by Gabrielle DeSantis

We just received more information about the 2023 Kia Sportage, and it looks fantastic. However, the new Kia Sportage looks a little reminiscent of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. Did Kia borrow from its looks, or is this just a coincidence? 

The 2023 Kia Sportage vs. the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander 

The 2023 Kia Sportage and 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander both got incredible makeovers to modernize their designs. However, they look a little similar. They both have lines that curve around from the sides toward the front bumper. 

On the Sportage, the lines are LED lights, and on the Outlander, they are chrome accents. The Sportage also got longer and sleeker with sharper lines on the side like the Outlander. They both have thin horizontal tail lights in the rear with bumpers that have two indents on the edges. But looks could be the only thing they share in common. 

What to expect with the new Sportage 

The base engine of the 2023 Kia Sportage is a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder option with 173 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. It can be paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. But the manual option probably won’t come to America. 

The Sportage will also offer a 2.0-liter diesel engine with 183 hp and 307 lb-ft of torque. However, the diesel engine probably won’t come to America either. But on a positive note, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are on the way, and the Sportage is available with four-wheel drive. 

With the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, you get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. It is exclusively paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The Outlander also has a plug-in hybrid powertrain on the way. It’s available with all-wheel drive. 

According to Autoblog, the Sportage has a new electronically-controlled suspension with continuously adaptive dampers. The hybrid models gained the Hyundai trick E-Handling system to apply torque to braking force to each wheel in corners to enhance turn-in or help acceleration to pull you around the bend. 

A new Terrain Mode will come in handy as you hit the trails. The Sportage automatically detects the type of terrain you’re on to automatically adjust to the best settings for various conditions. The X-Line trim will add rugged looks with unique colors, but this is an urban SUV, not an off-roader. 

What is the Sportage’s interior like? 

The 2023 Kia Sportage grew six inches longer to provide more legroom and cargo space. But the dimensions haven’t been released yet. It’s safe to say that the Honda CR-V may have a new competitor in terms of space. 

You’ll find an amazing new interior design with a 12-inch digital cluster gauge and 12-inch infotainment system. The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander has a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 9-inch infotainment system. 

The 2022 Sportage begins at about $24,090. Pricing for the 2023 model hasn’t been released. You can get started in the Mitsubishi Outlander for about $25,795. How close the vehicles feel may come down to a test drive.

RELATED: The 2021 Toyota Rav4 Is Good but the 2021 Kia Sportage Is Better

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

The BMW 2 Series is here, and it prompts one to ask, “What’s going on with BMW design?” In some ways, the 2 is better than its predecessor. But in others, it is way worse. So what’s happening anyway?

In profile, the 2 Series is a vast improvement over the previous design

When you look at the profile of the new 2022 230i or M240i you can see it is instantly better. The previous 2 had that weird sculpted indent in the lower doors that had to end somewhere. And it did in the quarters in a transition that made it look like it was hit hard. That sculpting just weakened the whole car visually. 

The new 2 does away with that mistake and looks substantially more solid. It helps the 2 to look like it is better planted. Though the 2 does get some wavy jazz going on in the rear quarters where the wide wheel openings bulge into the fenders both front and rear. Still, it is a huge improvement over the previous design.

The 2 Series top transitions to the deck better at the rear

Also, the deck has been raised so now the top transitions more gracefully into it. Before, it was more abrupt, almost giving the 2 a “bubblehead” look. Now it has acquired the wedge look back. 

But it is the fascia where things get weird. Especially those flanking triangle openings on the M240i.  It is an upside-down Darth Vader look, and not in a good way. The good news is that the kidney bean grilles are handled so much better than the beaver fang monstrosities on some other BMW models. 

The fascia looks like an upside-down Darth Vader mask

But there is so much going on in front that it is almost like different people designed different fascias. Then management decided to just mush them together into one design. BMW knows what it was trying to do. It escapes us what it is doing in front.

In the rear, it isn’t much better. It is like BMW had a bunch of these tail lights leftover it didn’t know what to do with. So it forced the design team to use them at the last second. They go with nothing, and nothing goes with them. 

They’re like a free-floating design element just bonked into the rear. Then that great fallback: sculpting, was arbitrarily worked into the areas around the lights. There are bends, folds, and creases all over the butt of the 2. 

Confounding the rear’s whipsaw sculpting is the black patch below

Then for good measure, there is that black patch down where the exhaust tips protrude. Maybe all of this “design” looked good on paper-or computer screens. But in real life, it is a lot going on for little effect. 

BMW made some great improvements on the new 2 Series. It is too bad that it falls apart looking at the front and/or the back. Between the beaver fang grilles, dumpy iX, and now the 2 Series, we’re wondering what the hell is going on at BMW? Is it bad direction, renegade designers, or just phoning it all in? 

Whatever it is, BMW design needs a reality check. That, or risk blowing up their whole rep in the name of “better” design.

RELATED: What Is the Cheapest BMW You Can Buy?

The post The 2022 BMW 2 Series is Here-But BMW Design is MIA appeared first on MotorBiscuit.