Both the Sportage and Forester offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro 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, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Subaru Forester:
|
Sportage |
Forester |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Neck Compression |
14 lbs. |
39 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
48/154 lbs. |
276/274 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Chest Compression |
.4 inches |
.6 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
30.9% |
33.1% |
Neck Stress |
177 lbs. |
242 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Subaru Forester:
|
Sportage |
Forester |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Hip Force |
247 lbs. |
349 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
82 |
208 |
Spine Acceleration |
47 G’s |
58 G’s |
Hip Force |
581 lbs. |
640 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
13 inches |
14 inches |
Hip Force |
480 lbs. |
589 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.