Both the Sportage PHEV and the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.
Compare the2023 Kia Sportage PHEVVS 2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid
Safety
Reliability
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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 17th, 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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.
From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.
Fuel Economy and Range
The Sportage PHEV can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 34 miles. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 33 miles.
Suspension and Handling
The Sportage PHEV 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.
Passenger Space
The Sportage PHEV has .3 inches more front hip room and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid.
Cargo Capacity
The Sportage PHEV has a much larger cargo volume than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat up (34.5 vs. 31.9 cubic feet).
Ergonomics
The Sportage PHEV has a standard 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.
On a hot day the Sportage PHEV’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.
Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.
When the Sportage PHEV X-Line 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.