Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2022 Mercedes GLB

The Sportage’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLB.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sportage’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The GLB doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Sportage and the GLB 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

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 137 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLB has not been tested, yet.

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 GLB’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLB. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the GLB ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

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 49 points higher than the GLB.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage first among compact suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The GLB isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th, 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 5 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (237 vs. 221) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 19 more horsepower (240 vs. 221) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GLB requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage stops shorter than the GLB:

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLB (245/45R19 vs. 235/55R18).

The Sportage offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the GLB; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the GLB don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

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

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the GLB 250 4MATIC pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLB 250 4MATIC (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the GLB’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 350 pounds less than the Mercedes GLB.

The Sportage is 6 inches shorter than the GLB, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sportage has .4 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLB.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume than the GLB with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 5.1 cubic feet).

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

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 GLB doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sportage has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLB only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Sportage has standard extendable sun visors. The GLB doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $895 to $2085 less than the GLB over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage will be $5435 to $13017 less than for the Mercedes GLB.

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

The Kia Sportage outsold the Mercedes GLB by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.