Compare the2025 Jeep WranglerVS 2025 Kia Sportage

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Wrangler. But it costs extra on the Sportage.

Both the Wrangler 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, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Wrangler for 2 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 2 visits). Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sportage.

There are over 3 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Sportage AWD’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Wrangler has a standard 240-amp alternator (220-amp - Wrangler Rubicon). The Sportage’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The Wrangler’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 83 more horsepower (270 vs. 187) and 117 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 98 more horsepower (285 vs. 187) and 82 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Wrangler 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 188 more horsepower (375 vs. 187) and 292 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 283 more horsepower (470 vs. 187) and 292 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Jeep Wrangler is faster than the Kia Sportage (automatics tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition 6.4 V8 is faster than the Kia Sportage (base engine) (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running on electricity gets better mileage than the Sportage:

The Wrangler 4xe 8-speed Auto can travel with zero emissions for 21 miles. The Sportage can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The Sportage doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo/4Xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sportage doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Wrangler 4Xe’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (17.2 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 7.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (21.5 vs. 14.3 gallons).

The Wrangler offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Sportage doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Sportage doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The 4Xe/Wrangler Rubicon Xtreme 35/Rubicon 392’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.

For better traction, the Wrangler has larger standard tires than the Sportage (245/75R17 vs. 235/65R17). The Wrangler 4-door Rubicon 392/Xteme 35’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sportage (315/70R17 vs. 235/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Wrangler 4Xe has standard 20-inch wheels. The Sportage’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Sportage doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Sportage; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Sportage doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door’s wheelbase is 9.9 inches longer than on the Sportage (118.4 inches vs. 108.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Wrangler is 1 inch wider in the front and .7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sportage.

The Wrangler’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the Sportage’s (57.9% to 42.1%). This gives the Wrangler more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 5.9 feet tighter than the Sportage’s (32.7 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler 2-door has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (9.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Wrangler Rubicon 4-door Xtreme 35’s minimum ground clearance is 4.6 inches higher than on the Sportage (12.9 vs. 8.3 inches).

A standard locking glovebox and standard locking center console (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Wrangler. The Sportage doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Sportage’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sportage is limited to 2500 pounds. The Wrangler 4-door offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Sportage can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The engine in the Wrangler 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.

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Sportage does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Wrangler’s front power windows lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Sportage’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Wrangler has a standard Push Button Start that allows you to start the vehicle without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro offers a Smart Key.

The Wrangler’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Sportage’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Wrangler Rubicon/Willys/Sahara/High Altitude/Rubicon has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, 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.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Kia Sportage isn’t available as a soft top.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The Sportage has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the Kia Sportage by 11% during 2023.