Kia Sportage vs Toyota Kluger

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP lists the Kia Sportage at 5 stars (2022) and the Toyota Kluger at 5 stars (2021). ANCAP tested these in different years (2022 vs 2021). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 87% for the Kia Sportage and 90% for the Toyota Kluger, under different test years.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 5 of 10 key ADAS systems on both.

Both include the essentials: lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Kia Sportage and 7 in the Toyota Kluger.

Recalls on our record

A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

Feature Showdown

The Kia Sportage features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 4-inch digital dash, while the Toyota Kluger gets a 8-inch display and 7-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

Drivetrain

The Kia Sportage uses a Petrol producing 115kW and 192Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout.

The Toyota Kluger responds with a 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid making 184kW and 242Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

The Toyota Kluger has the clear power advantage at 184kW vs 115kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Kia Sportage measures 4,685mm long on a 2,755mm wheelbase, 281mm shorter than the Toyota Kluger at 4,966mm (2,850mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Toyota Kluger generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 543L in the Kia Sportage and 241L in the Toyota Kluger, giving the Kia Sportage a 302L advantage. Fold the rears and you get 1829L vs 1150L. The Toyota Kluger seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Toyota Kluger leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,650kg. That 350kg 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); both turn in a 11.4 m circle, 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 Kia Sportage costs about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km) and fuel for the Toyota Kluger about $1,596 a year (5.6 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $713 a year less for the Toyota Kluger.

Warranty: 7 years / Unlimited (Kia Sportage) and 5 years / Unlimited (Toyota Kluger).

Where each one leads

The Kia Sportage: the lower starting price ($38,490 against $62,410), the bigger boot with the seats up (543L against 241L) and the longer warranty (7 years against 5).

The Toyota Kluger: more power (184kW against 115kW), the higher braked towing limit (2,000kg against 1,650kg) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,596 a year against $2,309).

The Verdict

Toyota Kluger scores higher, 78 vs 76

The Toyota Kluger scores 78 to the Kia Sportage's 76 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 6 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: fuel economy (Toyota Kluger ahead by 22 points), performance (Toyota Kluger ahead by 9 points), value (Kia Sportage ahead by 5 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Toyota Kluger costs about $713 less (5.6 L/100km against 8.1 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 543L in the Kia Sportage, 241L in the Toyota Kluger. Warranty: 7 years on the Kia Sportage, 5 on the Toyota Kluger.

Common questions