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Honda CR-V vs Kia Sportage

2026 Honda CR-V vs 2026 Kia Sportage — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Honda CR-V

2026 Honda CR-V

Midsize Station WagonsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS1 – 5Kia Sportage wins 5 of 6 categories
Kia Sportage

2026 Kia Sportage

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Kia Sportage is more fuel-efficient: 42 vs 40 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $100 a year less in fuel for the Kia Sportage (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

Across all model years since 2005, the Kia Sportage has had fewer recall campaigns (23 vs 60).

The two cars

The 2026 Honda CR-V is a midsize station wagon offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 185 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,635 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Kia Sportage is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo and 2.5L 4-cyl), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 184 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 109-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,618 lb (AWD 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2022 CR-V and the 2022 Sportage have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2018 CR-V and the 2017 Sportage.

Basics

Midsize Station Wagons
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Hybrid, eFCV, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

40 MPG
Best combined MPG
42 MPG
43 city
City / highway MPG (best)
41 city
$1,700
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,600

Performance & space

190 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
–
184.6 in
Length
184.3 in
73.6 in
Width
73.6 in
66.1 in
Height
65.7 in
3,525 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,486 lb

Safety & reliability

14
Driver-assist features standard
13
2
Recalls (2026)
1
60
Recalls, all years since 2005
23
177
Owner complaints (latest year)
40

Interest

36,497
Wikipedia views, 30 days
18,177

Buying used

2022
Best used year
2022
2018
Year to avoid
2017

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Honda CR-V if…

It doesn't clearly beat the Kia Sportage on any measure we track.

Choose the Kia Sportage if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (42 vs 40 MPG)
  • You put reliability history first (23 vs 60 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Honda CR-V

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 56% better than the average 2026 midsize station wagon (25.7 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Kia Sportage

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 42 MPG combined — 39% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Honda CR-V specs →Full 2026 Kia Sportage specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →