Small SUVs are strong sellers for many automakers, appealing to a broad audience due to their leading-edge technology, ever-improving looks, and ability to handle more than dry pavement. Although the 2025 Kia Sportage is a compact SUV, while the 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross is a subcompact SUV, they are often shopped against one another.
Let’s see how they stack up.
2025 Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage received a complete revision for 2023, getting a stellar exterior design and a praiseworthy interior with ample space that seemingly puts everything where it’s needed. Since then, Kia has tinkered around the edges a bit but has basically left it alone.
Great looks, an industry-leading warranty, and hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants have raised Kia’s profile with the buying public.
Kia Sportage Highlights
Great space: Kia designers create some of the best interiors, and the Sportage’s luxurious cabin certainly supports that notion, including borrowing tricks like two screens housed as one and available trendy aluminum pedals. Furthermore, the Sportage wins the space race with the Corolla Cross with nearly 10 inches more rear-seat legroom and loads more cargo space.
Top warranty: Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty are industry leaders. Toyota doesn’t come close. It’s peace of mind knowing you can keep the Sportage for a decade, and if the powertrain falters, Kia will provide some assistance.
Three powertrain options: Kia offers one of the most complete lineups at the compact SUV level, with gas-powered, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. Not only are there three options, but they’re all reasonably priced.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sportage models near you.
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross
Toyota’s often the best-selling automaker in the world each year for a reason: it makes quality products and leverages that reputation — and those vehicle names — whenever possible. The number of Corolla variants continues to grow each year. The Corolla Cross is now in its third year and remains a popular choice in the subcompact segment as it borrows exterior styling from both the Corolla and the RAV4.
Importantly, it does that while keeping prices around $25,000, which is critical to success in its segment.
Toyota Corolla Cross Highlights
Hybrid option: Toyota offers a hybrid option that’s more efficient than the Kia Sportage Hybrid. The hybrid model provides plenty of power, so it’s a win-win if it fits your budget.
Cool factor: Here comes the Nightshade trim with 18-inch gloss black sport alloy wheels, black and red fabric-trimmed interior with red accent stitching, and black accented head and tail lamps; if you were going to call any Corolla Cross cool, this is the one.
Safety first: All Corolla Cross models come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, Toyota’s suite of active safety tech. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and motorcycle detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection assistance, and adaptive cruise control.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Corolla Cross models near you.
Similarities
Fantastic exterior designs, multiple powertrains, and excellent interiors make these two SUVs more competitive than you might think.
Price
New 2025 Kia Sportage Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (27601)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$28,785 |
$27,506 |
|||
$30,885 |
$29,637 |
|||
$33,685 |
$32,411 |
|||
$34,385 |
$32,813 |
|||
$36,385 |
$34,893 |
|||
$37,885 |
$36,146 |
|||
$39,685 |
$37,696 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Kia Sportage vehicles and New 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
| 2025 Kia Sportage | 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 187 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 169 hp @ 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 150 lb-ft @ 4,400-4,800 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 25 city/32 highway/28 combined mpg | 31 city/33 highway/32 combined mpg |
| Also Available | Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, AWD | AWD, Hybrid |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5-Star | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 108.5 inches | 103.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 183.5 inches | 175.6 inches |
| Width | 73.4 inches | 71.9 inches |
| Height | 65.4 inches | 64.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.6 feet | 35.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.6 inches | 38.6 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 39.4 inches | 39.0 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 42.9 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 41.3 inches | 32.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.5 inches | 52.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 55.6 inches | 52.4 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 39.6 cubic feet | 24.0 cubic feet |
Conclusion
This one is tough to call, but if price is your biggest consideration. The subcompact Toyota Corolla Cross is roughly $3,000 less from the start; moreover, it’s more fuel-efficient. However, the compact Kia Sportage is significantly roomier, more powerful, and has much better warranty terms while keeping the price reasonable. We think the Sportage is worth the added cost if you need the extra space and plan to keep it for several years.
