2023 Sportage takeaways

[FeGee3]

I love my Telluride and will keep it until the company I work for makes me purchase a new car in 2026. I recently went through the buying process for my wife. I wanted to buy her the new Sportage but 1) we needed to get her a new car before the 2023s were released, and 2) the international spec Sportage did not quite live up to the standards I was hoping to see when compared to what is on the market. I bought her the Hyundai Tucson and am ecstatic with my purchase. Still I like to watch the market and saw today the new 2023 Sportage was put online here in the US market. A few things stand out to me and I figured here is a place I can rant and throw ideas around:

1. I cannot for the life of me figure out the trim lineup
2. Why the heck did they make 4 different black interior options??
3. More concerning than #2, why is a second, lighter color not an option on a majority of trim levels??
4. More concerning yet again, why have they limited the interior/exterior color options so drastically??
5. How can they give the Sportage a heated windshield when the Telluride doesn't have it yet?

Sorry, my little soapbox is over. I think that the Kia website has either glitched during the rollout of the new Sportage (has happened a lot recently even with the Telluride 'build' site), or else they have some people in house who need to be fired. But this updated Sportage might actually give us some insight into what Kia has in mind for the 2023 Telluride, which excites me even more. Heated windshield?? Yes please, the current windshield/wipers combo are absolute junk anywhere north of the Mason Dixon. Possibility of some more dramatic exterior color options? Heck yes, add some options that are actually visible. Adding even more standard options to all trim levels? Win in my book (RIP to our wallets though, I fear). Full-dash screens? Gimmick for sure but looks nice. Wireless AA and CarPlay? Probably second best thing they could do for the Telly given the input jack in mine is glitchy as heck.

To say the least I think the Sportage is another looker and, once the Hybrid comes out, will probably be the ride to top the charts much like the big brother Telluride does in its category. I love the overall direction Kia/Hyundai are heading recently and if the updated 2023 Telly shares any of these updates the Sportage got then I think many people will be happy their insane order-to-delivery times may yield them a 2023 instead of a 2022. Happy to hear anyone's thoughts and opinions!