Compact SUV Showdown · Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage vsHonda CR-V
Nearly double the warranty. A bigger standard screen. A lower starting price.
Two of the compact SUV segment’s biggest names, head to head. The Kia Sportage counters the perennially popular Honda CR-V with a much longer powertrain warranty, a larger standard touchscreen, a lower starting price, and a current IIHS Top Safety Pick+ nod — while the CR-V answers with Honda’s reliability reputation. Here’s how they stack up at Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, AL.
10yr/100kKia powertrain warranty
187 hpStandard 2.5L GDI engine
$28,690Starting MSRP*
5Seats standard
2,500 lbMax towing, properly equipped
TSP+2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+
The Quick Verdict
Four Reasons the Sportage Wins
Put the Kia Sportage next to the Honda CR-V and it leads on the things families actually feel — coverage, standard technology, value, and current safety recognition. The short version before the deep dive.
Warranty Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs Honda’s 5yr/60k
Kia’s powertrain warranty runs nearly double Honda’s — and every new Sportage here adds Warranty Forever on top.
Value Leader
$2,230lower start
$28,690 vs ~$30,920 CR-V LX
The Sportage starts lower and puts more standard screen size in front of every buyer.
Standard Tech
12.3″every trim
CR-V’s standard screen is 9″
Every Sportage gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen standard. Honda grew the CR-V’s standard screen to 9 inches for 2026 — still smaller than the Sportage’s at every trim.
Award Leader
TSP+IIHS, 2025
2026 CR-V missed IIHS’s list
The current-generation Sportage earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+; the 2026 CR-V was not named a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick.
Shop the Winner
See Every Sportage Trim — & This Month’s Offers
Convinced? Pick a Sportage trim to see what it adds over the CR-V — and this month’s live offers on it, straight from our inventory.
Pricing & Configuration
Trim Range & Starting MSRP
The Sportage starts lower and puts a bigger touchscreen in front of every buyer. The CR-V counters with a broader hybrid lineup and Honda’s long-standing reliability reputation.
Configuration
Kia Sportage2027 Est.*
Honda CR-V2026
Starting MSRP*
$28,690Lower Start
~$30,920
Trim Range
LX → X-Pro Prestige (6 trims)
LX → Sport Touring Hybrid (up to ~$42,250)
Powertrains
Gas standard (Hybrid & PHEV available elsewhere in lineup)
Gas + Hybrid
Standard Touchscreen
12.3″ (every trim)Bigger Std
9″ standard, all trims
Off-Road / Notable Trim
X-Line, X-Pro Prestige (standard/active AWD)
TrailSport Hybrid (standard AWD)
Drivetrain
FWD standard, AWD available
FWD standard, AWD available (standard on TrailSport, Sport Touring)
Engines & Efficiency
Close on Power. Kia Wins on Coverage.
Both put a turbocharged four-cylinder to work, with output within a few horsepower of each other. Honda's hybrid trims add real efficiency — but the Sportage still wins the ownership math with its far longer warranty and lower starting price.
Kia Sportage
2.5L GDI — Standard Gas
- 2.5L GDI I4 — 187 hp / 178 lb-ft
- 8-speed automatic
- Standard FWD, available AWD
- Sportage Hybrid & Sportage PHEV available separately
Honda CR-V
Gas & Hybrid
- 1.5L Turbo I4 — 190 hp
- 2.0L Hybrid — 204 hp combined
- CVT (gas) / e-CVT (hybrid)
- Standard FWD, available AWD
Powertrain Spec
Kia Sportage
Honda CR-V
Base Horsepower
187 hp (2.5L gas)
190 hp (1.5L turbo)
Combined Fuel Economy (est.)
~26–28 MPG (gas)
~29–30 MPG (gas) / ~40 MPG (hybrid)
Max Towing
2,500 lb, properly equippedRated to Tow
Not rated for towing ⚠
Powertrain Warranty
10yr / 100,000 mi2× the Coverage
5yr / 60,000 mi
Room, Efficiency & Peace of Mind
The Differences You Live With Daily
Both are practical, well-built compact SUVs. Where the Sportage pulls ahead is coverage, standard screen size, and price — where the CR-V pulls ahead is Honda’s long track record.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs Honda’s 60k-mile powertrain
Ten years or 100,000 miles of Kia powertrain coverage, plus Warranty Forever at Dean McCrary — years of extra protection.
Value
$2,230lower start
Sportage LX vs CR-V LX
A lower starting price and a bigger standard touchscreen — more content for less money from the base trim up.
Capability
2,500 lbrated towing
CR-V isn’t rated to tow
The Sportage is rated to tow up to 2,500 pounds properly equipped — useful for small trailers, campers, or hauling gear the CR-V isn’t built for.
Technology & Safety
Bigger Screen. Fresher Safety Award.
Both include a full driver-assist suite standard. The Sportage puts a bigger touchscreen in front of every buyer and currently holds an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ the CR-V hasn’t matched this cycle.
Kia Sportage
12.3″ touchscreen standard on every trim, LX through X-Pro Prestige
Kia’s full driver-assist suite standard from base LX
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Available 360° camera & premium tech package
2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+
10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty
Rated to tow up to 2,500 lb, properly equipped
Honda CR-V
9″ touchscreen standard — smaller than Sportage at every trim
Honda Sensing driver-assist suite standard on every trim
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Available Sport/Sport Touring Hybrid, up to an estimated 43 MPG city
Not named a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick
5-year / 60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Not rated for towing ⚠
Independent Recognition
The Awards Don’t Lie
Analysts have measured both for years. Here’s what each has earned recently — and where Honda genuinely leads.
