Honda CR-V v Kia Sportage 2016 Comparison

Honda CR-V DTi-L LE Series II v Kia Sportage Platinum GT Line
Comparison Test

Like leg ham sandwiches days after Christmas, Australia's medium SUV segment is the gift that keeps on giving. But when will it stop? In the end, nobody can stand the sight of ham, right? Not yet. February saw 36,865 new SUVs sold, 15.1 per cent up on this time last year. And the two vehicles at hand, the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage are two most recently re-gifted to the Australian market. But which one is better? And why?

Among others the segment is home to the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-TRAIL and Hyundai Tucson – and with such solid competition, choosing the right SUV is no walk in the park.

History has seen them consistently similar in their sales efforts. But it's the Sportage that sneaks quietly ahead in most comparisons. With a refreshed offering again on the table, it's the Kia Sportage that is in the spotlight once again.

Let's see how it compares to Honda's recently refreshed CR-V Series II diesel.

The CR-V runs a 1.6-litre mill paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Sportage boasts a larger-capacity 2.0-litre engine, matched to a six-speed auto. The Sportage delivers 136kW/400Nm comparing favourably to the CR-Vs 118kW/350Nm.

The CR-V rides on 18-inch alloys with Michelin rubber, compared to 19-inch alloys wrapped in Hankooks. Both offer a full size spare, run common strut/multi-link suspension and offer electrically-assisted steering. If the story ended here, we'd back the Kia.

In the metal
Dimensionally, the difference between this pair is akin to splitting hairs.

The CR-V is fractionally longer and taller, but the Sportage is wider, and has a longer wheelbase. The Kia's ground clearance is 172mm, just 2mm up on the Honda.

But when we get inside it's the Kia that seems to offer more space. It's more accommodating second-row is especially evident, though we note the CR-V's reclining second-row seats are great for longer trips.

The Sportage feels more airy, with a panoramic roof, and ergonomically it's also a step ahead. Ease of entry and exit are lineball, and ride height is comparable. If we have to nitpick, it's the Honda that boasts a better H (or hip) point. But it's the Kia's driver's seat that is easier to set and forget, the Honda still being tweaked after hours at the wheel.

Both vehicles offer similar load capacity, the Kia's 466-litres taking second place to the CR-V's 556. Split-fold seats are common, as are anchor points and bag hooks.

The CR-V, however, offers more robust metal tie-down hooks and a 12-volt power outlet. It also features seat-fold levers in the boot to flip the rear seats flat. In the Kia, you'll need to walk around to the rear doors. In short, the CR-V does practicality well.

Hit the road, Jack
On the road our medium duo offer quite different characters. The CR-V brings a considered, conservative demeanour and is both competent and well-mannered in terms of ride. The Sportage, on the other hand, is more engaging and dynamically superior. Of course, this does come at the cost of a degree of ride comfort.

The Honda's engine gets the job done with little fuss, but the nine-speed gearbox is a little finicky. Unless you're pushing the speed limit, you'll struggle to rise beyond seventh gear, and it does jump between ratios more frequently than we'd like. The Kia's six-speeder is more decisive and able to hold gears longer to better maximise engine torque. It's a calmer transmission, and one that feels better suited to the task at hand.

We also preferred the steering feel of the Sportage. It's more accurate and inspires confidence in placing the car on tight, winding roads. The CR-V is arguably better suited to urban duties in this respect, the wheel lighter and easier to twirl when parking.

Power couple
In straight-line acceleration testing we find an intriguing set of results. The Kia is quicker initially, but the Honda improves later in the piece.

The dash from 0-60km/h takes just 4.4sec in the Sportage, 0.2sec faster than the CR-V. Continuing to 100km/h the Honda's stride increases, turning the advantage in its favour with a 10.4sec run – 0.2sec faster than the Kia.

Roll-on acceleration shows the pair is evenly matched, each taking 2.3sec to jump from 50-70km/h. The differential increases in the 80-100km/h jaunt, the CR-V stepping ahead with a 3.4sec run, 0.2sec faster than the Sportage.

