Just recently, we did a review on both the Honda CR-V and the Kia Sportage. Both reviews came out with the same conclusion that they are great, reliable and efficient SUVs to own. However, between the two, which is better?
The entry level CR-V, in particular, retails at $22,795, which is about $1,625 more expansive than the Sportage. Then again, both SUVs are below the average pricing of $25,800 in its segment.
In terms of design, we feel that the Kia Sportage carries more appeal than the CR-V. It has a nice touch of sportiness and is well-proportioned in size. The CR-V looks great from the front but its bulging rear can be a pain in the eyes of consumers.
Under the hood, the latter is powered by a 2.4L naturally aspirated gas inline-4 engine that operates on the FWD architecture. The motor is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission that is capable of producing 185hp and 163 ft-lbs of torque. Even with so much power, the CR-V returns an impressive fuel consumption range of 23-31mpg.
The Kia Sportage, on the other hand, is powered by a 2.4L naturally aspirated gas inline-4 that drives on a similar FWD architecture. The motor is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission which produces 176hp and 168 ft-lbs of torque. The fuel consumption for the Sportage ranges from 21 to 30mpg.
Both vehicles have the same fuel tank capacity of 15.3 gallons but the CR-V has the better range of 474 miles. The Sportage is only able to cover 459 miles max. Despite that fact, the CR-V weighs 3,305 LBS which means that power stands at 17.9 lbs per hp. This is less powerful than the 18.1 lbs per hp achieved by the Sportage. The latter is simply lighter as it weighs at 3,186 LBS.
Judging from the stats above, we feel that the CR-V is the winner, even if it is less powerful than the Sportage. The fact that the CR-V consumes less fuel and is more affordable makes it the number one SUV in the market.
