2025 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid vs 2025 Mazda CX-50

$39,890 · Crossover

$30,500 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the 2025 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid (Car 1) and the 2025 Mazda CX-50 (Car 2) boils down to prioritizing electric miles versus upfront savings. The primary dilemma centers on the significant $9,390 MSRP gap, with the CX-50 starting at a much lower $30,500. For commuters frequently covering short distances, the Kia’s 34 miles of electric range offsets this cost over time, especially given its excellent combined fuel economy, although the base CX-50 nets only 28 MPG combined. Power enthusiasts might lean toward the Kia, as it boasts 261 hp compared to the CX-50’s 187 hp, translating to better acceleration. However, if maximum passenger space is needed, note the Sportage's slightly better 34.5 cubic feet of cargo space versus the CX-50’s 31.4 cubic feet, even though the CX-50 is slightly longer overall.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

The Sportage PHEV offers 34 miles of pure electric range, drastically reducing daily fuel consumption for local trips.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

The Sportage provides marginally better cargo capacity at 34.5 cu ft compared to the CX-50's 31.4 cu ft, which matters for gear and groceries.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

With 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, the Kia offers substantially more acceleration capability than the CX-50's 187 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Mazda CX-50

The Mazda CX-50 presents superior immediate value due to its $9,390 lower starting MSRP of $30,500.

Choose the Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid if...

You want the best fuel efficiency, utilizing the 34-mile electric range for daily driving.
You prioritize performance, benefiting from the 261 hp engine found in the Sportage PHEV.
You need the slightly larger cargo area, offering 34.5 cubic feet for hauling gear.

Choose the Mazda CX-50 if...

Sticking to a lower upfront budget is essential, as the CX-50 saves you $9,390 off the starting price.
You prefer the look and feel of a traditional crossover that offers competitive highway efficiency (31 MPG).
You want a slightly longer vehicle (185.8 inches) that still features standard AWD.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid	Mazda CX-50
Length	183.5"	185.8"
Width	73.4"	75.6"
Height	66.9"	63.5"
Wheelbase	108.5"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Base Engine Displacement	1.6 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	plug-in hybrid	gas
Horsepower	261 hp	187 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	258 lb-ft	185 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Cylinder Deactivation	—	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Transmission Type	6-speed automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	Locking	—
Hill Descent Control	✓	—

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	36/35 MPG	25/31 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	35 MPG	28 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	399.6/388.5 mi.	397.5/492.9 mi.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	88/79 MPGe	—
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	84 MPGe	—
EPA Electric Driving Range	34 mi.	—
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	40	—
Charging Time (240V)	2.0 hr.	—
Fuel Tank Capacity	11.1 gal.	15.9 gal.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	SAE J1772	—

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	—
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	—
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	10.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	8
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Mazda
One-Touch Power Windows	2	4
Moonroof Type	1st Row Power Glass Extended	—
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Front Head Room	37.8 in.	39.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.5 in.	55.9 in.
Front Hip Room	54.8 in.	53.6 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	4-way
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Rear Head Room	38.0 in.	38.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	39.5 in.	39.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.6 in.	53.6 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.4 in.	52.1 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	19 x 7.5 in	17 x 7.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/55R19	P225/65R17
Spare Tire Type	—	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	—	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	—
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Front Suspension Type	—	Independent
Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
EV Battery Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Hybrid Component Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid and 2025 Mazda CX-50.

What is the true fuel economy difference between these two crossovers?

The Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid achieves a superior combined 35 MPG, or significantly more if the 34 miles of electric range are utilized daily; the Mazda CX-50 is rated lower at 28 MPG combined.

Is the Kia Sportage PHEV expensive to maintain compared to the CX-50?

While the initial MSRP difference is $9,390 in favor of the Mazda, the Kia uses regular unleaded fuel and the plug-in capability should lead to lower long-term fuel expenditures to balance the initial investment.

Which vehicle offers better on-road responsiveness?

The 2025 Kia Sportage PHEV is much punchier, delivering 74 more horsepower (261 hp vs. 187 hp) and 73 more lb-ft of torque (258 vs. 185), making it the clear choice for spirited driving.

How do the physical dimensions compare for city parking?

The Kia Sportage is slightly shorter in length at 183.5 inches versus the CX-50's 185.8 inches, but the Mazda is wider (75.6 inches vs. 73.4 inches), which might affect tight garage fits.

Does the CX-50's lower efficiency result in poorer AWD performance?

Both vehicles come standard with All-Wheel Drive, and the difference in efficiency is primarily driven by the Sportage's hybrid components rather than inherent AWD capability differences.

If I drive mostly highway miles, should I still consider the plug-in hybrid?

If your highway driving exceeds 34 miles consistently, the Kia's 35 MPG combined rating is still marginally better than the CX-50's 31 MPG highway rating, though the MPG benefits diminish without using the EV mode.