An emergency stop from 60km/h gave Honda a modest advantage, the CR-V taking 14.61m to stop against the Sportage's 14.66m effort.

On the fuel economy front, it was the CR-V that jumped to the lead, using 7.7L/100km on test, almost two litres better than the Sportage's 9.6L. Honda says the CR-V DTi-L LE will consume 5.9L/100km on the ADR Combined average where Kia claims 6.8L. The Honda features a smaller 58-litre fuel tank where the Kia offers 62. CO2 emissions are listed at 154g/km and 178g/km respectively.

Tech, touch and feel
This is the stuff we deal with every single time we get in the car, whether it is a supermarket run or a weekend away. And it matters. Big time.

In both cars the basics are well covered, with standard inclusions such as Bluetooth, cruise control, push-button start, electric seat adjustment, reversing camera and satellite navigation.

Dig deeper into the detail and it gets a little more interesting. The Kia offers electric seat adjustment for the driver and passenger seats, where the Honda is driver only. The Honda offers two-position memory, however, where the Kia doesn't.

Both SUVs offer USB, auxiliary and HDMI connections, but the Kia also has a 12-volt and USB in the second row. The Kia goes next-level with its wireless phone charge capability (just sit it on the charge pad), but only if you're phone is compatible.

The CR-V offers a lockable glove box and four auto-up/down windows, while Kia's glovebox is not lockable and the driver's window is the only one to feature auto up/down.

The Kia gets an electric park brake, the Honda doesn't. The Kia has three drive modes versus the Honda's two. The Kia's seats are 10-way adjustable, include adjustable lumbar support and heating/ventilation.

The Sportage is also equipped with lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, a lockable diff and a four-mode self-park assistant.

Technology interfaces were vastly different, too. The CR-V features a large screen and tiny buttons. Mind you, you'll probably use the steering wheel mounted controls for most functions. The split screen arrangement in the CR-V feels a little dated.

The Sportage's 7.0-inch colour touchscreen is accompanied by large, well labelled buttons. There's no guesswork to be done. It's clear and intuitive.

On the design front, we preferred the Kia's decor; the thoughtful design, more tactile controls and more robust switch gear making it feel more worthy of the price tag.

Safe as medium-sized houses
Safety and driver assistance technology rated well in both vehicles; though the Kia has more electronic driver aids in its arsenal (see above).

Both vehicles are equipped with anti-lock brakes, emergency brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, stability and traction control. Both score a reversing camera. The Honda adds high-beam assist. Each has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and six airbags.

The Honda is backed by a three-year/100,000km warranty and requires servicing every six months or 10,000km (whichever comes first). Roadside assistance is a cost option as part of the Honda Warranty Plus plan. By contrast, the Kia offers a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, 12-month/15,000km service intervals with capped-price servicing and seven years' roadside assistance.

As tested, our cars are separated by $1700. The Honda CR-V DTi-L is the top-spec model priced at $44,290 (plus on-road costs), while the top spec Kia Sportage Platinum GT Line costs $45,990 (plus ORCs).

Back to entry-level basics however, and you can get into a two-wheel-drive CR-V VTi for $27,490 versus the Kia Si for $28,990 – both plus ORCs. This narows the gap to $1500, in the Honda's favour – but dig deeper to discover where the value lies and it's the Kia that comes out victorious, with considerable weight given to its equipment list and generous after sales support.

The verdict
We understand that different things matter more (or less) to different buyers – like feel at the wheel, technology and straight-line performance, for example. Likewise, ergonomics and design aesthetic are born from differing needs and tastes.

But in this test, the scores were stacked well and truly in the Sportage's favour. Noting its average fuel economy and smaller cargo capacity, the Kia still brings better value for money, including life beyond the showroom.

Its superior dynamics were backed up by a premium finish, class-leading technology and generous after-sales support giving it a deserving win over the Honda CR-V.

Honda CR-V DTi-L LE pricing and specifications:
Price: $44,290 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 118kW/350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 5/9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 154g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP

Kia Sportage Platinum GT Line pricing and specifications:
Price: $45,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 136kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 178g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP