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Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage

2026 Hyundai Tucson vs 2026 Kia Sportage — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Hyundai Tucson

2026 Hyundai Tucson

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS0 – 5Kia Sportage wins 5 of 5 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 38 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $150 a year less in fuel for the Kia Sportage (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Kia Sportage is the bigger car, about 2 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Kia Sportage has had fewer recall campaigns (23 vs 29).

The two cars

The 2026 Hyundai Tucson is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo and 2.5L 4-cyl), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. It measures about 182 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 109-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,468 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 2021 Tucson and the 2022 Sportage have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2016 Tucson and the 2017 Sportage.

Basics

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

Efficiency

38 MPG
Best combined MPG
42 MPG
38 city
City / highway MPG (best)
41 city
$1,750
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,600

Performance & space

187 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
–
182.3 in
Length
184.3 in
73.2 in
Width
73.6 in
64.2 in
Height
65.7 in
3,340 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,486 lb

Safety & reliability

13
Driver-assist features standard
13
6
Recalls (2026)
1
29
Recalls, all years since 2005
23
99
Owner complaints (latest year)
40

Interest

22,259
Wikipedia views, 30 days
18,177

Buying used

2021
Best used year
2022
2016
Year to avoid
2017

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

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Hyundai Tucson 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 38 MPG)
  • You put reliability history first (23 vs 29 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Hyundai Tucson

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 38 MPG combined — 47% better than the average 2026 small SUV (25.9 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.
  • 6 recallsMore than similar models (about 1). Confirm repairs with the VIN.

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 Hyundai Tucson specs →Full 2026 Kia Sportage specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →