Compare the2022 Honda CR-VVS 2022 Kia Sportage

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Sportage’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The CR-V SE/EX/EX-L/Touring has standard HondaLink Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to 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 CR-V 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, 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 all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems 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 Honda CR-V is safer than the Kia Sportage:

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 Honda CR-V is safer than the Kia Sportage:

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

The CR-V’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 39 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CR-V’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 10 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (190 vs. 181) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 175) than the Sportage’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V is faster than the Kia Sportage:

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the Sportage:

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the CR-V’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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Sportage doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The CR-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sportage doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sportage doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the CR-V’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Sportage:

The CR-V stops shorter than the Sportage:

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

The CR-V Touring handles at .85 G’s, while the Sportage SX Turbo AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (8.2 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the CR-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sportage doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sportage doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V has 7.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sportage (105.9 vs. 98.6).

The CR-V has .8 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage.

The rear step up height for the CR-V is 1.4 inches lower than the Sportage (18” vs. 19.4”).

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Sportage with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 30.7 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Sportage with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 60.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Sportage’s liftover is 29.8 inches.

The CR-V’s cargo area is larger than the Sportage’s in every dimension:

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

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V. The Sportage doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

When two different drivers share the CR-V EX-L/Touring, 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 CR-V EX-L/Touring’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 CR-V’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 CR-V’s standard driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the switch, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Sportage’s standard power window’s switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully. The CR-V SE/EX/EX-L/Touring’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and its driver’s window also automatically closes. With the Sportage’s optional power windows, only the driver’s window opens or closes automatically.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or 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 CR-V Touring’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.

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 CR-V’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sportage’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The CR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CR-V will retain 51.86% to 55.49% of its original price after five years, while the Sportage only retains 45.89% to 49.54%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CR-V is less expensive to operate than the Sportage because it costs $427 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CR-V than the Sportage, including $96 less for a water pump, $230 less for a muffler, $17 less for front brake pads, $7 less for front struts, $114 less for a timing belt/chain and $718 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda CR-V will be $1739 to $5555 less than for the Kia Sportage.

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The Sportage has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Sportage has never been chosen.