Ford Kuga vs. Kia Sportage: Which Is Better?

The Kia Sportage and Ford Kuga are two of the most popular small SUVs in the UK. They both became popular around the same time, so they’ve had plenty of time to grow and compete against each other. There’s a good selection of used Ford and Kia models available, so you can always find a great deal on your next car.

Both cars are more than capable, no matter if you’re heading to the shops or venturing off-road for a while. But is one better than the other?

Performance

Kia Sportage

Both the Sportage and the Kuga offer a range of powertrains, including regular hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and petrol and mild-hybrid options. Diesel engines are no longer available in the latest models, but you might still find some older Kuga models with them.

When it comes to petrol engines, both cars perform similarly — they achieve around 40mpg and complete the 0-62mph sprint in just over 10 seconds. You might expect the Kuga’s 2.5-litre hybrid engine to be more powerful than the Sportage’s 1.6-litre hybrid. However, thanks to their turbochargers, the Sportage HEV and PHEV actually accelerate a bit quicker off the line.

Ford Kuga

For those interested in the electric-only range, the plug-in hybrid Sportage has a slight advantage. The Kia PHEV claims a 43-mile electric range, and the Ford PHEV offers 35 miles. So, if you’re looking for more electric driving, the Sportage might be the better choice. To be fair, the Kia HEV isn’t exactly leading the pack when it comes to range, managing only 34 miles on electric power.

Price

The current prices for the used Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage are fairly close, but there are a few differences.

The Kuga is typically priced at around £20,623, with an average age of 4 years and about 28,472 miles on the clock. The Sportage, on average, costs £18,247. It’s usually a relatively new model, averaging 3 years old (so, a year difference with the average Kuga), and has less mileage at 26,173 miles. Of course, there are examples for the same money, and a new car will go for significantly more in either case.

Styling

The Ford Kuga and Sportage each have their own style, but they go about it in very different ways. The Kuga is more understated and has a sleek, polished look that’s perfect for those who appreciate a more classic design. It has rounded headlights and a wide grille that shares a similar look to the Ford Focus. If you want a sportier feel, the ST-Line body kit adds a touch of flair to match its sharp handling.

As for the Sportage, it’s impossible to miss. The bold design of the Sportage catches the eye with its boomerang-shaped LED lights that stretch across the front. These actually highlight the hidden headlights that blend with the grille. At the back, the styling continues with tapered tail lights and a strip of black plastic that helps the car maintain a grounded look. It may be too bold for some, though.

Ford’s clever decision to remove the rugged SUV feel and market the Kuga as a larger hatch worked well. It offers the best of both worlds — more space and comfort than a hatchback without the size and bulk of a full-sized SUV.

Driving

The Kia Sportage handles corners well, with a good grip and a stable body. The steering is smooth, and even though the handling is safe and predictable, it doesn’t offer much excitement. The ride is a bit firmer than some competitors, and on models with the larger 19-inch wheels, it feels a bit bumpy on rough roads or potholes. It’s competent, but it’s not always the smoothest ride.

On the plus side, the Sportage is quite refined, especially on the motorway, with minimal wind or road noise. However, the diesel engines do make a slightly gravelly sound in city driving.

In comparison, the Ford Kuga is different, providing a surprisingly agile and smooth ride. It handles more like a hatchback than an SUV, with good control and the ability to absorb larger bumps with ease. It feels a little less steady on uneven town roads, but overall, the Kuga offers an enjoyable ride.

Interior

Kia Sportage

Inside the Sportage, the driving position is comfortable and suits drivers of all sizes. The view is clear, and even though the dashboard features a mix of matte and glossy plastics, it feels solid and well-built. Just know that it doesn’t have the luxury feel of some competitors. The vibe is mostly practical. It could be argued that KIA has a cooler inside layout, but some say it feels overpriced for what you get.

Every model comes with a large, vibrant 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and if you pay extra, the higher-end ‘3’ trim includes a matching 12.3-inch digital instrument display as well.

Ford Kuga

In the Kuga, the Zetec trim comes with traditional analogue dials, which are clear and easy to read. However, if you opt for higher trims, you get a 12.3-inch digital display, which adds a modern touch to the cabin and lets you customise the information you see. However, the plastics lower down in the cabin feel less premium compared to the rest of the interior.

Technology

The Kia Sportage offers a range of tech across its trims. The 2/KX-2 trim includes a 7-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and smartphone integration. The 3/KX-3 upgrades to an 8-inch touchscreen and adds a premium JBL audio system. Higher trims like the 4/KX-4 offer a heated steering wheel plus advanced features like a reversing camera, autonomous braking, and blind-spot monitoring, and the KX-5 adds wireless phone charging and automatic parking assistance.

