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.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Audi Q3:
|
Sportage |
Q3 |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
207 |
326 |
Neck Injury Risk |
22% |
39% |
Neck Stress |
203 lbs. |
343 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
11/231 lbs. |
235/363 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
222 |
346 |
Chest Compression |
.6 inches |
.6 inches |
Neck Stress |
151 lbs. |
186 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
70 lbs. |
83 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
33/16 lbs. |
261/249 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Audi Q3:
|
Sportage |
Q3 |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
87 |
88 |
Chest Movement |
.7 inches |
.7 inches |
Hip Force |
327 lbs. |
333 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Hip Force |
465 lbs. |
632 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
301 |
504 |
Spine Acceleration |
43 G’s |
47 G’s |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
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 119 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q3 last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.