2025 Kia Sportage vs 2026 Hyundai Tucson

$27,390 · Crossover

$29,200 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between the 2025 Kia Sportage and the 2026 Hyundai Tucson can be tough since they share identical power figures: both put out 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, and both achieve a shared 28 MPG combined using regular unleaded fuel. However, subtle differences pop up in daily usability. The Sportage is slightly longer at 183.5 inches versus the Tucson's 182.7 inches, though the Sportage claws back a minor advantage in the back with 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space compared to the Tucson's 38.7 cu ft. The most significant initial difference is price, with the Sportage starting at $27,390 compared to the Tucson's $29,200 MSRP. For buyers focused strictly on maximizing utility space and minimizing entry cost while sticking to FWD and 8-speed automatic transmissions, the Sportage nudges ahead, even if the Tucson offers one extra highway MPG (33 vs 32).

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Sportage

The 2025 Kia Sportage wins slightly on pure entry price at $27,390 compared to the Tucson's $29,200.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Kia Sportage

The Sportage offers marginally more storage space, boasting 39.6 cu ft versus the Tucson's 38.7 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Hyundai Tucson

Both cars share identical performance specs (187 hp), but the Tucson technically offers one extra highway MPG at 33 MPG.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage provides nearly identical utility and performance metrics for $1,810 less than the Hyundai Tucson.

Choose the Kia Sportage if...

You need the absolute lowest starting MSRP for a new FWD crossover, listed at $27,390.
You prioritize slightly more cargo room, as the Sportage provides 39.6 cu ft versus the Tucson's 38.7 cu ft.
You prefer a slightly longer vehicle footprint at 183.5 inches for a more substantial road presence.

Choose the Hyundai Tucson if...

You prefer saving a small amount on fuel costs by achieving 33 Highway MPG versus the Sportage's 32 MPG.
You prefer the slightly more compact exterior length of 182.7 inches.
You are willing to pay the $1,810 premium over the Sportage for the 2026 model year updates.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sportage	Hyundai Tucson
Length	183.5"	182.7"
Width	73.4"	73.4"
Height	65.4"	-
Wheelbase	108.5"	108.5"

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	—	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	187 hp @ 6100 rpm	187 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque	178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	178 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	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable 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	25/33 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	28 MPG	28 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	357.5/457.6 mi.	357.5/471.9 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.3 gal.	14.3 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	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓
Extended Cabin Cooling	—	✓

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	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

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.	40.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.5 in.	57.6 in.
Front Hip Room	54.8 in.	54.5 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	6-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	39.4 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Leg Room	41.3 in.	41.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.6 in.	56.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.4 in.	53.9 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	235/65R17
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	✓	✓

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 Tucson.

Are the 2025 Kia Sportage and 2026 Hyundai Tucson the same mechanically?

For the front-wheel-drive models specified, yes, they appear nearly identical in powertrain performance. Both deliver 187 horsepower, 178 lb-ft of torque, utilize an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission, and achieve a combined 28 MPG.

Which crossover is cheaper to buy right now?

The 2025 Kia Sportage has a clear advantage in starting price, listing at $27,390 compared to the 2026 Hyundai Tucson's MSRP of $29,200. This represents a difference of $1,810 right off the bat.

Is there a noticeable difference in cargo space?

The difference is minimal, but the 2025 Kia Sportage wins with 39.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The 2026 Hyundai Tucson follows closely behind with 38.7 cubic feet available.

Which one saves more money on fuel over a year?

Both offer the same 28 MPG combined, but the Tucson squeaks out a single extra mile per gallon on the highway (33 MPG vs. the Sportage's 32 MPG), which could result in negligible yearly savings.

How do the exterior dimensions compare?

The dimensions are extremely close; the Sportage is slightly longer overall at 183.5 inches compared to the Tucson's 182.7 inches. Both share the exact same width measurement of 73.4 inches.