Compare the2026 Toyota Crown SigniaVS 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Crown Signia has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Crown Signia has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Crown Signia is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Kia Sportage Hybrid, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Crown Signia	Sportage Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 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	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.1 sec	1.7 sec
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-21 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.9 sec	1.2 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota Crown Signia achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Kia Sportage Hybrid has not been tested.

The Crown Signia has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sportage Hybrid 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 Crown Signia. But it costs extra on the Sportage Hybrid.

The Toyota Crown Signia offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Kia Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

The Crown Signia 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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Sportage Hybrid S/EX/X-Line/SX-Prestige offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Crown Signia has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and optional Parking Support Brake on the Limited automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Sportage Hybrid S/EX/X-Line/SX-Prestige offers Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.

Both the Crown Signia and the Sportage Hybrid 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, driver alert monitors and available 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 Toyota Crown Signia is safer than the Kia Sportage Hybrid:

	Crown Signia	Sportage Hybrid
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	179	307
Neck Injury Risk	26.1%	30.9%
Neck Stress	174 lbs.	177 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	115 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, results indicate that the Toyota Crown Signia is safer than the Kia Sportage Hybrid:

	Crown Signia	Sportage Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	32	70
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	162 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Toyota Crown Signia is safer than the Sportage Hybrid:

	Crown Signia	Sportage Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	89	121
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.63 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.14 in	1.34 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	9 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	108	116
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.38 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Crown Signia for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sportage Hybrid.

There are over 55 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Crown Signia’s warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the Crown Signia is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Crown Signia’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Sportage Hybrid’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 Crown Signia’s reliability 23 points higher than the Sportage Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Crown Signia third among midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Sportage Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 11th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

Engine

The Crown Signia’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 8 more horsepower (240 vs. 232) than the Sportage Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Crown Signia is faster than the Kia Sportage Hybrid:

	Crown Signia	Sportage Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	7.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19.1 sec	19.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crown Signia gets better fuel mileage than the Sportage Hybrid AWD (39 city/37 hwy vs. 35 city/36 hwy).

Transmission

The Crown Signia has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Crown Signia’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 Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Crown Signia stops shorter than the Sportage Hybrid:

	Crown Signia	Sportage Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	136 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	146 feet	156 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Crown Signia XLE’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 Hybrid LX’s standard 65 series tires. The Crown Signia Limited’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Sportage Hybrid X-Line/SX-Prestige’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crown Signia XLE has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sportage Hybrid LX. The Crown Signia Limited’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Sportage Hybrid X-Line/SX-Prestige.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crown Signia’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Sportage Hybrid (112.2 inches vs. 108.5 inches).

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Crown Signia’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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

Towing

The Crown Signia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sportage Hybrid’s (2700 vs. 2000 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Crown Signia’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 Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Sportage Hybrid EX/X-Line/SX-Prestige’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Crown Signia the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Sportage Hybrid can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Crown Signia’s standard Smart Key System allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key standard on the Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Crown Signia’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sportage Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Crown Signia’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Sportage Hybrid S/EX/X-Line/SX-Prestige.

The Toyota Crown Signia has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Sportage Hybrid X-Line/SX-Prestige.

The Crown Signia has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige.

The Toyota Crown Signia has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Kia charges extra for Homelink® on the Sportage Hybrid.

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

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Crown Signia and the Kia Sportage Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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