Compare the2023 Jeep WranglerVS 2022 Kia Sportage

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Wrangler 4-Door are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Sportage doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Wrangler. But it costs extra on the Sportage.

The Wrangler (except Sport) offers optional SiriusXM Guardian, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or 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 Wrangler and the Sportage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, 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 Jeep Wrangler is safer than the Kia Sportage:

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

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

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Wrangler for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sportage.

There are over 3 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Sportage AWD’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Wrangler has a standard 180-amp alternator (240-amp - Wrangler optional). The Sportage’s standard 140-amp alternator and largest (SX Turbo AWD) 150-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Wrangler has a standard 650-amp battery (700 optional). The Sportage’s 600-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Wrangler has more powerful engines than the Sportage:

The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 79 more horsepower (260 vs. 181) and 267 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 175) than the Sportage’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 23 more horsepower (260 vs. 237) and 182 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 260) than the Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 20 more horsepower (260 vs. 240) and 182 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 260) than the Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Wrangler turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Kia Sportage (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running on electricity gets better mileage than the Sportage:

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Sportage:

The Wrangler 4Xe can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The Sportage can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The Sportage doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo/3.6 eTorque/4Xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sportage doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Wrangler (except Rubicon 392)’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 Wrangler 4Xe/2-door’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (17.5 vs. 16.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 5.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (21.5 vs. 16.4 gallons).

The Wrangler offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Sportage doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

An eight-speed automatic is available on the Jeep Wrangler, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sportage.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Sportage doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Wrangler Rubicon 4xe/Rubicon 392’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Sportage are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Wrangler has larger standard tires than the Sportage (245/75R17 vs. 225/60R17). The Wrangler’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sportage (315/70R17 vs. 245/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Wrangler Sahara 4Xe has standard 20-inch wheels. The Sportage’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Sportage doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Sportage; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Sportage doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door 4x4’s wheelbase is 13.3 inches longer than on the Sportage (118.4 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Wrangler is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sportage.

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler Sport 2-door has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (9.7 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Wrangler has 5.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sportage (103.7 vs. 98.6).

The Wrangler 4-door has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Sportage with its rear seat up (31.7 vs. 30.7 cubic feet). The Wrangler 4-door has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Sportage with its rear seat folded (72.4 vs. 60.1 cubic feet).

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

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Sportage’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sportage is limited to 2000 pounds. The Wrangler 4-door offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Sportage can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Wrangler uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Sportage doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the Wrangler is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sportage. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Sportage does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Wrangler’s available front power windows lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Sportage’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Wrangler’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Sportage’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Wrangler (except Sport) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Sportage doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Kia Sportage isn’t available as a soft top.

Insurance will cost less for the Wrangler owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Wrangler with a number “3” insurance rate while the Sportage is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Wrangler is less expensive to operate than the Sportage because it costs $527 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Wrangler than the Sportage, including $252 less for a muffler, $103 less for front struts and $1230 less for a power steering pump.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The Sportage has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the Kia Sportage by 77% during the 2022 model year.