Publications and automotive journalists that review the new and best cars available in the market are true heroes of the consumer population. Collecting data, providing objective reviews, and even compiling “Best of Lists” or hosting a competition, these sources can be very informative and helpful when entering the market to shop for a new car. Sources like Kelley Blue Book are always putting together a list, and most recently, Edmunds.com finished putting together its 2023 Edmunds Top Rated Awards. Taking home an award as the 2023 Edmunds Top Rated SUV, this year the winner isn’t the well-known Kia Telluride. Making a name for electrified models, the first-ever Sportage Hybrid took home the award.

Wow, in its first year of production, and racking up another win for the Kia Corporation. The lineup has been adding electrified models to its ranks for years, with long-gone classics, such as the Kia Optima Hybrid, to newer models, such as the Kia Niro hybrid and Kia Niro PHEV. In recent years, the automaker has added the Kia Sorento Hybrid and the Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid. The Kia Sportage Hybrid is one of the newest entries in a growing line of electrified models, and more are set to launch in near future. According to the Kia Plan S Strategy, plans to launch two new BEV models every year until 2027 were shared during the 2022 Kia CEO Investor Day conference.