Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross

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 Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage and the Corolla Cross 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, forward collision warning, crash mitigation brakes, 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 Toyota Corolla Cross:

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, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Toyota Corolla Cross:

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 137 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Corolla Cross 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 Corolla Cross’ 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 Corolla Cross. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Corolla Cross ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage first among compact suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Corolla Cross 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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 13th.

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’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (181 vs. 169) and 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (175 vs. 151) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 68 more horsepower (237 vs. 169) and 109 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 151) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 71 more horsepower (240 vs. 169) and 109 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 151) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

The Sportage has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross FWD’s standard fuel tank (16.4 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Sportage has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross AWD’s standard fuel tank (16.4 vs. 13.2 gallons).

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

For better traction, the Sportage has larger standard tires than the Corolla Cross (225/60R17 vs. 215/65R17). The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla Cross (245/45R19 vs. 225/55R18).

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 Corolla Cross’ standard 65 series tires. The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Corolla Cross XLE’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage SX Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The Corolla Cross’ largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Sportage has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Corolla Cross FWD has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Corolla Cross (105.1 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Corolla Cross’ (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Sportage has 3.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross (98.6 vs. 94.9).

The Sportage has 1.7 inches more front hip room, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, 6.2 inches more rear legroom, 7.4 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Cross.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage’s rear seats recline. The Corolla Cross’ rear seats don’t recline.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Corolla Cross (30.7 vs. 26.5 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, just waiting momentarily behind the back bumper can open the Sportage’s liftgate, leaving your hands completely free. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corolla Cross’ (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

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 Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Sportage’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Corolla Cross L’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

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 Corolla Cross doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Sportage has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Corolla Cross has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LE/XLE.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Sportage (except LX/Nightfall) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sportage’s optional (except LX/Nightfall) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Sportage (except Nightfall/LX)’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a navigation system or real-time traffic updates.

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