Kia Sportage Enters the Compact SUV Arena
Kia Sportage vs Honda CR-V
Warranty coverage close to double. A larger screen that comes standard. A sticker price that’s easier on the wallet.
Put the compact SUV segment’s two biggest names side by side and the picture gets clear fast. Honda’s CR-V has sold well for years, but the Kia Sportage counters with a powertrain warranty that runs far longer, a touchscreen that’s bigger on every trim, a lower starting price, and a current IIHS Top Safety Pick+ — Honda’s main counter is its long track record for reliability. Get the complete rundown below, courtesy of Dean McCrary Kia Hattiesburg, right where I-59, US-49, US-98, and US-11 come together.
10yr/100kKia powertrain warranty
187 hpStandard 2.5L GDI engine
$28,690Starting MSRP*
5Seats standard
2,500 lbMax towing, properly equipped
TSP+2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+
The Short Version
The Sportage Pulls Ahead for Four Reasons
Line the Kia Sportage up against the Honda CR-V and it pulls ahead in the areas Pine Belt families actually care about day in and day out: coverage, built-in technology, overall value, and up-to-date safety honors. Below is the quick take before we dig into every detail.
Warranty Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs Honda’s 5yr/60k
Honda’s powertrain coverage is roughly half of Kia’s ten-year, 100,000-mile protection — twice the miles before the clock runs out.
Value Leader
$2,230lower start
$28,690 vs ~$30,920 CR-V LX
Every buyer gets a bigger screen built in, and the Sportage’s starting price undercuts the competition.
Standard Tech
12.3″every trim
CR-V’s standard screen is 9″
A 12.3-inch touchscreen comes standard across the whole Sportage lineup. Honda did bump the CR-V’s base screen up to 9 inches for 2026 — but that’s still smaller than what the Sportage offers on every single trim.
Award Leader
TSP+IIHS, 2025
2026 CR-V missed IIHS’s list
IIHS handed the current-generation Sportage its Top Safety Pick+ honor; the 2026 CR-V, meanwhile, didn’t make the 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick list at all.
Browse the Lineup
Every Sportage Trim, Plus This Month’s Deals
Want a closer look? Choose a trim below to find out what it brings that the CR-V doesn’t — along with current, live offers straight from our Hattiesburg lot this month.
What It Costs
Trim Lineup & Starting Price
Starting from the base trim, the Sportage asks less and delivers a larger touchscreen. The CR-V’s counterargument: a broader hybrid selection and Honda’s long-standing name for reliability.
Configuration
Kia Sportage2027 Est.*
Honda CR-V2026
Starting MSRP*
$28,690Lower Start
~$30,920
Trim Range
LX → X-Pro Prestige (6 trims)
LX → Sport Touring Hybrid (up to ~$42,250)
Powertrains
Gas standard (Hybrid & PHEV available elsewhere in lineup)
Gas + Hybrid
Standard Touchscreen
12.3″ (every trim)Bigger Std
9″ standard, all trims
Off-Road / Notable Trim
X-Line, X-Pro Prestige (standard/active AWD)
TrailSport Hybrid (standard AWD)
Drivetrain
FWD standard, AWD available
FWD standard, AWD available (standard on TrailSport, Sport Touring)
Power & Fuel Economy
Horsepower Is Close. Coverage Isn’t.
A few horsepower is all that separates these two engines. Honda’s hybrid trims do offer real fuel-economy gains, yet when you run the ownership numbers, the Sportage still wins — a much longer warranty and a lower price tag see to that.
Kia Sportage
2.5L GDI — Standard Gas
- 2.5L GDI I4 — 187 hp / 178 lb-ft
- 8-speed automatic
- Standard FWD, available AWD
- Sportage Hybrid & Sportage PHEV available separately
Honda CR-V
Gas & Hybrid
- 1.5L Turbo I4 — 190 hp
- 2.0L Hybrid — 204 hp combined
- CVT (gas) / e-CVT (hybrid)
- Standard FWD, available AWD
Powertrain Spec
Kia Sportage
Honda CR-V
Base Horsepower
187 hp (2.5L gas)
190 hp (1.5L turbo)
Combined Fuel Economy (est.)
