2016 Kia Sportage vs. Its Competition

Kirk Bell Senior Editor

A quality cabin and available turbo power are two of the main points that separate the Kia Sportage from most of its competitors.

However, many rivals are larger inside.

The Honda CR-V makes the most of its interior space and reputation for durability, and fuel economy's quite good.

The Nissan Rogue has good space and a healthy feature set, though its continuously variable transmission doesn't make it feel all that lively.

The Chevy Equinox is noticeably bigger than the Sportage and its second-row seat slides for flexible interior space, but the 4-cylinder model gets the same top EPA highway rating as the Sportage.

There's also the Ford Escape, which has very sporty handling and styling, as well as features that will awe some and confuse others.

Mazda's CX-5 is easily the most engaging in this segment, but even its optional larger engine can't keep up with the Kia's turbo.

The Hyundai Tucson is a sister vehicle to the Sportage, but its brand new redesign gives it more space, a higher level of refinement, and the latest crash-prevention technologies.