Kia Sportage Hybrid vs. Hyundai Tucson: A Side-by-Side Comparison

The Kia Sportage Hybrid edition and the Hyundai Tucson have a lot in common. However, the question remains: which one is the better deal? Individuals who are considering both of them might have to take a close look at their features to determine which one makes more sense for their particular needs.

Hyundai Waco has plenty of Tucsons for you if you choose to go in that direction. Before you go see them, though, take a look at this side-by-side comparison with the Kia Sportage Hybrid.

The Price

Any time you want to get a new vehicle, you are probably going to look at the price first and foremost. In this case, a Kia Sportage Hybrid 2025 edition can be yours for $28,590 for the base model. Keep in mind, though, that there are considerably fancier trim levels you can get if you like.

As for the Hyundai Tucson, you can get the 2025 edition for $28,605. The two models are just a few dollars away from each other if you purchase either one brand-new.

This makes sense if you stop to think about it for a moment. The same kinds of drivers are probably looking at both of these options. The companies pricing them close to each other is doubtless intended to make potential customers consider each one carefully.

Reliability

Reliability is certainly something you want to look at when choosing a new vehicle. In this case, the experts seem to feel that you’re better off going with the Kia Sportage Hybrid over the Hyundai Tucson.

The Kia Sportage has a slightly better reliability score than the Hyundai Tucson according to J.D. Power. It scores 83 out of a possible 100, while the Tucson gets 80.

While this entity is not the final word in such matters, the website is generally considered to be respectable and trustworthy, so this is a factor worth noting if you can’t decide between these two.

Features

The Tucson Hybrid has several nice features that drivers seem to like. Foremost among them are the comfortable seats and the nice amount of head and legroom. Larger or heavier adults should feel comfortable in it. These are both two-row SUVs capable of seating five with no issues.

There is also the issue of cargo space. The Tucson Hybrid has the Sportage beat in this area.

The Tucson offers 38.7 cubic feet behind its rear seats. It also has 74.5 feet of total cubic feet if you are not using the rear seats.

The Sportage does pretty well in this area too, with 39.5 cubic feet of room behind its rear row. With the seats folded up, you get a total of 73.7 cubic feet of space. If you plan to haul a lot of equipment or groceries around, the Tucson is the best bet between these two, though not by much.

Interior Comfort

If interior comfort is what’s most on your mind, you will probably admit that the Tucson is the winner here as well. It comes with plenty of surfaces that are soft to the touch. It’s like riding around in your living room, which riders in the back seat are sure to appreciate on long car trips across the country.

If you get the Limited trim package, that comes with all-leather upholstery. You do not have that option with the Sportage.

Meanwhile, the Sportage Hybrid has a large touchscreen interface and a user-friendly console. However, there are a few hard plastic components throughout that are not as rider-friendly as you’ll see with the Tucson. Cloth upholstery comes with the standard version, but that is not as luxurious-feeling as real leather.

The Acceleration

Some people like to shop for vehicles based mostly on the acceleration capability. In this instance, you will quickly notice that neither of these models were built for speed. It is something that isn’t called for that much in this market.

The Sportage comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The electric motor will give you 227 horsepower. The company has paired this with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Tucson is similar, with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The total horsepower number with this one is 226. Since that’s almost identical, neither model has a clear advantage in this department.

Fuel Economy

This is another area that gets a lot of attention from potential drivers of either of these vehicles. The Sportage does pretty well for a vehicle in this class. It gets about 42 miles per gallon if you’re doing some city driving. You get about 44 miles per gallon during highway drives.

The Tucson comes with all-wheel drive, and it gets 38 miles per gallon both in the city and on the highway. This is one area where the Tucson seems to be lacking, though the Sportage doesn’t completely outclass it.

Which is the Better Option for You?

Since these two are direct competitors, it should not surprise you that they have more in common than there are notable differences between them. If you’re most interested in fuel economy, then it’s probably going to be the Sportage. Since it gets slightly better fuel economy both for highway and city driving, someone who drives frequently might think that Kia should get their money.

The J.D. Power reliability rating might also lead to you choosing the Sportage over the Tucson. There’s not a huge difference in the rating between the two, but if you’re worried about breakdowns, then the Sportage might make you feel a little more comfortable.  

However, there’s quite a bit that the Tucson has going for it as well. It has a little more room inside it than the Sportage. The interior comfort, such as the leather seats, seems to have the Sportage beat. There is no real difference in power, so you probably won’t make a decision between these two based on that.

Carefully consider what matters to you the most and then select the one that appeals. 

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