Hyundai Tucson vs. Kia Sportage

Currently, there’s an extensive selection of SUV models to choose from, although the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage remain popular choices. In some ways, these two cars are very similar, although not identical. So, how do they compare in terms of design, features and overall driving experience? Let’s find out.

A Brief History

The Hyundai Tucson has a rich history that dates back to its initial launch in 2004. Developed by the South Korean automaker Hyundai, the Tucson was introduced as a replacement for the Hyundai Santa Fe and quickly gained traction in the global automotive market. The name "Tucson" is derived from a city in the southwestern United States, emphasising the vehicle's adventurous and versatile nature. Over the years, the Hyundai Tucson has undergone several design and technological advancements, solidifying its position as a reliable and stylish option in the competitive SUV segment. Its success can be attributed to its spacious interior, fuel efficiency, and impressive safety features, making it a favoured choice for families and commuters alike. As Hyundai continues to innovate and improve, the Tucson remains an essential part of the brand's success story, delivering a harmonious blend of performance, comfort, and practicality.

The history of the Kia Sportage is a testament to the brand's relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation. The first generation of the Sportage was introduced in 1993, marking Kia's entry into the competitive SUV segment. It showcased a compact and rugged design, appealing to adventure seekers and urban commuters alike. Over time, Kia listened to customer feedback and diligently improved the Sportage, launching subsequent generations with significant upgrades in performance, safety, and technology. As the years passed, the Sportage continued to evolve, positioning it as a desirable choice for individuals and families seeking a practical and versatile vehicle.

Interior and technology

Inside, the Hyundai Tucson offers a spacious five-seat interior with high-quality materials throughout. In comparison, the Hyundai has greater headroom and legroom than the Kia Sportage, especially in the rear passenger space. This makes it feel slightly more spacious and is particularly good for tall passengers. That said, we like that the Kia Sportage has a practical interior and offers a decent level of standard equipment. All trims for the Sportage now come with drive mode select and front and rear parking sensors as standard. Plus, standard safety and driving features include lane keep assist, hill-start assist control and downhill brake control, just to mention a few. As expected, range-topping models come with additional luxurious features, such as a surround-view camera, ambient lighting and a heated steering wheel. As for the Hyundai Tucson, standard features across all trims include Privacy Glass (Rear Windows and Tailgate), USB Connections (Front and Rear), Bluetooth® Connectivity and a 10.25" touchscreen sat nav with Mapcare and LIVE Services. Pricing for the Tucson starts from £29,140 (OTR) for the entry-level SE Connect, meanwhile Sportage pricing starts slightly lower at £27,250 (OTR).

For a sportier version, you could lease the new Hyundai Tucson N Line. We particularly like the sporty N Line seats, as well as ambient lighting. Externally it features an exclusive N Line grille and sportier 19” alloy wheels. Pricing for this trim starts from £31,540 (OTR) and insurance groupings range from 13E – 21E. Alternatively, the Sportage GT-Line is priced from £30,250 (OTR) and insurance groupings range from 18E (petrol) – 24E (PHEV). Compared to the entry-level, this trim level offers sporty styling, along with extra features to give it a premium feel. These features include rear privacy glass, sports pedal, a bigger 12.3" display with nav and three-zone climate control.

Practicality

We feel both the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are practical cars with plenty to offer. Firstly, let’s talk about the storage space in these SUVs. The latest Hyundai Tucson offers an impressive 620-litre boot size, which is quite a bit bigger than the Kia Sportage. Hyundai has also maximised the space in this car by adding plenty of storage compartments. Both SUVs offer ample passenger space, making them a suitable option for day-to-day family life. The Kia Sportage has been built for comfortable journeys thanks to its versatile interior and comfortable seating. Furthermore, both the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are easy to drive. The raised driving positions makes visibility when driving great, plus the infotainment systems are easy to operate.

As for safety, both of these SUVs achieved a Euro NCAP Safety Rating of 5 stars. This is not really surprising though as both cars have plenty of safety features available. Like Hyundai, Kia also appear confident in the reliability of their vehicles. All new Hyundai vehicles get a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty with them. Meanwhile, the Kia Sportage has the bonus of an additional two years, as all Kia models come with Kia’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty as standard. During recent studies, the Hyundai Tucson has ranked better than the Sportage in terms of lower annual maintenance costs and the car’s overall reliability.

Engine size, MPG figures and performance

The latest Kia Sportage is available with a great choice of engine options including petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid. For those interested in a petrol car, the Kia Sportage comes with a regular 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, achieving 42.2mpg (combined – WLTP). This has 148bhp and can achieve 0-62mph in around 10 seconds. This engine is also available with mild-hybrid tech (MHEV) as a seven-speed automatic. Of the two, the mild hybrid is the punchier option, as well as being more efficient with a 44.1mpg figure (combined – WLTP).

If you’d prefer a fully hybrid car with added power, the Sportage HEV offers 226bhp and is capable of 0-62mph in about 8 seconds. This is considerably quicker than alternatives like the Ford Kuga hybrid. Alternatively, the Kia Sportage plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offers 261bhp and features a higher-voltage battery. Plus, it can travel up to 43 miles on solely electric power, which is further than the HEV version of the Sportage. If you’re looking for a fully electric car though, the Kia e-Niro would be a better option for you. Having received various awards worldwide, this practical family car combines phenomenal range, practicality and excellent styling.

For those drivers looking for a diesel, the Sportage has a choice of two diesel engines - 113bhp and 134bhp. The Latter option has mild-hybrid tech and reportedly achieves 54.3mpg (combined – WLTP), although it lacks a powerful engine. In contrast, the latest Hyundai Tucson doesn’t have diesel powertrain available in the UK. Instead, it has petrol, mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid options – all using a 1.6 T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine. Starting with the petrol model, this offers 150ps, a manual gearbox and can achieve 0-62mph in just over 10 seconds – similar to the entry-level Sportage.

Up from this, the Tucson 48-volt mild hybrid (MHEV) also offers 150ps and is responsive. There’s also a 180ps MHEV for a little added power. Like the Kia Sportage, the Tucson is also available as a full hybrid and is capable of 0-62mph in about 8 seconds. This has both strong economy and performance, as well as 230ps, making it a popular choice. Although, alternatively you can opt for a 1.6 T-GDi 265ps plug-in hybrid Tucson with a bigger battery option. This range-topper offers up to 31 miles electric-only range which is disappointing compared to the Kia Sportage plug-in hybrid. That said, this Hyundai car offers a smooth drive and handles the roads well. Both the Sportage and Tucson are still awaiting a fully electric version, but this doesn’t appear to put many drivers off.

Our Verdict

Both of these SUVs are great options and it’s easy to see why you would choose one of them as your next lease car. However, considering all we know about these cars, we feel the latest version of the Hyundai Tucson comes out on top. In particular, the Hyundai Tucson gets you an excellent all-rounder with class-leading boot space. Despite the lack of a pure electric version, both SUVs have an excellent choice of engine options for customers to choose from. So really, the only question left to ask is, would you prefer to drive a Kia or a Hyundai car? This may help you to decide which family SUV to opt for.

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