Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2021 Jeep Cherokee

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage and the Cherokee 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, 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 Jeep Cherokee:

	Sportage	Cherokee
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	38.2%
Neck Stress	203 lbs.	408 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	11/231 lbs.	368/516 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	151 lbs.	218 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	33/16 lbs.	241/259 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 Jeep Cherokee:

	Sportage	Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	104 G’s	133 G’s
Hip Force	327 lbs.	363 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	264
Hip Force	465 lbs.	938 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	43 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Sportage is 1.4% to 2.7% less likely to roll over than the Cherokee.

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 Cherokee has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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 Cherokee’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

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

Reliability

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 50 points higher than the Cherokee.

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

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 Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 11th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Sportage SX Turbo’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 239) than the Cherokee’s optional 3.2 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Jeep Cherokee 4 cyl.:

	Sportage	Cherokee
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	9.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	17.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.4 MPH	80.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Cherokee with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Sportage stops much shorter than the Cherokee:

	Sportage	Cherokee
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cherokee’s 65 series tires. The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Cherokee’s optional 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

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

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Cherokee Limited 4x4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4 (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Cherokee’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.6 feet). The Sportage’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Cherokee 4x4 Trailhawk’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Chassis

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 500 pounds less than the Jeep Cherokee.

The Sportage is 6.5 inches shorter than the Cherokee, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Sportage has .4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear hip room than the Cherokee.

Cargo Capacity

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cherokee with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cherokee with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 54.7 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 Cherokee’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

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

	Sportage	Cherokee
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	33.4”/68.2”	33.9”/67.6”
Max Width	52.3”	49.2”
Min Width	41”	39.4”
Height	29.5”	28.8”

Ergonomics

The Sportage has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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 Cherokee doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Cherokee’s headlights, which were rated “Poor” to “Good” (depending on model and options).

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 Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $445 less than the Cherokee over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sportage is less expensive to operate than the Cherokee because typical repairs cost much less on the Sportage than the Cherokee, including $73 less for a water pump, $285 less for a muffler, $68 less for front brake pads, $305 less for a starter, $364 less for a fuel pump, $64 less for front struts and $444 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 $1812 to $2964 less than for the Jeep Cherokee.

Recommendations

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

	Sportage	Cherokee
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE