Compare the2023 Kia Sportage HybridVS 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige has standard Parking Collision Avoidance-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The CR-V Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sportage Hybrid EX/SX-Prestige’s standard 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 CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Sportage Hybrid’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 CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Sportage Hybrid EX/SX-Prestige has standard 911 Connect, 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 CR-V Hybrid 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 Sportage Hybrid and the CR-V Hybrid 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and blind spot warning systems.

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, its standard 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 Hybrid the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 164 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CR-V Hybrid has not been tested, yet.

The Sportage Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CR-V Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the CR-V Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CR-V Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 85 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 24th.

The Sportage Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 23 more horsepower (227 vs. 204) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 247) than the CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

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

The Sportage Hybrid 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 CR-V Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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

The Sportage Hybrid has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage Hybrid’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the CR-V Hybrid (108.5 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Sportage Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CR-V Hybrid (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Sportage Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 pounds less than the Honda CR-V Hybrid.

The Sportage Hybrid has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and 3.9 inches more rear hip room than the CR-V Hybrid.

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

The Sportage Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V Hybrid’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage Hybrid 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 CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The power windows standard on both the Sportage Hybrid and the CR-V Hybrid have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sportage Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V Hybrid prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The CR-V Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sportage Hybrid EX/SX-Prestige’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.