The Ford Kuga starts with cruise control and a basic infotainment system on the Zetec trim but offers an 8-inch touchscreen upgrade. The Titanium trim brings enhanced infotainment, dual-zone climate control, and rear parking sensors. The Kuga ST-Line offers a self-parking system, and finally, the range-topping Vignale trim includes an automatic tailgate plus advanced tech like perpendicular parking assist and adaptive xenon headlights.

If you don’t need the latest model, the previous Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage are still great choices tech-wise. You’ll get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for phone connection, plus dual-zone climate control, cruise control, automatic lights, a reversing camera, and heated seats.

Boot Space and Practicality

The Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage offer decent boot spaces with the rear seats up, but the Kuga is behind with 412 litres compared to the Sportage’s 591 litres. However, the Kuga pulls ahead when the seats are folded down, as it gains 175 extra litres of cargo space for a total of 1,481 litres. The Sportage, with the seats down, offers 1,780 litres.

Keep in mind that plug-in hybrid versions of both models will have slightly less boot space because of the battery technology.

In terms of practicality, the Kuga’s longer design provides more room for passengers, especially in the rear. Still, both cars offer plenty of space for four adults and can comfortably accommodate five on shorter trips.

Safety and Reliability

Both the Kuga and Sportage offer strong safety features, and they earned top ratings in crash tests by Euro NCAP (Kia) and ANCAP (Ford). Each comes with at least six airbags (seven in the Kuga) and ISOFIX child seat anchors, along with stability and traction control as standard. Some older models won’t have all the latest safety tech, but each was designed to protect you in a crash.

Both Kia and Ford are known for building reliable vehicles, so you can trust that all their cars will perform well over time. The Ford Kuga comes with a 4-year or 75,000-mile warranty, and Kia offers a 5-year or 93,000-mile warranty.

When it comes to servicing, Ford’s long-term reliability is supplemented with a 6-year or 56,000-mile plan, and Kia provides a 5-year or 56,000-mile service plan. The Kuga’s longer service plan helps make up for its shorter warranty. Overall, it’s a close race.

Running Costs

The Kia Sportage offers solid fuel economy, particularly with its diesel engines. The 114bhp 1.7-litre diesel delivers a claimed 61.4mpg, and the 128bhp 1.6-litre petrol offers 44.8mpg. The 1.6-litre diesel variants are also fairly efficient — the 114bhp version reaches 53.3mpg, and the 134bhp version delivers 49.6mpg. The 182bhp 2.0-litre diesel is less economical — 40.9mpg.

Road tax is a flat £190 per year, with an additional £410 for luxury car tax if the vehicle originally cost more than £40,000.

The Ford Kuga is also efficient, particularly the 1.5 TDCi diesel, which offers 54.3mpg. The 2.0 TDCi diesel does slightly worse at 47.9mpg, and the 1.5 Ecoboost petrol achieves 45.6mpg. The 182bhp petrol version with 4x4 and an automatic gearbox drops to 37.7mpg.

Road tax is a flat £155 per year. For older models, it varies depending on emissions. The 1.5-litre diesel, for example, produces 143g/km, and the 1.5-litre petrol with 4x4 emits 171g/km.

Dimensions

You get more overall space with the Kuga, which is 99 mm longer and 18 mm wider than the Sportage. Even further, the Sportage is 16 mm shorter in height, so it’s slightly more compact in this category, too.

Ford Kuga

• 4,614 mm in length
• 1,883 mm in width
• 1,666 mm in height

Kia Sportage

• 4,515 mm in length
• 1,865 mm in width
• 1,650 mm in height

Who Is Ford Kuga for?

The Ford Kuga is for someone who needs a practical SUV for daily life but still enjoys a bit of driving excitement. Prioritise this model if you’re someone who commutes during the week but also enjoys weekend getaways or road trips. It’s hard to imagine anyone who would actually dislike the Kuga.

Who Is Kia Sportage for?

The Kia Sportage is ideal for those who need a comfortable and reliable car for family life or longer drives. It’s a great option if you’re someone who frequently heads out on trips or needs a car that can handle a busy lifestyle.

The Sportage is an award-winning car, so there’s really no bad choice if you’re interested in a compact SUV.

Final Words: Sportage or Kuga? Your Best Option

By now, after reading our comparison, you’ve probably made up your mind, but if you’re still unsure, we’ll give you a short verdict. If you want a practical, spacious family SUV with plenty of boot space and a stylish design, the Kuga is a solid choice. It really does tick all the right boxes.

However, if a full-sized SUV feels like too much, the Sportage could be the better option for you. It’s easy to drive and handles well, even on those narrow British B-roads.

The Kia strategy has an interesting twist — it heavily focuses on how cool Kia looks, whereas Ford is targeting practicality. That said, neither brand lacks in these areas, and both offer strong arguments.