Compare the2022 Hyundai TucsonVS 2021 Kia Sportage

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Tucson are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Sportage doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tucson Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Sportage doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tucson Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Sportage only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Tucson SEL/N Line/Limited has a standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Sportage doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Tucson and the Sportage 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, 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 all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Sportage’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sportage.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Tucson has a 150-amp alternator. The Sportage’s standard 140-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 9 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (187 vs. 181) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 175) than the Sportage’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Tucson gets better fuel mileage than the Sportage:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Tucson’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Sportage doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Hyundai Tucson, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sportage.

For better stopping power the Tucson’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Sportage:

For better traction, the Tucson has larger tires than the Sportage (235/65R17 vs. 225/60R17).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the Sportage (108.5 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Tucson has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (8.3 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Tucson to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Tucson has 9.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sportage (108.2 vs. 98.6).

The Tucson has .8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage.

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Sportage with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 30.7 cubic feet). The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Sportage with its rear seat folded (80.3 vs. 60.1 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Tucson’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Sportage doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

When two different drivers share the Tucson Limited, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Sportage doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Tucson Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sportage doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Tucson’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sportage’s parking brake has to released manually.

The Tucson SEL/N Line/Limited’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sportage EX/SX Turbo’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Tucson’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sportage can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tucson Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Sportage’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the Tucson and the Sportage offer available heated front seats. The Tucson Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Sportage.

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Sportage doesn’t offer an automated parking system.