Compare the2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SportVS 2023 Kia Sportage

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sportage doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Outlander Sport has standard Active Front Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Front Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sportage doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Outlander Sport and the Sportage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact, roof-crush crash tests, an “Acceptable” rating in the newer small overlap frontal crash test, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outlander Sport its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2015, a rating granted to only 205 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sportage has not been tested, yet.

The Outlander Sport’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Sportage’s (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Outlander Sport second among small SUVs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Sportage 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 Mitsubishi vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mitsubishi third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 6th.

On the EPA test cycle the Outlander Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder 4WD gets better fuel mileage than the Sportage AWD (23 city/29 hwy vs. 23 city/28 hwy).

The Outlander Sport AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (15.8 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Outlander Sport FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (16.6 vs. 14.3 gallons).

The Outlander Sport 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 maneuverability, the Outlander Sport’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Sportage’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outlander Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (8.5 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Outlander Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 550 pounds less than the Kia Sportage.

The Outlander Sport is 11.6 inches shorter than the Sportage, making the Outlander Sport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Outlander Sport’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Sportage’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

The Outlander Sport’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sportage’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Outlander Sport’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia charges extra for heated mirrors on the Sportage.