Compare the2023 Kia SportageVS 2023 Subaru Forester

The Sportage Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Forester 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.

Both the Sportage and Forester offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sportage with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning also has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Forester’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sportage and the Forester have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and blind spot warning systems.

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 Forester’s 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 Subaru covers the Forester. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Forester ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 22 percent more Kia dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 20th, 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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 81 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd.

The Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (187 vs. 182) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 176) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage is faster than the Subaru Forester:

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

The Sportage stops shorter than the Forester:

For better traction, the Sportage has larger tires than the Forester (235/65R17 vs. 225/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage SX Prestige/X-Line has standard 19-inch wheels. The Forester’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the Forester (108.5 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Forester.

The Sportage X-Pro Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the Forester Wilderness pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage has .7 inches more front hip room and 1.9 inches more rear legroom than the Forester.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume than the Forester with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 28.9 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Forester 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 Forester’s (2500 vs. 1500 pounds).

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

On a hot day the Sportage’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Forester can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage (except LX/EX/X-Line) to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Forester doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Forester doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Sportage is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Forester doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its June 2023 issue and they ranked the Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige two places higher than the Subaru Forester Touring.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Subaru Forester by 10% during 2022.