2023 Kia Sportage Design Revealed As Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain Rival

Kia has pulled the sheets on the design for the 2023 Kia Sportage, debuting the exterior styling and interior layout of the all-new fifth-generation crossover. When it launches, the 2023 Kia Sportage will rival the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain.

Outside, the 2023 Kia Sportage exemplifies Kia’s “Opposites United” design theme, and is the result of a collaborative effort by Kia’s global design network, located in the U.S., China, Korea, and Germany. The front end is dominated by a new black grille graphic, which is spread horizontally across the front fascia with a variety of technical angles and cuts. The grille is an evolution of Kia’s “Tiger Nose” design seen on past models, and is flanked by a pair of boomerang-shaped daytime running lamps

A chrome beltline leads up to the D-pillar. The exterior also features a lower graphic bumper in the rear, complementing the black grille up front. Notably, Kia is offering a two-tone color combo with a black roof treatment for a little extra spice.

The interior is new as well, and features a panoramic curved display along the dash. Infotainment controls are made through a touchscreen pad, while a glossy finish and chrome details are used for the trim. There’s also hangar designs in the seats for an easy and convenient spot to store clothing or handbags.

For those customers that want a little extra visual punch, the 2023 Kia Sportage will also be offered in the all-new Sportage X-Line, which features a unique front bumper, side sills, and a curved roof rack, as well as signature sage green or black seating inside the cabin with quilted upholstery and black metal wood trim.

More information on the 2023 Kia Sportage is set for release at a later date, with a global market launch slated for later in the year. Like all recently redesigned Kia products, the new Kia Sportage will likely go on sale in Korea prior to launching in North America. As such, expect it to arrive for the 2023 model year in the U.S.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more General Motors competition news and around-the-clock General Motors news coverage.

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Jonathan Lopez

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

View Comments

    • @Jim
      I have been telling everyone that GM interiors (Except for the C8, Tahoe, Yukon Denali, and Escalade) are by far the worst in each vehicle segment they compete in.
      Name me one Chevy interior besides Tahoe and Vette as stated above that is best in class or even competitive. Maybe the Trailblazer? It is mid-pack maybe a little above mid-pack.
      The GMC Terrain and Acadia interiors look great if it was still 2010.
      The Nox is downright emberresing in the interior department. I honestly cannot think of a worse interior in the segment. If anyone can think of one please let me know. I have tried to get NON GM fanatics friends and family in the Nox and NONE not one purchased one and all due to the interior plastics and lack of modern Tech and features for the price. And I cannot say I blame them. But I will always try to get people I know into GM vehicles.
      GM needs to make great interiors and make them ASAP.

  • that front end is a hot mess. the interior looks nice but should've toned down the boomerangs inside.

  • Wow, a light colored interior! Those are certainly rare these days. Love the blue and light gray combo. Certainly beats the boring black and charcoal interiors that seem to be in every new vehicle.

  • With a face only a mother could love, can't stand those car's that resemble an electric razor.

    • Actually I think the Blazer looks great being that it resembles the Bad Ass ZL1 (best looking Camaro in a long time), the Trailblazer is nice but is a little too busy up front.

      This thing on the other hand looks as if the designer was confused to where his boss wanted him to put all the elements on the list.

      See Walt's comment bellow!

  • Certain side profile angles make it look like a mini Buick Enclave. But then there is that horrendous front end. That's two model series in a row where Kia has messed up the front clip of the Sportage. That interior is fantastic.

  • Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but at least Hyundai and Kia are pushing the envelope and doing something different and distinctive. This makes the Equinox look positively dull and archaic. GM just gets farther and farther behind.

  • I love how Hyundai simply doesn't care and not follow the unwritten dumb rules of automotive industry and act completely free with its product release times and designs. No magical seven years wait for a new interior and exterior design nor german style subtle variations of one design across the board for all models resulting a boring undistinguishable look that you can't say a model of a vehicle nor price range. They have fifteen different grill and headlamp designs between Kia and Hyundai.

    It's a very reasonable approach to me why you try to save simply infinite number of designs? People want to be excited and stand out and we've reached to the point thanks to design softwares making a unique design has become very cheap, easy and fast .

  • We have a 2018 Terrain Denali and we really like it but here we are 3 or 4 years later in production and no real design changes. The KIA interior is much nicer so if GM really wants to be competitive some major upgrades will be needed.

  • Over all not a bad looking vehicle - Kia is definitely pushing the envelope. I want to really like the Terrain but I am not a fan of the new GMC grille design at all.

Recent Posts