~26–28 MPG (gas)
~29–30 MPG (gas) / ~40 MPG (hybrid)
Max Towing
2,500 lb, properly equippedRated to Tow
Not rated for towing ⚠
Powertrain Warranty
10yr / 100,000 mi2× the Coverage
5yr / 60,000 mi
Everyday Livability
What Actually Matters Once You’re Driving It
As practical compact SUVs, both hold up well. What sets the Sportage apart is warranty coverage, screen size, and price; what sets the CR-V apart is the decades of trust Honda has built up.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs Honda’s 60k-mile powertrain
Kia backs the powertrain for ten years or 100,000 miles — nearly double the miles Honda covers, and real peace of mind built right in.
Value
$2,230lower start
Sportage LX vs CR-V LX
More screen, less money — a bigger touchscreen standard and a lower price tag right from the base trim.
Capability
2,500 lbrated towing
CR-V isn’t rated to tow
Properly equipped, the Sportage can tow as much as 2,500 pounds — enough for a small camper, a trailer, or gear the CR-V simply isn’t set up to haul.
Screens & Safety Systems
A Larger Display. A More Current Safety Honor.
Neither vehicle skimps on driver-assist tech straight from the factory. Where the Sportage pulls ahead is screen size for every buyer, plus an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ the CR-V hasn’t matched in the current cycle.
Kia Sportage
Standard on every trim from LX to X-Pro Prestige: a 12.3″ touchscreen
The complete Kia driver-assist suite, standard starting at the base LX
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, included standard
A 360° camera and premium tech package, available as options
Named a 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+
Powertrain protection for 10 years / 100,000 miles
Tow rating of up to 2,500 lb when properly equipped
Honda CR-V
Standard touchscreen measures 9″ — smaller than the Sportage’s, trim for trim
Every trim includes the Honda Sensing driver-assist suite standard
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard as well
Sport and Sport Touring Hybrid trims available, rated up to an estimated 43 MPG city
Missed out on 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick recognition
Powertrain coverage runs 5 years / 60,000 miles
Carries no tow rating ⚠
Third-Party Recognition
What the Award Bodies Say
Both models have been tested and scrutinized by reviewers for years running. Here’s what each has picked up most recently — including the spot where Honda genuinely comes out on top.
IIHS · 2025
Top Safety Pick+
IIHS’s top honor for the current-generation Sportage, applying to units built after May 2025.
Kelley Blue Book
Highest-Rated Compact SUVs List
For 2026, Kelley Blue Book’s editorial team places the Sportage among the top-rated compact SUVs — right alongside the CR-V.
U.S. News & World Report
2026 Best Compact SUV for Families Finalist
U.S. News named it one of 2026’s top compact SUVs for families.
Honda’s Real Strength
Reliability Reputation & Resale Value
Decades of dependable CR-Vs have earned Honda real goodwill, and resale values have stayed strong along with it — a legitimate edge for anyone whose top priority is long-term ownership cost.
Still Weighing the CR-V? Test-Drive the Sportage First.
Check out every in-stock Sportage trim, find out what your current SUV is really worth, and experience the difference firsthand — all in a single visit, right here in the Hub City.
Questions People Ask About Sportage vs CR-V
Is the Kia Sportage better than the Honda CR-V?⌄
If value is what matters most to you, then generally yes. Warranty is where the Sportage leads first — Kia backs the powertrain for 10-year/100,000-mile against Honda’s 5-year/60,000-mile term — and it also has the CR-V beat on screen size (12.3-inch standard on every trim vs Honda’s 9-inch screen), starting cost, and current safety honors, having taken home a 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ that the 2026 CR-V missed out on. That said, the CR-V is still a solid, dependable choice that holds its value well — it just doesn’t win on coverage or price. Browse live Sportage inventory here.
Which has more power, the Sportage or the CR-V?⌄
By a slim margin, Honda takes this one: the CR-V’s standard 1.5L turbo produces 190 hp, just a few ticks above the Sportage’s 187-hp 2.5L engine (Honda’s hybrid trims reach 204 hp combined). Either way, it’s a minor gap — most shoppers will notice the Sportage’s stronger low-end torque feel and lower price tag far more than a handful of missing horsepower.
