Hi all,
Great to find this forum!
After an exhaustive search for a mid size hybrid SUV, a 2023 Sportage came available & I jumped on it.
So far, I can say that I love the way it handles, accelerates and dampens sound.
I have only one major issue for me that I didn't pay attention to when reading the views before purchasing.
And that is the HVAV/Infotainment controls. Clearly, the designers figured if a good measure of digital touch screen controls are good,
way more are way better. NOT, imho. I find after a week of driving, I continually have to take my eyes off the road far too long to toggle between the two functions. As well, the two control knobs were made about 1/2" long, so that if you don't have the fingers of a 5- year old child, it is unacceptably easy to accidentally strike the touch screen and trigger a function you do not want. I will likely find or fashion replacement knobs that are at least 1" long.
And I frequently find I accidentally touch the button that turns the climate control fan on when I'm just looking to change non-climate functions.
I was so frustrated, I went to look at a Honda CR-V and now wondering I should have picked that hybrid!
5 minutes of playing with a separate climate selection screen and, sigh, two analog control knobs for fan and temp control.
WAY more ergonomically correct! Here in Canada, though, the CR-V hybrid is harder to find and considerably more expensive.
It occurs to me that I would feel less at risk driving while (illegally) holding my cell phone than fumbling with a ill-designed screen.
Love to see if there re stats showing which form of "distracted driving" causes more accidents....
I may be a digital dinosaur, longing for a more analog, intuitive interface, and I'd be curious to hear opinions of other 2023 Sportage owners..
The best news? After coming from a four year experience with a 2020 Kia Soul EV and its fabulous instant acceleration, the Sportage Hybrid feels better than expected.
