Compare the2025 Kia Sportage HybridVS 2024 Volkswagen Taos

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Sportage Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Taos doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Kia Sportage Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen Taos, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Sportage Hybrid	Taos
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-9 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-14 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-14 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	-23 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	1.7 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	-21 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.2 sec	No Warning

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 Taos only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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 Taos doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage Hybrid and the Taos 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, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Sportage Hybrid with standard seats is safer than the Taos:

	Sportage Hybrid	Taos
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	24 mm	38 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Torso Acceleration	10.1 g’s	13.3 g’s
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

The Kia Sportage Hybrid achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Taos is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

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

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Taos. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Taos ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 21 percent more Kia dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sportage Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Sportage Hybrid’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Taos’ camshafts. If the Taos’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage Hybrid’s reliability 38 points higher than the Taos.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 78 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 17 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Sportage Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 69 more horsepower (227 vs. 158) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 184) than the Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Sportage Hybrid is faster than the Volkswagen Taos:

	Sportage Hybrid	Taos
Zero to 30 MPH	2.9 sec	3.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	9.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.7 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	84 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage Hybrid gets better mileage than the Taos:

			MPG
Sportage Hybrid
	FWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/44 hwy
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/38 hwy
Taos
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Sportage Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Taos doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sportage Hybrid	Taos
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.7 inches

The Sportage Hybrid stops shorter than the Taos:

	Sportage Hybrid	Taos
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sportage Hybrid has larger tires than the Taos (235/65R17 vs. 215/50R18). The Sportage LX HEV’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Taos (235/65R17 vs. 225/45R19).

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Sportage Hybrid has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Taos 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Sportage Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sportage Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Taos 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage Hybrid’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Taos (108.5 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage Hybrid is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 3.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Taos.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Taos (8.3 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Sportage Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

The Sportage Hybrid has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 3.4 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Taos.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Sportage Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Taos with its rear seat up (39.5 vs. 27.9 cubic feet). The Sportage Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Taos with its rear seat folded (73.7 vs. 65.9 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage Hybrid’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sportage Hybrid’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Taos doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Sportage Hybrid has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Taos has no towing capacity.

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 Taos doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Taos doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Taos doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage Hybrid to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Taos.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sportage Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Taos only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 Taos’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Sportage Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Taos SE/SEL.

Both the Sportage Hybrid and the Taos offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Taos doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Volkswagen Taos, the Kia Sportage Hybrid eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

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 Taos doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Sportage Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sportage Hybrid will retain 52.49% to 53.39% of its original price after five years, while the Taos only retains 48% to 51.38%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage Hybrid will be $83 to $2191 less than for the Volkswagen Taos.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sportage Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Taos isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage Hybrid third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Taos isn’t in the top three.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Volkswagen Taos by over two to one during 2023.