2025 Kia Sportage vs 2026 Hyundai Kona

$27,390 · Crossover

$25,350 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the slightly larger 2025 Kia Sportage and the newly redesigned 2026 Hyundai Kona often comes down to prioritizing space versus savings and efficiency. If your budget is tight, the Kona starts at a lower MSRP of $25,350 compared to the Sportage's $27,390. However, the Sportage delivers noticeably more capability, boasting 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque versus the Kona's 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque—a significant 40 hp advantage. Fuel economy favors the smaller Kona slightly, achieving a combined 31 MPG against the Sportage's 28 MPG. Practicality also swings toward Kia, as the Sportage offers substantially more storage, with 39.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity versus the Kona's 25.5 cubic feet, making the daily haul easier for the slightly larger vehicle.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Hyundai Kona

The 2026 Hyundai Kona wins for commuters due to its slightly better combined fuel economy of 31 MPG versus the Sportage's 28 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Kia Sportage

The 2025 Kia Sportage is better suited for families as it provides significantly more cargo space at 39.6 cu ft compared to the Kona's 25.5 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Kia Sportage

The Sportage appeals more to driving enthusiasts, offering 40 more horsepower (187 hp vs. 147 hp) and greater torque.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Kona

The 2026 Hyundai Kona offers better base value, starting at a lower MSRP of $25,350.

Choose the Kia Sportage if...

You frequently carry large loads, benefiting from the 39.6 cu ft of maximum cargo capacity.
You prefer a more responsive feel from the engine, thanks to the 187 hp output.
You want the greater road presence and interior room provided by its larger dimensions (183.5 inches long).

Choose the Hyundai Kona if...

Saving money upfront is crucial, as the base MSRP is $2,040 less at $25,350.
Maximizing fuel efficiency for city driving is a priority, netting 29 City MPG.
You prefer a slightly more nimble vehicle in tight urban environments, indicated by its smaller footprint.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sportage	Hyundai Kona
Length	183.5"	171.3"
Width	73.4"	71.9"
Height	65.4"	62.2"
Wheelbase	108.5"	104.7"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-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	✓	✓
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	✓	✓
Blind Spot Monitor	—	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	—	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	187 hp @ 6100 rpm	147 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque	178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	—

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	25/32 MPG	29/34 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	28 MPG	31 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	357.5/457.6 mi.	359.6/421.6 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.3 gal.	12.4 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	—
Push Button Start	—	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓
Driver Vanity Mirror	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	1	1
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Front Head Room	39.6 in.	39.9 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.5 in.	56.8 in.
Front Hip Room	54.8 in.	54.3 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	—

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	39.4 in.	38.3 in.
Rear Leg Room	41.3 in.	38.2 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.6 in.	55.2 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.4 in.	52.4 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Size	17 x 7.0 in	17 x 7.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/65R17	215/60R17
Wheel Material	—	Alloy
Spare Tire Type	—	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	—	Inside Mounted

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Sportage and 2026 Hyundai Kona.

How much more powerful is the 2025 Kia Sportage than the 2026 Kona?

The Sportage holds a distinct performance edge, generating 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, which is exactly 40 horsepower more than the Kona's 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque.

Is the significant difference in cargo space noticeable between these two crossovers?

Yes, the difference is substantial; the Sportage offers 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Kona provides only 25.5 cubic feet, meaning the Sportage can handle about 55% more luggage or gear.

Which vehicle will cost less to fill up regularly?

The 2026 Hyundai Kona generally wins on fuel costs, offering a combined 31 MPG compared to the Sportage's 28 MPG, though both use regular unleaded gasoline.

If I prioritize the lowest initial purchase price, which crossover should I look at?

You should look at the 2026 Hyundai Kona, which has a base MSRP of $25,350, saving you $2,040 compared to the 2025 Kia Sportage starting price of $27,390.

Are there any benefits to the Kona's continuously variable transmission (CVT) over the Sportage's 8-speed automatic?

The CVT in the Kona generally contributes to its slight MPG advantage by keeping the engine in its most efficient operating range, whereas the Sportage uses an 8-speed automatic which often provides a more direct and engaging feel during acceleration.

How do their physical sizes compare for parking ease?

The Kona is significantly smaller, measuring 171.3 inches long and 62.2 inches high, making it easier to maneuver and park than the longer 183.5-inch and taller 65.4-inch Sportage.