2025 Hyundai TUCSON vs. Kia Sportage

Compact SUVs continue to grow in popularity thanks to their balance of size, versatility, and fuel efficiency. Larger than subcompact SUVs, they offer comfortable seating for five people and configurable cargo space.

When choosing between the Hyundai TUCSON and Kia Sportage, there are several key metrics to consider. Most buyers value on- and off-road capability, fuel efficiency, towing capacity, design, cargo space, and safety. We asked our SUV specialists to compare these two popular models. Join us as we uncover features and performance to help you find the perfect SUV.

Design and Exterior Features

The Hyundai TUCSON has five trim levels and features a modern exterior design with a sleek, athletic style.

The TUCSON is 182.7 inches long, 73.4 inches wide, and has a 108.5-inch wheelbase. You can choose from nine exterior color palettes, including Ecotronic Gray, Ultimate Red, and Atlantis Blue.

Kia offers the Sportage in seven trim levels, each designed to appeal to a different driving style and budget. Sportage models offer a modern exterior style, and the X-Pro trim features rugged off-road equipment.

The Sportage measures 183.5 inches long and 73.4 inches wide and has a 108.5-inch wheelbase. You have up to nine exterior colors to choose from, and a two-tone palette option with a black roof is available exclusively on the X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige trims.

These SUVs measure essentially the same.

Interior Quality and Features

The TUCSON features a modern, thoughtfully arranged interior, utilizing high-quality materials such as available H-Tex synthetic and authentic leather upholstery, as well as luxury features, including heated and ventilated seats on select trims. Kia makes an impression with its digital display that dominates the dashboard. You can also find high-quality materials and heated and ventilated seats in the higher trims.

Cargo Space and Versatility

Both vehicles offer configurable cargo space thanks to the fold-flat rear seat. The TUCSON has 41.2 cubic feet of space in the cargo hold that expands to 80.3 cubic feet of area when you fold the seat. The Kia Sportage cargo hold measures 39.6 cubic feet and expands to 74.1 cubic feet when you fold the back seat flat.

Both SUVs feature a hands-free liftgate to assist with loading and unloading the cargo hold. Rear seats that split or fold offer multiple cargo and passenger configurations for added versatility. We give the TUCSON the edge in this metric for its more expansive cargo capacity.

Technological and Infotainment Features

The Hyundai TUCSON’s technology includes a 12.3-inch interactive display screen featuring touch, pinch, and zoom capabilities. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and Navigation come standard, allowing you to sync your smartphone for wireless operations. Hyundai offers its Bluelink remote app, which lets you operate your TUCSON from anywhere using your phone.

Other TUCSON technology enhancements include wireless charging and a Wi-Fi hot spot. A fingerprint scanner to activate your infotainment and start your vehicle via Bluelink is standard on the Limited trim.

The Kia Sportage features a 12.3-inch interactive display with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth capability on all but the base trim. Kia offers its Kia Connect app, which allows you to activate specific vehicle systems using your smartphone. You also have a wireless charging pad and the ability to connect multiple devices to the network.

We find the technology packages remarkably similar but give a slight preference to the TUCSON.

Performance and Handling

A 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission power the TUCSON. This powertrain produces 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. You get a capable front-drive platform standard that travels from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. You can opt for Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system for improved traction and control in various weather conditions and road surfaces.

The TUCSON can tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped and comes prewired for trailer hookups. You also have three selectable drive modes, plus a My Drive mode, allowing you to customize steering, throttle, and suspension responsiveness according to your preferences.

Kia uses a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission to propel the Sportage. This powertrain puts out 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque and can tow up to 2,500 pounds if you add a trailer brake system and 1,653 pounds without trailer brakes.

The Sportage comes standard with front-wheel drive. You can opt for all-wheel drive for enhanced control. The Sportage offers three selectable drive modes but doesn’t have a customizable drive mode. The Sportage travels from 0 to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds.

The TUCSON and Sportage have similar powertrain configurations. We give the TUCSON the edge for its customizable drive mode and its quicker acceleration.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Technologies

Every TUCSON comes with Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of driver-assistance technologies that use radar and optical sensors to monitor the area around your vehicle and alert you to possible hazards. In certain situations, these systems can engage emergency braking and steering support to help mitigate or avoid a potential collision.

The Sportage features its own suite of driver-assistance systems, utilizing similar technology with comparable results. Systems include forward collision warning, blind spot alert, rear cross-traffic alerts, and more. Both vehicles offer more confident driving on Olympia streets and Washington highways. We have them rated even in this category.

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson vs. Kia Sportage Decision

After analyzing the key metrics of both vehicles, we see the TUCSON edging out the Sportage. It offers greater storage capacity, enhanced driving performance, upscale interior features, and cutting-edge technology compared to the Sportage. If you’re seeking a capable SUV, we recommend the TUCSON.

We invite you to shop our virtual inventory to gain insight into price and availability. You can visit our Carriage Loop SW showroom and speak with one of our SUV experts. They’ll answer your questions and let you take your preferred TUCSON model for a test-drive.

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