Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage: used car comparison

Published: 16 April 2024

The Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage are both great choices for family SUVs, but which one might be the best car for you?

Here we compare the strengths and weaknesses of each car to see which one we think is the better buy.

We’re looking at the previous generations of both cars – the Hyundai Tucson sold new from 2015 to 2020 and the Kia Sportage sold new from 2016 to 2021.

The Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage look quite different on the outside but they share many mechanical and electrical components because they have the same parent company, Hyundai Motor Group.

So it’s no surprise that they’re very similar in size. The Tucson is a centimetre shorter and three centimetres taller than the Sportage, while the widths are practically identical. Both are very similar in size to cars such as the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq.

The distinctive designs of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage continue inside these cars. The Tucson has a conventional look with an emphasis on functionality, comfort and ease of use. The Sportage has a bit more visual flair to it, although neither comes close to the futuristic interior of the Peugeot 3008.

Most models have a touchscreen infotainment system in the centre of the dash and both have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available, although you’ll have to check that the specific car you’re considering is fitted with it. All the later models include it as standard. Both systems are the same, and while they lack visual pizazz, they’re very easy to use.

When it comes to interior space, both the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage are, well, basically the same. You’d be very hard pressed to tell the difference in the back seats, but that’s fine because you get lots of space for two adults (even three at a squeeze) and acres of room for kids. Bear in mind that headroom in the back of both cars can be a bit tight for taller adults if you choose a car with a panoramic roof. Luckily, you can recline the back seats for extra comfort.

The Hyundai Tucson has the edge over the Kia Sportage when it comes to boot space, but not by much. With a capacity of 513 litres, the Tucson is competitive against other family SUVs of this size and will carry a large pushchair, a labrador or general family requirements.

The Sportage gives you 491 litres of boot space, although if you go for the 1.6-litre CRDi diesel model, it drops to 467 litres because of where the AdBlue tank is housed. That’s also true of the Tucson’s diesel four-wheel models, where space shrinks to 459 litres.

Both cars let you fold down the back seats for extra room, which gives you 1,503 litres of space in the Tucson and 1,480 litres in the Sportage. The back seats fold down in a 60/40 split on both cars.

The Hyundai Tucson gives you and your passengers a smooth ride and a relaxed experience, while the Kia Sportage – as its name hints – aims to deliver something that’s a little more engaging for the driver. Don’t expect a proper sportscar experience, or even anything as fun as the Seat Ateca, but the Kia definitely feels a bit more responsive and gives you good confidence when driving on winding roads, while maintaining a similarly comfortable ride.

These cars use the same range of engines and performance in both cars is adequate. With the lowest-powered engines you have to change gear a lot to get the best acceleration, but getting up to speed and maintaining it isn’t too much of a chore.

Because the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage come from the same parent company and share many components, there’s not much to choose between them when it comes to running costs. The fuel economy on both is solid, if not spectacular when compared to some rivals.

Depending on the engine and trim combination you go for, you’ll get up to 37.2mpg from a petrol Tucson and up to 49.6mpg from a diesel. The official figures are slightly better for the Sportage – up to 38.7mpg from the petrol models and up to 53.3mpg. Both cars had mild-hybrid versions of their diesel engines available on later models, which can help keep the fuel costs down.

Once again, there’s little to split the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage when it comes to safety and reliability. Both cars scored the maximum five stars when tested by the safety organisation Euro NCAP in 2015. We should note, however, that testing standards have moved on since then. In their time, however, both cars were top-class in terms of safety equipment and advanced driver safety systems, as well as how well they held up in crash tests.

When it comes to reliability, both brands have a very good reputation for building dependable cars, and both the Tucson and Sportage feature highly in numerous independent owner-satisfaction surveys. Both cars come with a longer-than-average manufacturer warranty – Kia’s covers the car for seven years from new, while Hyundai’s covers it for seven. In each case the warranty transfers to future owners, and is valid as long as the car has been serviced according to the manufacturer’s schedule and specifications.

Hyundai Tucson

Length: 4,475mm

Width: 1,850mm (excluding side mirrors)

Height: 1,660mm

Boot space: 513 litres

Kia Sportage

Length: 4,485mm

Width: 1,855mm (excluding side mirrors)

Height: 1,635mm

Boot space: 467-491 litres

Winner: Kia Sportage

Whether you choose a Hyundai Tucson or a Kia Sportage, you’re getting a very well-rounded, well-equipped, dependable and comfortable family SUV. Both have sold very well – and for good reason.

Which one is right for you depends on your priorities. The Tucson has the edge for space, practicality and comfort, while the Sportage gives you a more engaging driving experience, slightly better fuel economy and an interior with a more premium look and feel. For those reasons we think the Kia Sportage is the best car, but you really can’t go wrong with either of these excellent SUVs.

You’ll find lots of used cars for sale at Cazoo, all available to buy through our trusted dealers.

Cazoo makes selling a car just as easy – just enter a few details for an instant online valuation. If you accept the offer our partners will get in touch to arrange payment and collection of your car at a time that suits you.