Kia Sportage vs KGM Rexton

The Kia Sportage starts from $38,490 before on-road costs, while the KGM Rexton opens at $50,000. That makes the Kia Sportage the more affordable entry point by $11,510.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $42,339 and $55,000 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Kia Sportage by roughly $3,565 in fuel alone.

Both the Kia Sportage and KGM Rexton hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The KGM Rexton packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 3 in the Kia Sportage.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Kia Sportage and 6 in the KGM Rexton.

The Kia Sportage features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 4-inch digital dash, while the KGM Rexton gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Kia Sportage stands out with Apple CarPlay that you will not find on the KGM Rexton. The KGM Rexton counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, power tailgate and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Kia Sportage uses a Petrol producing 115kW and 192Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The KGM Rexton responds with a Turbo DDi Diesel making 149kW and 441Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.5 seconds.

The KGM Rexton has the clear power advantage at 149kW vs 115kW. In the real-world sprint, the Kia Sportage is 3.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Kia Sportage measures 4,685mm long on a 2,755mm wheelbase, 165mm shorter than the KGM Rexton at 4,850mm (2,865mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the KGM Rexton generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 543L in the Kia Sportage and 236L in the KGM Rexton, giving the Kia Sportage a 307L advantage. The KGM Rexton seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the KGM Rexton leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,650kg. That 1,850kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,767/year for the Kia Sportage and $2,480/year for the KGM Rexton. That is a $713 annual difference in favour of the Kia Sportage.

Estimated annual total: $1,767 (Kia Sportage) vs $2,480 (KGM Rexton). The Kia Sportage saves you roughly $713 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Sportage) vs 7 years / 999,999km (KGM Rexton). Both match on warranty length.