Kia’s hybrid SUV upstages usual favorite, Honda CR-V
The 2023 Honda CR-V and 2023 Kia Sportage are two highly rated small SUVS by Edmunds. Notably, they also come in hybrid versions that offer some compelling advantages.
The Honda CR-V has long been considered a benchmark of the class, and it receives a full redesign that ushers in a roomier interior, enhanced technology features and an improved hybrid powertrain. The Kia Sportage also received a 2023 redesign.
It’s got a bold new look, up-to-date tech and an allnew hybrid powertrain to rival the CR-V’S. Edmunds experts compare them to find out which one is the fuel-sipping SUV champ.
Fuel economy and power
The front-wheel drive version of the Sportage Hybrid gets an impressive EPA estimate of 43 mpg combined: 44 mpg city/42 mpg highway. The front-wheel-drive hybrid version of the CR-V gets 40 mpg combined: 43 mpg city/36 mpg highway. When all-wheel drive is equipped, the estimates become closer: 38 mpg combined for the Sportage and 37 mpg combined for the CR-V.
Edmunds has also driven the all-wheel-drive versions of both SUVS on its real-world test route. Here, the results were less than the EPA’S estimates but still respectable: 34.5 mpg for the Sportage and 33.3 mpg for the CR-V.
The CR-V combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system for a total output of 204 horsepower. The Sportage oneups it with its hybrid system and turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that combine for 227 horsepower. The Sportage sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. The hybrid CR-V is decently quick, too, but needs 8 seconds to get to 60 mph.
Winner: Kia Sportage
Technology and interior space
The base Sportage Hybrid trim has an average-size, 8-inch center touchscreen. But all other trims get a large and sharp-looking 12.3inch unit. The Sportage also sports a sizable standard fully digital instrument panel. The CR-V’S 7- and 9-inch touchscreens are less impressive, and so is its instrument panel, which consists of a small digital screen and an analog speedometer.
Cargo room is even in each SUV: Both provide more than 39 cubic feet of space behind the second row, which is among the biggest capacities in the small SUV class.
Winner: tie
Comfort and driving
The CR-V Hybrid’s ride quality is impressive. But it’s not as smooth and accommodating as the Sportage Hybrid’s. The Kia also benefits from a quieter interior. Edmunds’ editors have noted that the CR-V’S hybrid powertrain can sometimes get loud when accelerating.
The CR-V is more composed around turns, and its continuously variable transmission leads to smoother acceleration than the Sportage’s six-speed automatic.
Winner: Kia Sportage
Pricing and value
The Sportage Hybrid’s base LX trim starts at $28,815. That’s significantly less than the hybrid version of the CR-V, which starts at $34,245. The CR-V’S higher price gets you heated seats and some helpful advanced driver aids but isn’t worth the price increase for those alone. As for top-spec trims, once again, the Sportage delivers a better deal than the CR-V and provides features the Honda lacks, including ventilated front seats and a surround-view camera system.
Kia offers a fouryear/60,000-mile limited warranty, which tops Honda’s three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty.
Winner: Kia Sportage
Edmunds says:
The Honda CR-V has been one of Edmunds’ favorite small SUVS for a long time, but its latest hybrid model has been upstaged by the Kia Sportage Hybrid’s efficiency, price, comfort and feature-packed trim levels.