Compare the2021 Kia SportageVS 2021 Audi Q3

The Sportage’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage and the Q3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sportage the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 108 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q3 last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage’s reliability 51 points higher than the Q3.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Q3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 89 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 5 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The Sportage has more powerful engines than the Q3:

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Q3 45 TFSI:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q3 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage stops shorter than the Q3:

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q3.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Q3 Premium Plus pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Q3 Premium Plus (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Q3’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 600 pounds less than the Audi Q3.

The design of the Kia Sportage amounts to more than styling. The Sportage has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the Q3 (.36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Sportage get better fuel mileage.

The Sportage has 14.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (98.6 vs. 84).

The Sportage has 1.5 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and 2.1 inches more rear legroom than the Q3.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 48 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s cargo area is larger than the Q3’s in almost every dimension:

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q3’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Sportage offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Sportage’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q3’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Q3 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sportage has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Sportage (except S/LX) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sportage’s optional (except S/LX) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Sportage is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $655 less than the Q3 over a five-year period.

The Sportage will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sportage will retain 45.89% to 49.54% of its original price after five years, while the Q3 only retains 44.62% to 45.25%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sportage is less expensive to operate than the Q3 because it costs $46 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sportage than the Q3, including $305 less for a water pump, $30 less for front brake pads, $510 less for a starter, $168 less for fuel injection, $424 less for front struts and $238 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage will be $7726 to $11249 less than for the Audi Q3.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Kia Sportage outsold the Audi Q3 by over three to one during the 2020 model year.