2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2023 Kia Sportage arrived with a completely redesigned look that was both exciting and exotic, drawing comparisons to French automakers like Renault, Peugeot, and Citroen. Its styling was a departure from previous generations, featuring bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar, which added a touch of class. The Sportage was available in five trim levels in Canada, starting with the LX trim, which offered front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, which, while durable, didn't quite match the feel of real leather. The interior boasted a large display, but some areas, like the hard plastic plate near the door handle, were less impressive.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 featured subtle styling changes, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a squared-off rear bumper for improved aerodynamics. The ID.4's design was distinctively EV, lacking the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance. Built on VW's MEB platform, the ID.4 shared a minimalist interior design with other VW models, offering a sense of quality. The base model featured leatherette upholstery with recycled fibre inserts, and the interior changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the centre console and improved phone storage. The ID.4's interior space was generous, with more legroom and headroom than many other affordable EVs, and it offered a decent towing capacity for an entry-level EV.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While it provided slightly more power than the previous 2.4-litre engine, it lacked the punch of the previous turbocharged option. Fuel economy was reasonable, with figures of 9.3 L/100 km in the city and 7.4 on the highway for FWD models. The Sportage's AWD models offered 21 centimetres of ground clearance, making it capable off-road, though it lacked the symmetrical AWD of competitors like Subaru.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 came with a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base model, offering RWD and 201 horsepower with 229 pound-feet of torque. The Pro model featured an 82-kWh pack with AWD, delivering 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The ID.4's handling was comfortable but allowed for some body roll, and its regenerative braking system didn't support one-pedal driving. Despite this, the ID.4 provided a familiar driving experience for those new to EVs.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a compact crossover, offered more interior space than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase and increased ground clearance. Rear-seat legroom was impressive at 1,050 mm, and the trunk provided 1,121 litres of cargo space, expanding to 2,098 litres with the rear seats folded. However, the Sportage's technology, like touch-sensitive HVAC controls, could be frustrating to use.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 excelled in interior space, offering more legroom and headroom than many affordable EVs. It provided 858 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded. The ID.4 also offered towing capabilities, with RWD models towing up to 1,000 kg and AWD models up to 1,225 kg. Interior changes for 2023 improved functionality, with a conventional lid for the centre console and three-zone climate control.

The 2023 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system on EX and higher trims, paired with a digital instrument cluster on the X-Line Limited. However, the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on higher trims was puzzling. The Sportage offered Bluetooth, keyless entry, and a Harman Kardon audio system on the X-Line Limited.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system featured sharp graphics and natural-language voice recognition. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were distracting. The ID.Light system provided ambient lighting and navigation cues, adding a unique touch to the driving experience.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a range of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a backup camera. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The X-Line Limited trim included advanced features like a blind-view monitor and highway driving assist. However, crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not yet available.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. While IIHS ratings for 2023 were pending, the 2022 model received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating. The ID.4 offered standard driver-assist features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus and an automated lane-change feature.