BMW X1 vs Kia Sportage
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Kia Sportage scores higher, 76 vs 75
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 28 Aug 2026, price 19 Aug 2026
BMW X1
19 of 27 standard · no option data · 8 no dataFrom
$61,800
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 115kW
- Economy
- 6.5 L/100kmWLTP test cycle, not directly comparable with ADR 81/02 figures
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 540L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Kia Sportage
14 of 27 standard · no option data · 13 no dataFrom
$38,490
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 115kW
- Economy
- 8.1 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 543L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 75
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$61,800RRP
- no option data for this car
$38,490RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Fuel figures here come from different test cycles (BMW X1: WLTP; Kia Sportage: ADR 81/02), so they are not compared like-for-like and no fuel winner is shown.
Measured rows: Australian Automobile Association Real-World Testing Program (realworld.org.au), the on-road result for the vehicle each test names, shown beside the manufacturer's figures rather than in place of them and never scored. BMW X1 test page Kia Sportage test page
Price and cost per week
BMW X1 sDrive18i
$61,800
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $263 a week in repayments ($61,800 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Kia Sportage S FWD Petrol
$38,490
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 19 Aug 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $155 a week in repayments ($38,490 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Kia Sportage starts $23,310 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$155/wk(≈$671/mo)
Estimate on the Kia Sportage at $38,490 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X1Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
Both the BMW X1 and Kia Sportage hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, tested 2022. Adult occupant protection scored 86% for the BMW X1 and 87% for the Kia Sportage.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 5 of 10 key ADAS systems on both.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW X1 and 7 in the Kia Sportage.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 5 of 10 key systems on the BMW X1 and 5 on the Kia Sportage.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BMW X1
- REC-006553 · published 4 Mar 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may develop an internal coolant leak.Year range on the notice: 2010 - 2022
- REC-006090 · published 2 Oct 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, a component of the brake booster system may have been incorrectly welded and could break.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2024
- REC-006063 · published 30 Aug 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, liquid may enter the electrical water pump connectors.Year range on the notice: 2011 - 2018
- 5 more on the model page.
Kia Sportage
- REC-006557 · published 6 Mar 2026Due to a software error, the Instrument Cluster may display a blank screen or may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2025
- REC-006112 · published 9 Oct 2024The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), responsible for the Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Stability Control System and Traction Control System, can remain live even when the vehicle is switched off.Year range on the notice: 2009
- REC-006109 · published 9 Oct 2024The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), responsible for the Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Stability Control System and Traction Control System, can remain live even when the vehicle is switched off.Year range on the notice: 2013 - 2014
- 10 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The BMW X1 features a 10.7-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Kia Sportage gets a 12.3-inch display and 4-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BMW X1 stands out with Apple CarPlay, head-up display, heated front seats, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio — features our data doesn't list for the Kia Sportage. The Kia Sportage counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BMW X1 gets sensatec synthetic leather upholstery while the Kia Sportage offers cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the BMW X1 and 1-zone in the Kia Sportage.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW X1 uses a Petrol producing 115kW and 230Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9 seconds.
The Kia Sportage responds with a Petrol making 115kW and 192Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels.
Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW X1 measures 4,500mm long on a 2,692mm wheelbase, 185mm shorter than the Kia Sportage at 4,685mm (2,755mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia Sportage generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 540L in the BMW X1 and 543L in the Kia Sportage, giving the Kia Sportage a 3L advantage.
For towing, the BMW X1 leads with a 1,700kg braked capacity vs 1,650kg. That 50kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the BMW X1's turning circle is 0.1 m tighter, 11.3 m against 11.4 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the BMW X1 costs about $1,853 a year (6.5 L/100km) and fuel for the Kia Sportage about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (BMW X1) and 7 years / Unlimited (Kia Sportage).
Where each one leads
The BMW X1: the higher braked towing limit (1,700kg against 1,650kg).
The Kia Sportage: the lower starting price ($38,490 against $61,800), the bigger boot with the seats up (543L against 540L) and the longer warranty (7 years against 5).
The Verdict
Kia Sportage scores higher, 76 vs 75
The Kia Sportage scores 76 to the BMW X1's 75 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: reliability (Kia Sportage ahead by 11 points), value (Kia Sportage ahead by 7 points). Warranty: 5 years on the BMW X1, 7 on the Kia Sportage.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$155/wk(≈$671/mo)
Estimate on the Kia Sportage at $38,490 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X1Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BMW X1 and Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage is the cheapest at $38,490 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BMW X1 by $23,310.
Which is safest?
They are evenly matched on crash rating: BMW X1 and Kia Sportage all hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating (tested 2022). Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which has the most boot space?
The Kia Sportage has the largest boot at 543L with the seats up (1,829L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The BMW X1 has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,700kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia Sportage has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Track the BMW X1 & Kia Sportage
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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