Compare the2023 Kia Sportage PHEVVS 2023 Lexus UX

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Sportage PHEV. But it costs extra on the UX.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX 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 PHEV and UX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sportage PHEV has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The UX’s Rear Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sportage PHEV and the UX 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Kia Sportage PHEV weighs 606 to 728 pounds more than the Lexus UX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Sportage PHEV comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The UX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage PHEV 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the UX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the UX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sportage PHEV’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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

The Sportage PHEV’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (261 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Sportage PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 34 miles. The UX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

For better traction, the Sportage PHEV has larger tires than the UX (235/55R19 vs. 225/50R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage PHEV has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the UX.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage PHEV’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the UX (108.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage PHEV is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the UX.

The front grille of the Sportage PHEV uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The UX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Sportage PHEV has .5 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 8.2 inches more rear legroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage PHEV’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Sportage PHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (34.5 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Sportage PHEV has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage PHEV 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 UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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

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 UX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage PHEV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the UX.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line 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 UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Lexus UX by over 12 to one during 2022.