Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2021 Toyota Venza

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Sportage’s standard Downhill Brake Control allow you to creep down safely. The Venza doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Sportage and the Venza 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, driver alert monitors, 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 Toyota Venza:

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

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 Venza’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 Toyota covers the Venza. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Venza ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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 12 points higher than the Venza.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Venza 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 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.

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fourth.

The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (237 vs. 219) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 21 more horsepower (240 vs. 219) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Sportage SX Turbo 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Venza:

The Sportage has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Venza (16.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Sportage SX Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Venza:

The Sportage stops shorter than the Venza:

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Venza (245/45R19 vs. 225/60R18).

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 Venza XLE/Limited’s 55 series tires.

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 Venza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Venza Limited 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 quicker than the Venza Limited (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Venza LE’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Sportage’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Venza XLE/Limited’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 550 pounds less than the Toyota Venza.

The Sportage is 10.2 inches shorter than the Venza, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sportage has .7 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 6 inches more rear hip room than the Venza.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Venza with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 28.8 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Venza with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

The Sportage has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Venza has no towing capacity.

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 Venza doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Venza doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

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

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