2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs. 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid Comparison – Kelley Blue Book

Shopping for a new SUV can mean budgeting for economy-car-like fuel bills. That’s at least true when the two vehicles on your shopping list are the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid and the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid. Each has the commanding driving position, roomy cargo hold, and available all-wheel drive (AWD) that SUV buyers love. Even better, they’re not only fuel sippers; they’re both happy to run on a diet of regular-grade gasoline. 

Still fresh from a redesign for the 2023 model year, the 2024 CR-V Hybrid impresses most with its attractive cabin, easy-to-use tech, and robust overall feeling of quality. The 2024 Sportage Hybrid is also a relative newbie that has an eye-catching exterior with bold LED lighting, many driver assist features, and class-leading cargo volume.

Let’s look more in-depth at the highlights of the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Kia Sportage Hybrid.

2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The CR-V Hybrid starts at $35,400, including factory-to-dealer destination fees. Trim levels consist of the Sport, Sport-L, and Sport Touring. You can choose front- or all-wheel drive on the Sport and Sport-L, while the Sport Touring has all-wheel drive standard. 

As you would expect, fuel economy is a bragging point. At its most frugal, the CR-V Hybrid returns an EPA-rated 40 mpg combined. Relaxing to drive and with plenty of adult-friendly space inside, the CR-V Hybrid is a tough SUV to beat. 

Honda CR-V Hybrid Highlights 

Cargo volume: The CR-V Hybrid over-delivers in terms of load-lugging capability. Behind the split-folding second-row seats are 39.3 cubic feet of room. This is oh-so-nearly identical to the generous amount of space afforded by the Sportage Hybrid.

Value-packed Sport-L model: A new addition to the CR-V Hybrid this model year, the Sport-L comes with several desirable extras like wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, a wireless charging pad, a power liftgate, front and rear parking sensors, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an 8-speaker audio system.

Driving refinement: From behind the wheel, the CR-V Hybrid is an able and willing driving companion. The steering is light, making maneuvering this SUV simple and stress-free. Its 204-horsepower hybrid powertrain also provides snappy acceleration when merging into traffic or during highway passing maneuvers. And unlike the Sportage Hybrid, all CR-V Hybrid models include adaptive cruise control. 

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CR-V Hybrid models for sale near you. 

2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2024 Sportage Hybrid starts at $29,965, significantly below the entry-level CR-V Hybrid. Make no mistake: Kia hasn’t kept the price down by getting stingy with comfort, safety, or tech features. 

There are three trims – LX, EX, and SX Prestige – and standard on every one is dual-zone climate control, a digital instrument cluster, smartphone connectivity, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high-beam headlights. 

Kia Sportage Hybrid Highlights 

Outstanding fuel economy: As good as the CR-V Hybrid is in terms of fuel economy, the Sportage Hybrid is a little better. In front-wheel-drive form, it returns an EPA-rated 43 mpg combined or 38 mpg combined when equipped with all-wheel drive. Each is about 1-3 MPGs more than its Honda rival. 

Luxury-like SX Prestige model: If you hide the badges and climb aboard the Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige, you could think you’ve landed in a luxury vehicle. It comes in at just under $39,000, including destination fee, and is packed with goodies like heated and ventilated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, multi-color ambient cabin lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and a Harman Kardon audio system.

Excellent warranty coverage: Don’t look now, Honda shoppers, because the Sportage Hybrid is about to kick sand into the eyes of the CR-V Hybrid. Well, the sand, in this case, would be the Kia’s class-leading 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sportage Hybrid models for sale near you. 

Similarities

The similarly sized CR-V Hybrid and Sportage Hybrid are smart picks for anyone who wants the most SUV for their money. They can haul tons of stuff, each has plenty of room for tall adults in the first and second rows, and their gasoline-drinking habits are downright miserly. 

Conclusion

Get the syrup and butter because it sure is easy to waffle between these two superb SUVs. They exude refinement and are comfortable for any driving demands. Cargo space is a virtual dead heat, and fuel economy is so close that neither has a major advantage in terms of MPGs.

What might seal the deal for some folks is the fact the Sportage Hybrid has a starting price thousands less than the Honda. However, the gap narrows a bit when comparing the price of each SUV’s range-topping trim against the other.  

The Kia pulls ahead regarding warranty coverage, but the Honda counters by recently winning our Best Buy Award in its segment and being named among our Best Family Car awards. Sorry for the waffle joke, but you can see there isn’t a wrong choice to be made here.