Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage
Compact SUVs · head to head, 2010–2027
The Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage were both sold for 18 model years (2010–2027). Among the Tucson's own years, its best bet is 2024; years to avoid: 2016–2017; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024. Among the Sportage's own years, its best bet is 2022; years to avoid: 2012–2013, 2017; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025.
Hyundai Tucson
SUV · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2024
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid 2016–2017
- Be careful 2025
Kia Sportage
SUV · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2022
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid 2012–2013, 2017
- Be careful 2011
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Tucson year says nothing about whether it beats a Sportage. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Hyundai Tucson | Kia Sportage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | TOO NEWOnly 0.2 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.8× usual, mostly collision avoidance and brakes | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2024 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly speed control and collision avoidance | Side by side |
| 2023 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and brakes | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2018 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and power train | Side by side |
| 2017 | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.5× usual, mostly engine and power train | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.8× usual, mostly engine and power train | Side by side |
| 2016 | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.3× usual, mostly power train and engine | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and brakes | Side by side |
| 2015 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and brakes | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and brakes | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.8× usual, mostly engine and brakes | Side by side |
| 2012 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.6× usual, mostly engine and power train | Side by side |
| 2011 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly engine and power train | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year with full data, at a glance
Newer years (up to 2027) have thinner price and equipment data for one or both models, so this table uses 2026. Use "Compare any year" above for the others.
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 2026 Kia Sportage | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | TOO NEW | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $29,450 to $48,550 base price by trim, 14 trims | $28,790 to $47,190 base price by trim, 13 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybrid, 178 hp 1.6L 4-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid, 178 hp 2.5L 4-cyl, 187 hp | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybrid 1.6L 4-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid 2.5L 4-cyl |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 26–38 mpg | 24–42 mpg |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Third row | No | No |
| Cargo behind last row | 31.9–38.7 cu ft | 39.6 cu ft |
| Max cargo | 66.3–74.8 cu ft | — |
| Max towing | 2,000–2,750 lb | 2,500 lb |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 5 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 5 · 90 | 1 · 37 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Tucson SE lowest price, $29,450 | Tucson Plug-in Hybrid Limited highest price, $48,550 | Sportage LX lowest price, $28,790 | Sportage Plug-In Hybrid X-Line Prestige highest price, $47,190 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | — | Standard |
| Heated front seats | — | Standard | Varies | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Remote start | — | — | Standard | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (Tucson, Sportage).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Hyundai Tucson
41 manufacturer programs on file: 13 extended coverage, 28 repair programs.
- Extended coverage The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement regarding engine damage or malfunction from connecting rod bearing wear has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use,… (22-EM-006H-2, 2010–2015 models)
- Extended coverage Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage… (Z05, 2017–2021 models)
- Extended coverage Some Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended… (26-BD-002H, 2017–2021 models)
- Extended coverage Certain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been… (25-BD-004H, 2017–2021 models)
Kia Sportage
36 manufacturer programs on file: 9 extended coverage, 27 repair programs.
- Extended coverage dealer parts and service manager memo: wty007 - 2011-2014 my sportage 2.0l turbo gdi & 2.4l gdi engine - effective immediately, kia motors america, inc. Has extended the warranty coverage of the kia new vehicle limited warranty for the… (WTY007DEALERPSM, 2011–2014 models)
- Extended coverage Request for reimbursement form: wty007 - 20112014 my sportage 2.0l turbo gdi & 2.4l gdi engine warranty extension program - if you have paid to have your engine repaired/replaced due to connecting rod failure, you may be eligible for… (WTY007FORM, 2011–2014 models)
- Extended coverage This warranty extension addresses issues with connecting rod wear which results in knocking noise from the engine. In order to maintain these standards, kia is extending the warranty coverage, to all owners, for the engines short block… (WTY007OWNER, 2011–2014 models)
- Extended coverage WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY047) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to… (WTY047, 2023–2025 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2010, 2014–2015, 2018–2024. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2016: the Sportage is rated good buy (serious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and brakes), while the Tucson is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.3× usual, mostly power train and engine). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2013: the Tucson is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.8× usual), while the Sportage is rated avoid (serious complaints 2.8× usual, mostly engine and brakes). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2012: the Tucson is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.9× usual), while the Sportage is rated avoid (serious complaints 2.6× usual, mostly engine and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Tucson 2016–2017; Sportage 2012–2013, 2017.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Tucson 2024; Sportage 2025.
- Third row: neither has one in 2026.
- Lower starting price in 2026: the Sportage, from $28,790 against $29,450. Prices are the maker's listed base prices, not what dealers charge.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: Sportage at 42 mpg (Tucson: 38), for the most efficient version of each.
- Towing: up to 2,750 lb for the Tucson in 2026, against 2,500 lb for the Sportage.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.