IIHS · 2025
Top Safety Pick+
The current-generation Sportage’s highest IIHS honor — earned on models built after May 2025.
Kelley Blue Book
Highest-Rated Compact SUVs List
KBB’s editors rank the Sportage among the highest-rated compact SUVs for 2026, alongside the CR-V itself.
U.S. News & World Report
2026 Best Compact SUV for Families Finalist
Recognized among the top compact SUVs for families in U.S. News’ 2026 rankings.
Honda’s Real Strength
Reliability Reputation & Resale Value
Honda has built decades of goodwill on CR-V reliability and strong resale value — a genuine, well-earned advantage for buyers who weigh long-term ownership cost above all else.
Cross-Shopping the CR-V? Drive the Sportage First.
See every Sportage trim in stock, get a real number on your current SUV, and feel the difference yourself — all in one stop in Mobile.
Sportage vs CR-V — Common Questions
Is the Kia Sportage better than the Honda CR-V?⌄
For most value-focused buyers, yes. The Kia Sportage leads on warranty (Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage vs Honda’s 5-year/60,000-mile), includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen standard on every trim vs Honda’s 9-inch standard screen, starts lower, and earned a 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ that the 2026 CR-V did not. The CR-V remains a well-regarded, reliable pick with strong resale value — but the Sportage wins the coverage and value equation. See live Sportage inventory.
Which has more power, the Sportage or the CR-V?⌄
The Honda CR-V’s standard 1.5L turbo makes 190 hp, edging out the Kia Sportage’s 187-hp 2.5L engine. Honda’s hybrid trims make 204 hp combined. The gap is small either way — day-to-day, the Sportage’s extra low-end torque feel and lower price matter more to most buyers than a few horsepower.
Does the Honda CR-V have a bigger touchscreen than the Sportage?⌄
No. Every Kia Sportage trim comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen standard. The 2026 CR-V’s standard screen grew to 9 inches across the lineup, with a larger 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster on the top EX-L trim — but its touchscreen itself stays smaller than the Sportage’s at every trim level.
Is the Kia Sportage cheaper than the Honda CR-V?⌄
Yes. The Sportage starts at an estimated $28,690 MSRP for the LX vs $30,920 for a base CR-V LX (both before destination) — and every Sportage trim includes the larger standard touchscreen and Kia’s full driver-assist suite.
What is the warranty difference between Kia and Honda?⌄
Kia’s is significantly longer: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, vs Honda’s 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain and 3 years / 36,000 miles limited. Every new Sportage at Dean McCrary Kia also includes Warranty Forever.
What does the Honda CR-V do better?⌄
Honda’s long-standing reliability reputation and strong resale value are real, well-documented strengths, and the CR-V’s Sport/Sport Touring Hybrid trims deliver excellent fuel economy (up to an estimated 43 MPG city). If resale value or hybrid efficiency top your list, the CR-V deserves a look. For warranty, standard screen size, price, and the current IIHS Top Safety Pick+ nod, the Sportage leads.
Where can I compare the Sportage and CR-V near Mobile, AL?⌄
Dean McCrary Kia at 1733 E I-65 Service Rd S in Mobile stocks the Sportage lineup — convenient to Daphne, Spanish Fort, Saraland, Fairhope, and the Gulf Coast. Come drive one and see the difference in person.
Sportage vs CR-V · Gulf Coast
Shopping a Compact SUV Near Mobile?
Dean McCrary Kia serves Gulf Coast families from Mobile to the Eastern Shore with the area’s deepest Sportage selection. If you’re cross-shopping the Honda CR-V, here’s why to start here.
- Live inventory of every Sportage trim — LX through X-Pro Prestige
- A fair number on your trade — value your current SUV in minutes
- Upfront pricing and Warranty Forever on every new Sportage
- Kia-certified service, factory maintenance, and genuine parts
Dean McCrary Kia
Address1733 E I-65 Service Rd S, Mobile, AL 36606
Sales(251) 471-3326
Sales HoursMon–Sat 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Sources & Verification
Comparison reflects the Kia Sportage (2027 model year, provisional — Kia’s last officially published 2026 price sheet shown as the best available reference) against the 2026 Honda CR-V. Specifications and pricing compiled from manufacturer materials (kia.com, hondanews.com), Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Car and Driver, and are current as of publication. MSRP shown is base, excluding destination, taxes, title, and dealer fees; AWD, hybrid, and higher trims add cost. Horsepower, torque, towing, and payload are independent attributes and may not be achieved simultaneously. EPA-estimated fuel economy is for comparison only; your mileage will vary.
Honda, CR-V, Honda Sensing, and TrailSport are trademarks of Honda Motor Co. Kia and Sportage references are used for descriptive comparison. This comparison reflects the dealer’s perspective and is intended for informational purposes only. Pricing and offers subject to change — contact Dean McCrary Kia for current pricing.
Kia Sportage vs Honda CR-V Comparison — Dean McCrary Kia, Mobile AL
The Kia Sportage compares favorably to the Honda CR-V on warranty (10-year/100,000-mile powertrain vs 5-year/60,000-mile), standard touchscreen size (12.3-inch on every trim vs a 9-inch standard screen), starting price (an estimated $28,690 vs $30,920), and current safety recognition (2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ vs no 2026 award for the CR-V). The CR-V counters with Honda’s reliability reputation and strong resale value. Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, Alabama stocks the Sportage lineup, serving Daphne, Spanish Fort, Saraland, and Fairhope.