Renault Duster vs Kia Sportage

The Renault Duster starts from $31,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia Sportage opens at $38,490. That makes the Renault Duster the more affordable entry point by $6,500.

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 $35,189 and $42,339 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Renault Duster and Kia Sportage hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 70% for the Renault Duster and 87% for the Kia Sportage.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Kia Sportage packs more ADAS features with 3 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 2 in the Renault Duster.

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

The Renault Duster features a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-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 Renault Duster uses a Petrol producing 130kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.2 seconds.

The Kia Sportage responds with a Petrol making 115kW and 192Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

The Renault Duster has the clear power advantage at 130kW vs 115kW. In the real-world sprint, the Kia Sportage is 1.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Renault Duster measures 4,345mm long on a 2,657mm wheelbase, 340mm 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 475L in the Renault Duster and 543L in the Kia Sportage, giving the Kia Sportage a 68L advantage.

For towing, the Kia Sportage leads with a 1,650kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 150kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,938/year for the Renault Duster and $1,767/year for the Kia Sportage. That is a $171 annual difference in favour of the Kia Sportage.

Estimated annual total: $1,938 (Renault Duster) vs $1,767 (Kia Sportage). The Kia Sportage saves you roughly $171 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Renault Duster) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Sportage). The Kia Sportage has longer coverage.