Kia Sportage vs Hyundai Tucson: which is best?

SUVs are the most popular type of new car in the UK, and two of the best selling are the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. We reveal what sets them apart and which one to go for.

Although they share a great deal, including the same vehicle platform and similar engines, there are plenty of subtle (and some more obvious) differences between the two models, which have been borne out in our lab tests and annual reliability survey.

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Kia Sportage vs Hyundai Tucson compared

The fifth-generation Kia Sportage was launched in 2022 with a broad range of power options: petrol mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It has sharp looks and lots of technology, while power ranges from 115hp right up to 265hp. Diesel and pure-petrol variants are now available used only.

Most Sportage models are front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available in certain engine and trim level configurations.

Hyundai’s Tucson has been around since 2004. The fourth generation of this medium-sized SUV was launched in the UK in 2021, with styling that makes it stand out from the crowd. There are currently petrol and mild-hybrid petrol models, as well as full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. They all use a 1.6 litre engine which, in the pure petrol and mild-hybrid models, produces 150hp.

The current Tucson petrol and mild hybrid range is exclusively two-wheel drive – a four-wheel-drive option was originally available at launch but has since gone off sale. All mild-hybrid models are fitted with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, while pure-petrol versions have a six-speed manual gearbox.

Both models use the same basic platform (a shared set of basic engineering features), which was jointly developed by Kia and Hyundai. They use the same type of Hyundai engine, and both were facelifted in 2024 (although the facelifted Sportage is yet to be introduced to Europe).

Of the current versions, we've lab tested the following models:

• Kia Sportage diesel mild hybrid
• Kia Sportage petrol plug-in hybrid
• Hyundai Tucson petrol mild hybrid
• Hyundai Tucson petrol full hybrid
• Hyundai Tucson petrol plug-in hybrid

Driving and handling

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Our full test scores are exclusive to Which? members, but perhaps the most significant difference is with the cabin layouts: the Sportage’s touchscreen is more complicated to navigate than the system in the Tucson, and we thought the rotary controls in the Sportage’s cabin were unintuitive.

Bear in mind that the facelifted Tucson has a completely different interior setup, which has more physical controls.

Like most modern cars, both the Sportage and Tucson have wide rear roof pillars, which does affect rearward visibility.

However, all models in the current Sportage and Tucson ranges have plenty of parking aids, which help to mitigate this.

Reliability

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Reliability is another area where each model performs, but our survey data revealed some interesting differences.

Hybrid Tucsons and Sportage PHEVs are off the road for less time when faulty compared with pure-petrol models. While the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has a lower fault rate, its breakdown rate is much higher than the non-PHEV Sportage and the non-PHEV Tucson, which is the outlier for reliability.

Looking at the most common individual faults across all models, owners reported charging and fuel cap issues, along with problems with the exterior, non-engine electrics and the 12V battery.

To find out detailed reliability information for all models, join Which? today.

Most reliable cars: view the models that scored highest in our latest survey

Comfort and practicality

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The Sportage and Tucson score similarly here too. In all models, space up front is good, with enough legroom for anyone up to 6ft 5in tall, plus headroom for even taller people (although there’s slightly less front space in the Tucson Hybrid than the other cars). All offer the same amount of rear passenger space, accommodating people up to 6ft 6in tall.

While each car scores very well for boot space, the Tucson Hybrid has the most whether the rear seats are used or folded. The Sportage is lower to the ground, making it easier to load luggage than with the Tucson.

Safety

Both the Tucson and Sportage have five-star Euro NCAP scores and come with a decent range of safety kit as standard.

On the Sportage, standard safety equipment includes forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist and detection for pedestrians, cyclists and junctions. However, only the highest-spec Sportage comes with the best safety tech, which includes blind-spot assist and parking collision-avoidance assist.

With the Tucson, all models come with AEB, front-collision avoidance, driver-attention warning and downhill brake-control systems. All but the cheapest Tucson models have junction-turning detection, while only top-range models get a blind-spot monitor and an uprated front collision-assistance system that can detect vulnerable road users when turning into junctions.

Fuel economy

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As you might expect with a plug-in hybrid, you can make significant savings on running costs with the Sportage and Tucson PHEVs when running them with the battery only. However, our tests revealed that fuel consumption rockets when they're empty, especially on the motorway.

If you can’t charge at home, the Tucson Hybrid should be the cheapest to run in most situations, with the (used-only) diesel Sportage offering better motorway economy.

Are there any alternative SUVs to consider?

It’s fair to say that the Tucson and Sportage have plenty of competitors.

Other popular hybrid SUVs include the Ford Kuga and Nissan Qashqai e-Power, Honda ZR-V. If you're after a plug-in hybrid, it's worth checking our reviews of the Cupra Formentor, Mazda CX-60 and Toyota RAV4. Click through to our reviews to find out how they all fared.

For even more options, see our guide to the best family cars.

Kia Sportage vs Hyundai Tucson verdict: which should you buy?

There's a lot to like about both cars, including five-star Euro NCAP ratings and decent warranties (Hyundai's five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty will appeal to high-mileage drivers, while Kia’s seven-year warranty offers longer peace of mind albeit with limited mileage).

The PHEV versions of both perform well for fuel economy, but only for shorter journeys. As with all PHEVs, fuel economy plummets when the battery is depleted, so you'll need to make sure you keep it topped up.

Our full reviews and test scores reveal how each model performs and will help you decide which is best for you (join Which? to get instant access).

Full Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson reviews