Subaru Crosstrek vs Kia Sportage

The Subaru Crosstrek starts from $36,490 before on-road costs, while the Kia Sportage opens at $38,490. That makes the Subaru Crosstrek the more affordable entry point by $2,000.

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 $40,139 and $42,339 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Kia Sportage by roughly $2,140 in fuel alone.

Both the Subaru Crosstrek and Kia Sportage hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 83% for the Subaru Crosstrek and 87% for the Kia Sportage.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Subaru Crosstrek packs more ADAS features with 5 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 7 in the Subaru Crosstrek and 6 in the Kia Sportage.

The Subaru Crosstrek features a 11.6-inch touchscreen, while the Kia Sportage gets a 12.3-inch display and 4-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Subaru Crosstrek stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats and power tailgate that you will not find on the Kia Sportage. The Kia Sportage counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Subaru Crosstrek uses a Petrol producing 115kW and 196Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.9 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.

Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. In the real-world sprint, the Kia Sportage is 2.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Subaru Crosstrek measures 4,495mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 190mm 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 559L in the Subaru Crosstrek and 543L in the Kia Sportage, giving the Subaru Crosstrek a 16L advantage.

For towing, the Kia Sportage leads with a 1,650kg braked capacity vs 1,200kg. That 450kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,195/year for the Subaru Crosstrek and $1,767/year for the Kia Sportage. That is a $428 annual difference in favour of the Kia Sportage.

Estimated annual total: $2,195 (Subaru Crosstrek) vs $1,767 (Kia Sportage). The Kia Sportage saves you roughly $428 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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