Does the Honda CR-V have a bigger touchscreen than the Sportage?⌄
It doesn’t. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard equipment across the entire Sportage lineup. Honda did grow the 2026 CR-V’s standard screen to 9 inches (and the range-topping EX-L gets a larger 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster), but the touchscreen itself remains smaller than the Sportage’s no matter which trim you pick.
Is the Kia Sportage cheaper than the Honda CR-V?⌄
It is. An LX Sportage starts around an estimated $28,690 MSRP, compared to roughly $30,920 for the base CR-V LX (destination not included on either figure) — and that lower price still comes with the bigger standard touchscreen and Kia’s complete driver-assist suite on every trim.
What is the warranty difference between Kia and Honda?⌄
Kia pulls well ahead here: 10 years / 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, compared to Honda’s 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain and 3 years / 36,000 miles limited — the same factory coverage on every new Sportage at Dean McCrary Kia.
What does the Honda CR-V do better?⌄
Honda’s reputation for reliability and its strong resale numbers are genuine, well-documented advantages, and the Sport/Sport Touring Hybrid trims post excellent fuel economy figures — up to an estimated 43 MPG city. Anyone prioritizing resale value or hybrid efficiency should give the CR-V a serious look. On warranty, standard screen size, starting price, and the current IIHS Top Safety Pick+ honor, though, the Sportage is out front.
Where can I compare the Sportage and CR-V near Hattiesburg, MS?⌄
Head to Dean McCrary Kia, 7124 US Hwy 98 in Hattiesburg, where the full Sportage lineup is on the lot — an easy trip from Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, Columbia, and the rest of the Pine Belt. Stop by and experience the comparison firsthand.
Pine Belt · Sportage vs CR-V
In the Market for a Compact SUV Near Hattiesburg?
From Petal to Purvis, Dean McCrary Kia serves Pine Belt families with the deepest Sportage selection around — right at the point where I-59, US-49, US-98, and US-11 converge. Weighing the Honda CR-V too? Here’s why this is the place to begin.
- Live inventory of every Sportage trim — LX through X-Pro Prestige
- A fair number on your trade — value your current SUV in minutes
- Upfront pricing and Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty on every new Sportage
- Kia-certified service, factory maintenance, and genuine parts
Dean McCrary Kia
Address7124 US Hwy 98, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Sales(601) 544-4007
Sales HoursMon–Sat 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Sources & Verification
This comparison pits the 2026 Honda CR-V against the Kia Sportage (2027 model year, provisional; since Kia hasn’t published a newer sheet, the last official 2026 pricing is used as the closest available reference). Specs and pricing come from manufacturer sources (kia.com, hondanews.com) along with Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Car and Driver, current as of the publication date. Figures shown for MSRP are base numbers only, before destination, taxes, title, and dealer fees, and adding AWD, hybrid powertrains, or higher trims will raise the price. Horsepower, torque, towing capacity, and payload are separate specs that may not all be achievable at once. Fuel economy figures are EPA estimates provided for comparison purposes only — actual mileage will vary.
Honda Motor Co. holds the trademarks to Honda, CR-V, Honda Sensing, and TrailSport; mentions of Kia and Sportage here are purely descriptive, for comparison purposes. This page represents the dealership’s own perspective and is meant for informational use only. Offers and pricing can change at any time — reach out to Dean McCrary Kia to confirm current numbers.
Dean McCrary Kia, Hattiesburg MS — Kia Sportage Compared to Honda CR-V
Set against the Honda CR-V, the Kia Sportage holds the edge in warranty length (10 years/100,000 miles powertrain vs 5 years/60,000 miles), standard touchscreen size (12.3 inches on every trim vs a 9-inch standard display), starting price (an estimated $28,690 vs $30,920), and current safety honors (a 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, which the 2026 CR-V didn’t receive). Honda answers back with its reliability reputation and strong resale numbers. The Sportage lineup is in stock at Dean McCrary Kia in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, serving Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, and the wider Pine Belt.