Compare the2024 Kia SportageVS 2024 Lexus NX

Both the Sportage and the NX 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Kia Sportage is safer than the NX:

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 NX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is rated lower.

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.

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

Both the Sportage and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Sportage’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX (6 to 7). This means the Sportage produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX every 15,000 miles.

The Sportage stops shorter than the NX:

The Sportage 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 NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the NX (108.5 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Sportage X-Pro Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage X-Pro executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Sportage has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX (8.3 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Sportage to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 650 pounds less than the Lexus NX.

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

The Sportage has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (2500 vs. 0 pounds).

The power windows standard on both the Sportage and the NX 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 NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage X-Pro to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The NX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $180 to $2315 less than the NX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage will be $5721 to $9224 less than for the Lexus NX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sportage and the Lexus NX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Lexus NX by 89% during 2023.