2023 Kia Sportage vs. 2023 Mazda CX-50 Comparability

The normal contenders within the compact SUV phase are boring. Sure, they’ve their charms. However you don’t need the identical crossover two buddies and three coworkers have. You could have an excessive amount of character for that.

Two of the extra fascinating new choices in 2023 are the Kia Sportage and the Mazda CX-50. The Sportage is a model new design, with a extra up-to-the-minute look and an exceptionally lengthy function listing. The CX-50 brings Mazda’s conventional sportiness to the desk however provides a brand new off-road character the model hasn’t touted earlier than.

Let’s take a better take a look at two selections which may make you appear a bit extra fascinating.

2023 Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage was once recognized for an extended function listing, an extended guarantee, and considerably uninspiring seems. Kia has stored the primary two however utterly modified the final for 2023. A whole redesign for 2023 introduced a recent look to the Sportage’s physique, and maybe the best-looking cabin within the class inside it. Pricing begins at $26,290.

Kia Sportage Highlights

Actual design panache: Exterior, the 2023 Sportage options skinny LED lighting, a mix of curves and angles, and fascinating colour selections. Inside, it’s even higher. Not lengthy earlier than this redesign, Kia employed a brand new design chief, previously with BMW. It exhibits. The Sportage’s cabin seems like one thing from a European luxurious marque. The CX-50 isn’t dangerous trying, however it doesn’t have the Kia’s assertiveness.

Hybrid choices: The Sportage is accessible with a selection of conventional gasoline engines, hybrid energy, or as a plug-in hybrid that may go as much as 34 miles on electrical energy alone. Mazda is kind of merely behind on electrification. The CX-50 has no hybrid choices.

Wonderful guarantee: Kia could also be bettering its designs, however it hasn’t given up the function that constructed its identify. The Sportage is roofed by a 5-year/60,000-mile fundamental guarantee and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain guarantee. Mazda doesn’t come shut.

Test this week’s Honest Buy Worth or see the Kia Sportage fashions on the market close to you.

2023 Mazda CX-50

Mazda has lengthy been recognized for excellent on-road efficiency. The CX-50 is one thing new for the model – an SUV meant for the path as a lot because the freeway. Commonplace all-wheel drive (AWD), an out there turbo engine, and an upscale cabin make the CX-50 a compelling new various. Pricing begins at $27,550.

Mazda CX-50 Highlights

Commonplace AWD: Kia will promote you an AWD Sportage, however it provides $1,800 to the value tag of most trim ranges. Mazda doesn’t construct a CX-50 with out it. In the event you’re going to take your new SUV on the path, Mazda’s i-Activ AWD system is a plus.

Elective turbocharged engine: CX-50 consumers have the choice of a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine making as much as 256 horsepower (227 with out premium gas). It’s pricier however offers consumers extra involved in efficiency an possibility most rivals don’t give them. The Sportage plug-in hybrid variant has 261 horsepower however weighs extra, making the CX-50 turbo a contact faster.

Enjoyable to drive: The center of just about each Mazda is the model’s famously responsive steering enhanced by the G-Vectoring torque system. The Sportage may be enjoyable to drive however can’t fairly match the CX-50 on a winding highway. We must always notice that Sportage fashions geared up with AWD have a torque vectoring system of their very own.

Test this week’s Honest Buy Worth or see the Mazda CX-50 fashions on the market close to you.

Similarities

These are two of the latest compact SUVs on the block, and every comes with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower.

Conclusion

Compact SUV buyers have lots of choices. However not a lot of them are fascinating. Each the 2023 Kia Sportage and the 2023 Mazda CX-50 provide distinctive character. The CX-50, as primarily Mazda’s Subaru, has hiking-boot seems and a little bit of the off-road functionality to again it up. The Kia Sportage is extra fashionable and extra versatile, out there with standard, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid powertrains. X-Line and X-Professional gentle off-roading trims may also help you get your Sportage on the path, too.

Selecting between them is essentially a matter of favor, although we’d be remiss to not notice the guarantee distinction, too.

Specs