We'll highlight the key differences between these two compact SUVs and help you decide which is right for you.
The SUV market is one of the most competitive segments in the automotive industry, and staying on top of the offer is becoming more challenging than ever. Full-size, mid-size, compact, crossover SUVs--there are so many entrants in any of these fields (and good ones!) that it's hard to pick one straight from the bat. That's why 1v1 comparisons can be helpful when you're trying to decide which vehicle to buy.
The Honda CR-V and the Kia Sportage are two of the most popular compact SUVs on the market, offering customers all-new modern styling for the 2023 production year. However, they each have so many niceties to offer that one may need clarification about which to buy.
We've compiled a list of features and specs, along with pricing and other data, to help you make an informed decision when comparing the Honda CR-V vs. Kia Sportage.
Both the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage offer similar engine specs. The CR-V comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors to put out 204 ponies. On the other hand, the Kia Sportage includes a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a 187-horsepower output.
In addition to the standard engine specs, The 2023 Kia Sportage offers both a hybrid powertrain and a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The former uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with a single electric motor that generates a combined 226 horses. At the same time, the latter boosts the power output to 261 with a more powerful electric motor and a bigger battery pack.
The 2023 Kia Sportage and Honda CR-V have similar specs and off-road features, but the Sportage goes a little further in its offer on higher trims. The all-wheel drive is optional on both SUVs, but the Sportage comes with 8-speed automatic transmission, and the CR-V only has a CVT.
The Sportage includes more driving modes on higher trims for off-road adventures, while the CR-V also has off-road goodies like Snow Mode and Hill Descent Control. However, the CR-V can only tow about 1,000 pounds, and the Sportage more than doubles that.
The 2023 Honda CR-V has a lead here over the Kia Sportage because it surpasses the Sportage in range and fuel ratings. For example, the regular CR-V units have 29/30 combined MPG and 406/420 miles of total range compared to the regular Sportage units that report 25/28 combined MPG and 358/400 miles of total range. That's quite a difference.
However, it should be noted that the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid models surpass Honda's CR-V ratings, with the plug-in hybrid reaching as high as 84 MPG.
Even though both the Kia Sportage and Honda CR-V look practical and plush inside, the 2023 Sportage has a slight advantage over the CR-V because of that massive center touchscreen display. The CR-V offers a 7-inch display on base trims and a 9-inch one on higher trims; however, the Sportage uses an 8-inch display on base trims and a 12.3-inch one on higher trims. Additionally, there's also a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that connects to the infotainment screen for 25 inches of "glass."
In addition, the higher trims of the Kia Sportage, such as the X-Pro, do seem to have more premium materials in the cabin.
The Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage are close in terms of cargo space. The Sportage offers 39.6 cubic feet of space behind its rear seats, while the CR-V provides 36.3 cubic feet.
However, when you lower the floor of the Honda CR-V EX and EX-L trims, you get 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which is similar to what you'll find in the Kia Sportage. If you fold down the seats of your CR-V, though, you'll have 76.5 cubic feet of total space--more than the 74.1 cubic feet available in a similarly configured Sportage.
The Kia Sportage is the leader in this segment, offering a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program that includes a 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan, 5-year/100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.
On the other hand, Honda offers the CR-V with a 3-year/60,000-mile limited vehicle warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty. However, the CR-V's advantage is complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles.
The new Kia Sportage offers more favorable options than the Honda CR-V regarding price. The SUV starts at $26,290 for its base LX trim and goes up to $37,090 for the X-Pro Prestige. Five other trims provide more options within your budget between those two price points.
On the other hand, Honda offers the CR-V in four trims: EX, Sport Hybrid, EX-L, and Sport Touring Hybrid. The base LX starts at $28,410 and goes up to $39,100. Only two other trims are priced in between.
In this comparison of the 2023 Kia Sportage vs. the 2023 Honda CR-V, the 2023 Sportage has most of the advantages. The 2023 Sportage has more horsepower, better hybrid gas mileage, better towing capabilities, and longer warranty coverage than the 2023 CR-V. Conversely, the 2023 CR-V has more base engine horsepower, better gas engine fuel economy, and more cargo space than the 2023 Sportage.
If you're looking for a compact SUV, the 2023 Sportage, and the 2023 CR-V are both good choices. However, Sportage is the target if you want more specs options and a lower starting price. This is because it has more for consumers than the Honda CR-V does. On the other hand, The Honda CR-V has more cargo space and better fuel economy than other non-hybrid Kia Sportage models, making it a better choice for families who want to save money on gas while still getting around in style. In addition, because of Honda's reputation for quality and reliability, the used CR-V holds its resale value better than the used Sportage.
Of course, it all comes down to individual preferences in features, styling, and performance.
RELATED: 10 Compact SUVs Worth Buying in 2023 Based on Reliability
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Volkswagen |
Germany |
| #2 |  Toyota |
Japan |
| #3 |  Stellantis |
Netherlands |
| #4 |  Mercedes-Benz Group |
Germany |
| #5 |  Ford Motor |
United States |
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Michelin |
France |
| #2 |  Bridgestone |
Japan |
| #3 |  Continental |
Germany |
| #4 |  Goodyear |
United States |
| #5 |  Sumitomo |
Japan |
