Compare the2025 Mazda CX-70VS 2025 Kia Sportage

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-70 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Sportage doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Mazda CX-70 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sportage doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-70 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Kia Sportage, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	CX-70	Sportage
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	-33 MPH	-23 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	1.7 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-26 MPH	-21 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.5 sec	1.2 sec

The CX-70 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sportage doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-70. But it costs extra on the Sportage.

The CX-70 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-70 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro offers Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.

Both the CX-70 and the Sportage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-70 weighs 1054 to 1802 pounds more than the Kia Sportage. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Mazda CX-70 is safer than the Sportage:

	CX-70	Sportage
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	104	121
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.22 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	513 lbs.	759 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	18	116
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.39 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.75 in	1.38 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The CX-70’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Kia is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 3 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The CX-70’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 93 more horsepower (280 vs. 187) and 154 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-70 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 136 more horsepower (323 vs. 187) and 191 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 153 more horsepower (340 vs. 187) and 191 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-70 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Kia Sportage:

	CX-70	Sportage
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	9.8 sec	15.4 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	2.9 sec	5.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.1 MPH	82.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-70 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Sportage:

			MPG
CX-70
	AWD	3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/28 hwy
		Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/28 hwy
Sportage
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/27 hwy

The CX-70 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Sportage can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-70’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sportage doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CX-70’s standard fuel tank has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (18.5 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (19.6 vs. 14.3 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-70’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sportage:

	CX-70	CX-70 Turbo S/PHEV	Sportage
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	13.7 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.8 inches	11.8 inches

The CX-70’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Sportage are solid, not vented.

The CX-70 stops much shorter than the Sportage:

	CX-70	Sportage
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-70 has larger standard tires than the Sportage (265/55R19 vs. 235/65R17). The CX-70 Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sportage (275/45R21 vs. 235/65R17).

The CX-70’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sportage LX/X-Pro’s standard 65 series tires. The CX-70 Premium’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Sportage SX Prestige/X-Line’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sportage LX/X-Pro. The CX-70 Premium’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Sportage SX Prestige/X-Line.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-70’s wheelbase is 14.3 inches longer than on the Sportage (122.8 inches vs. 108.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-70 is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sportage.

The CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus handles at .82 G’s, while the Sportage X-Pro Prestige pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Sportage X-Pro (26.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The CX-70 has 39.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sportage (141.6 vs. 102).

The CX-70 has .1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-70 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Sportage with its rear seat folded (75.3 vs. 74.1 cubic feet).

Towing

The CX-70’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sportage’s (3500 vs. 2500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sportage is only 2500 pounds. The CX-70 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The CX-70 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sportage uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the CX-70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sportage. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The CX-70 Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sportage doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-70’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sportage’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The CX-70 has standard Advanced Keyless Entry and Start that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro offers a Smart Key.

The CX-70’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sportage’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CX-70’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Sportage’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-70 Turbo S has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sportage doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-70 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Sportage doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The CX-70’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia charges extra for heated mirrors on the Sportage.

The CX-70 Premium’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sportage offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Mazda CX-70 and Kia Sportage offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-70 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Sportage’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The CX-70 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Sportage. The CX-70 Premium Plus/Turbo S also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Sportage.

The CX-70 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 Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro offers wireless charging.

The CX-70 Premium Plus has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Sportage doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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