Subaru Crosstrek vs Kia Sportage

The Subaru Crosstrek starts from $38,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia Sportage opens at $38,490. That makes the Kia Sportage the more affordable entry point by $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 $42,889 and $42,339 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Subaru Crosstrek by roughly $1,285 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. We can confirm 5 of 10 key ADAS systems on both.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 9 in the Subaru Crosstrek and 7 in the Kia Sportage.

The Subaru Crosstrek features a 11.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-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 Subaru Crosstrek stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats and power tailgate — features our data doesn't list for 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.

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.

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 291L in the Subaru Crosstrek and 543L in the Kia Sportage, giving the Kia Sportage a 252L advantage.

For towing, the Kia Sportage leads with a 1,650kg braked capacity vs 1,400kg. That 250kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,052/year for the Subaru Crosstrek and $2,309/year for the Kia Sportage. That is a $257 annual difference in favour of the Subaru Crosstrek.

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