID.4 shared a modular design approach catering specifically to EVs. The interior continued VW's minimalist and quality-focused design language, evident even in the base ID.4 Standard model, which didn't feel much of a downgrade from higher trims despite having a manual driver's seat. Leatherette upholstery with recycled fiber inserts was standard, reflecting VW's commitment to sustainability. Changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console and improved phone storage, enhancing practical usability. A three-zone climate control system was now available with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2023 Kia Sportage broke new ground by offering both hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, although this comparison primarily focused on the gas-powered version. Equipped with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, it delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, the engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Although this engine provided slightly more power than its predecessor and improved fuel efficiency, it felt underpowered compared to the previous generation's 240-horsepower turbocharged engine, which was no longer available. Fuel economy was rated at 25 mpg city, 32 highway, and 28 combined for FWD, with slightly lower figures for AWD models.

The X-Line and X-Pro trims brought some rugged attributes to the Sportage lineup. X-Line featured 19-inch alloy wheels, glossy and matte-black exterior trims, along with a gloss-black roof rack, primarily focused on aesthetics without additional off-road capabilities. The X-Pro trims introduced genuine off-road features like BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, specific AT-tire-tuned drive modes, and 17-inch wheels suited for off-road use. The Sportage demonstrated adequate off-road capability for typical use, with 8.3 inches of ground clearance on AWD models rivaling most crossovers. However, the X-Pro's off-road setup compromised on-road driving comfort with increased road noise, vibration, and body roll.

For the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, a new 62-kWh battery pack was introduced for the base Standard and S models, exclusively with RWD. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus retained the 82-kWh pack, available in both RWD and AWD configurations. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models offered 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.7 seconds. The reduced weight of the smaller battery pack was expected to enhance acceleration and handling.

Despite its impressive acceleration, the ID.4 fell short in handling compared to sporty hatchbacks like the VW Golf GTI and Golf R. Body roll detracted from its sporty aspirations, although the vehicle excelled on straight, long-distance drives. The regenerative braking system was designed to mimic traditional driving more closely, offering minimal braking in the default setting and avoiding full one-pedal driving in the more aggressive "B" setting.

As a compact crossover, the 2023 Kia Sportage stepped up in size from its predecessor, making it more competitive in its segment. It was 7.1 inches longer with a wheelbase extended by 3.4 inches, providing considerable interior space. Rear-seat legroom spanned an impressive 41.3 inches, with 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 74.1 cubic feet with the back seats folded. Up front, storage included a cubby ahead of the shifter, two tandem cupholders, and a spacious center console bin. The Sportage film lacking in its overcomplicated technology for basic functions, with touch-sensitive buttons for HVAC controls that served multiple purposes and could be confusing to operate while driving.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered superior interior space compared to other affordable EVs, with more front and rear-seat legroom than the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. Cargo space measured 30.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet when folded, which was generous for an entry-level EV but still fell short compared to gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Towing capacity was 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD, providing some functionality but not enough for heavy-duty needs. New interior changes for 2023 included a conventional center console lid and better phone storage placement, enhancing usability, along with an option for three-zone climate control.

In terms of technology, the 2023 Kia Sportage impressed with a sharp 12.3-inch touchscreen interface available from the EX trim onwards, paired with an equally sized driver information display on the SX trim and above. Despite the high tech and stylish appearance, the icons on the screen were challenging to differentiate due to similar fonts and colors. Notably, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were only available on the base trim with an 8-inch screen, while the larger display required wired connections. Other tech features included wireless charging, rear USB-C ports, navigation, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, HD Radio, and a Harman Kardon stereo system standard on upper trims.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 upgraded its infotainment layout with a standard 12.0-inch touchscreen across all models, along with software updates to enhance responsiveness. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to the ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster, were standard. The infotainment system had sharp graphics and accommodated both smartphone-like icons and traditional automotive split-screen views, supported by natural-language voice recognition for simple commands. However, haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel replaced conventional buttons, leading to a distracting user experience, saved only by effective voice-recognition capabilities. The ID.Light feature added visual cues for navigation and drive mode, though it could blend in with other alerts.

The 2023 Kia Sportage provided an extensive suite of standard collision-avoidance technologies and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, lane-departure warning, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, and on the SX trim up, adaptive cruise control. The SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims featured Kia's advanced Blind-view monitor and Highway driving assist, though these were not available on lower trims. As of its release, the 2023 Sportage had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with top ratings in frontal and side crashes and four stars for rollover tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS' highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating. Standard safety features for the ID.4 included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and now cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0 with adaptive cruise control and lane centering. New additions for 2023 included standard Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.