Compare the2021 Kia SportageVS 2021 Toyota C-HR

The Sportage offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The C-HR doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Sportage and the C-HR have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available 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 C-HR last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

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 C-HR’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years and 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the C-HR. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the C-HR ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sportage has a standard 600-amp battery. The C-HR’s 520-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 23 points higher than the C-HR.

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 41 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

The Sportage’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 37 more horsepower (181 vs. 144) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (175 vs. 139) than the C-HR’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 93 more horsepower (237 vs. 144) and 121 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 139) than the C-HR’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 96 more horsepower (240 vs. 144) and 121 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 139) than the C-HR’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota C-HR:

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

The Sportage has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the C-HR (16.4 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Toyota C-HR (3). This means the Sportage produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the C-HR every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Sportage’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C-HR:

The Sportage stops much shorter than the C-HR:

For better traction, the Sportage has larger standard tires than the C-HR (225/60R17 vs. 215/60R17). The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-HR (245/45R19 vs. 225/50R18).

The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the C-HR XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage SX Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The C-HR’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Sportage has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The C-HR’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Sportage has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The C-HR doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the C-HR (105.1 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the C-HR.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the C-HR Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the C-HR XLE (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

The Sportage has 12.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-HR (98.6 vs. 86).

The Sportage has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 8.1 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 6.5 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-HR.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage’s rear seats recline. The C-HR’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the C-HR with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 19.1 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the C-HR with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 37 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Sportage easier. The Sportage’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.8 inches, while the C-HR’s liftover is 31 inches.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage EX/SX Turbo’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sportage’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The C-HR doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Sportage has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The C-HR has no towing capacity.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Sportage to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the C-HR.

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 C-HR 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 C-HR’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 C-HR doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sportage’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the C-HR’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

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 C-HR 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 C-HR doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Sportage has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The C-HR doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the Sportage and the C-HR offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The C-HR doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage (except LX) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The C-HR doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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

The Kia Sportage outsold the Toyota C-HR by almost two to one during the 2020 model year.