2023 Kia Sportage Key Replacement

The 2023–2026 Sportage uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Kia Sportage key guide.

2023 Kia Sportage: key facts

Key type: Flip key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: 4A (NXP Hitag AES) — smart-key trims
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

New NQ5 generation. The LX keeps a bladed remote key, and Kia's 2023 pricing/spec sheets (per MotorWeek and KBB spec tables) list the Smart Key with push-button start AND the immobilizer from the EX trim up — so a 2023 LX may still lack an immobilizer; we verify per VIN. Kia says immobilizers became standard during 2022, and its February 2023 VIN-specific letters (posted with NHTSA) told some Sportage owners their cars DO have immobilizers after an upgrade notice went out in error — so per-VIN confirmation is the only reliable check. EX and above: 4A Hitag-AES smart key (catalogs also list a Texas AES ID75 variant), OBD-programmed (Kia PIN may be required).

What key does a 2023 Kia Sportage use?

The 2023 model year is the start of the new NQ5 generation, and the key situation is not as simple as one key for every trim. Our data for this year shows a flip key with a mechanical backup blade, and the records for the higher trims describe a smart key with push-button start.

Here is how it breaks down as best the published information allows:

LX: keeps a bladed remote key, the kind where the blade folds out of the fob. Whether a 2023 LX has an immobilizer chip is one of the things we check by VIN, not assume.
EX and above: a smart key with push-button start and an immobilizer. The chip family is 4A (NXP Hitag AES). Some catalogs also list a Texas AES ID75 variant, so we match the part to your actual car rather than to a trim name.
Every version has a mechanical backup key, so you are not locked out of the door if the fob battery dies.

Duplicate key or all keys lost?

For this setup, you do not need your original key to get a copy made. If you still have one working key, that is the easier and usually more economical route, because there is something in hand to work from. We can add a spare without disturbing the key you already have.

If you have lost every key, that is still workable. All-keys-lost replacement is possible on this vehicle. It takes more steps, because the car has to be told to accept a brand-new key from scratch. Programming is done through the OBD port under the dash, and on EX and higher trims a Kia PIN code may be required before the car will accept the new key.

One warning from experience: a hardware-store copy will often open the doors and then refuse to start an immobilizer-equipped car. If the cut-only copy turns the lock but the engine will not crank or the dash complains, that is the missing chip, not a bad cut.

How we handle a Sportage key job

We keep the process simple and tell you what we find before we start working.

You call (213) 577-1366. Tell us the trim if you know it, and have the VIN ready. It is on the driver-side dash by the windshield and on the door jamb sticker.
We check the VIN to work out whether your car has the bladed remote key or the smart key, and whether the immobilizer is present.
We come to you with a mobile van, or you bring the car to our storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood.
We cut the blade if your key has one, match the correct chip or smart key, and program it through the OBD port.
We test every key: door lock, remote functions, and starting the engine. We also check that your existing key still works.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the price of a 2023 Sportage key?

We will not quote a number before we know which key your car actually takes. These are the real factors:

Which key type: a bladed remote key and a Hitag AES smart key are different parts with different costs.
Whether you have a working key to start from, or it is an all-keys-lost situation.
Whether a Kia PIN code is needed for programming on your car.
How many keys you want made. Having a spare programmed during the same visit is usually more economical than a second trip later.
Where the work happens: at your location with our van, or at our shop.
Damage to an existing key. A cracked shell or a worn hinge can sometimes be repaired or reshelled instead of replacing the whole key, and that can be the lighter-cost option.

What we cannot tell you from a spec sheet

The published information on this year is conflicting, and we would rather say so than guess. Kia's 2023 spec sheets list the smart key and the immobilizer from the EX trim up, which suggests a 2023 LX may not have an immobilizer. But Kia also said immobilizers became standard during 2022, and in February 2023 it sent VIN-specific letters telling some Sportage owners their cars do have immobilizers after an upgrade notice went out in error.

The only reliable check is your VIN. That is why we ask for it first and confirm in person if needed, before we order or program anything. If your car turns out to need something only a dealer can supply, we will tell you that plainly. For the wider picture, see our Kia Sportage key pages and Kia key replacement overview.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key

We have been in business since 1987, and we are one company with a storefront and our own mobile vans, so there is no dispatch middleman between you and the person doing the work. David oversees the work. Phones are answered 24 hours a day, every day, at (213) 577-1366, and you can also contact us online. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2023 Kia Sportage have push-button start?

It depends on the trim. The records show the smart key with push-button start from the EX trim up, while the LX keeps a bladed remote key. Give us your VIN and we will confirm what your car has.

Can you make a Sportage key if I lost all of them?

Yes. All-keys-lost replacement is possible on this vehicle. The new key is programmed through the OBD port, and a Kia PIN code may be required on EX and higher trims.

Do I need my original key to get a copy?

No. Having one working key makes the job simpler, but it is not required for this vehicle.

Why did my hardware-store copy open the door but not start the car?

Cut-only copies have no matching chip, so an immobilizer-equipped car will not start with them. The key needs to be programmed to your car, not just cut.

My Sportage key is cracked and the buttons are worn. Do I need a new key?

Not always. Broken flip hinges, cracked shells and worn buttons are common on these keys, and a repair or new shell may be enough if the electronics still work. We will look at it and tell you honestly.

Does my 2023 LX have an immobilizer?

We cannot say from the model year alone, because the published information conflicts. We check by VIN before doing any work. You can see the full range on our car keys page.

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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.