Compare the2025 Kia Sportage PHEVVS 2025 Honda CR-V

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Sportage PHEV. But it costs extra on the CR-V.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The CR-V only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sportage PHEV has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Rear cross-path warning is not offered on the CR-VLX and the CR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Sportage PHEV and the CR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Sportage PHEV comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CR-V’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage PHEV 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the CR-V. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CR-V ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

The Sportage PHEV’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 71 more horsepower (261 vs. 190) and 79 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Sportage PHEV’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 57 more horsepower (261 vs. 204) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 247) than the CR-V Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia Sportage PHEV is faster than the Honda CR-V:

	Sportage PHEV	CR-V turbo 4 cyl.	CR-V Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	8.1 sec	7.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	17.5 sec	21.2 sec	24.7 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.1 sec	9 sec	8 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.3 sec	4.4 sec	3.6 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.6 sec	5.8 sec	5.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	16.3 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	89 MPH	85 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the CR-V:

			MPGe
Sportage PHEV
	AWD	Electric Motor	88 city/79 hwy
CR-V
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/36 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/34 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage PHEV running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the CR-V:

			MPG
Sportage PHEV
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/35 hwy
CR-V
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy

The Sportage PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 34 miles. The CR-V can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage PHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CR-V with the 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

For better stopping power the Sportage PHEV’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CR-V:

	Sportage PHEV	CR-V
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12.3 inches

The Sportage PHEV stops shorter than the CR-V:

	Sportage PHEV	CR-V
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver

The Sportage PHEV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage PHEV has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CR-V LX.

The Sportage PHEV has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Sportage PHEV has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The CR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage PHEV’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the CR-V (108.5 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the CR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage PHEV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CR-V (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Sportage PHEV to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Sportage PHEV has .1 inches more front legroom and .8 inches more rear hip room than the CR-V.

The Sportage PHEV’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage PHEV uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CR-V doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The power windows standard on both the Sportage PHEV and the CR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sportage PHEV is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Sportage PHEV’s standard Smart Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the CR-V only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Pushbutton Start is not available on the CR-V EX/Sport.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CR-V doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Sportage PHEV’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the CR-V EX/Sport.

When the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The CR-V’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CR-V doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Sportage PHEV has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the CR-V EX/Sport.

Compared to the Honda CR-V, the Kia Sportage PHEV eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage PHEV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the CR-V EX-L/Sport L/Sport Touring offers wireless charging.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CR-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage PHEV third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The CR-V isn’t in the top three.