2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2021 Kia Sportage

When comparing the 2021 Hyundai Tucson and the 2021 Kia Sportage in terms of design and styling, the differences were immediately noticeable. The Hyundai Tucson featured a more futuristic design for its next iteration, but for those who preferred a small crossover with more conventional styling, the current Tucson offered a pleasing, upright layout that delivered a commanding view of the road. Its modern and attractive dashboard design seamlessly integrated tech features, making buttons and dials easily accessible.

The Tucson had a variety of trim levels: SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base Tucson SE included 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upgrading to the Value trim added amenities such as LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and heated front seats. The SEL trim enhanced the Tucson with 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a rear-seat USB power outlet. The Sport trim brought even more features, including 19-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, fog lights, and a hands-free power liftgate. Higher trims like the Limited and Ultimate offered luxurious additions such as a 360-degree camera system, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation.

In contrast, the 2021 Kia Sportage boasted a distinctive design characterized by Kia's tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might liken to a frog-like appearance. However, Kia described it as "Euro-focused." The compact dimensions, short wheelbase, and overhangs made it ideal for urban driving. The headlights were carried over from the 2020 model, and the Sportage offered wheel options ranging from 17 to 19 inches.

Inside, the Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen display flanked by air vents, with physical buttons and knobs for tuning and volume positioned below the screen. The center console housed two cupholders and prominently displayed Kia’s logo on the steering wheel. While the cabin may not have been the most cutting-edge in terms of design, it remained user-friendly and comfortable, offering a pleasant environment for both driver and passengers.

In terms of performance, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson came with two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generated 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. While it was capable, it felt underwhelming for both city and highway driving. Thus, a preferable choice for many drivers was the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which produced 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. This engine, available in the SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims, offered a more lively performance, especially in urban settings. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with the option of either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Additionally, the Tucson with the base engine had a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds, while models with the 2.4-liter engine could tow up to 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Kia Sportage offered a bit more variety in its performance lineup. The LX and EX trims featured a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produced 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, identical to the Tucson’s upgraded engine. However, the standout in the Sportage range was the SX Turbo trim, which came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering a robust 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Like the Tucson, the Sportage was equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and could be configured with either FWD or AWD.

The Sportage’s fuel economy for the 2.4-liter engine in the FWD configuration was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined. These numbers dropped slightly with AWD to 21/25/23. The turbocharged engine, while more powerful, was less efficient, achieving 20/28/23 for FWD and 19/24/21 for AWD configurations. The Sportage provided a smoother ride with its McPherson-strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, although its tires lacked sufficient grip to fully exploit the engine’s potential – a concern somewhat mitigated in the more performance-oriented SX Turbo trim.

Discussing interior space and functionality, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. With the rear seats folded down, this expanded to 61.9 cubic feet. Although this was slightly lower than some competitors within the compact SUV segment, it still offered adequate space for weekend trips or large loads. Additionally, the Tucson Sport and higher trims included a convenient hands-free power liftgate for ease of access. The Tucson’s front seats were known for their comfort and support, making long drives more tolerable. The rear seats, though not as generous in space, still provided adequate room for adults on short road trips. Numerous cubbies and compartments were thoughtfully placed throughout the vehicle to store personal items.

On the other hand, the 2021 Kia Sportage, although compact, offered good interior space for passengers. The SX Turbo models stood out with a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, both of which were heated and ventilated. In the rear, the Sportage provided decent legroom and headroom. However, its cargo space was slightly less than that of the Tucson, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. While these figures were adequate, they were not as competitive within the compact crossover segment.

Both vehicles were well-equipped in terms of technology but had their distinctions. The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like the Ultimate upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen, which was also available as an option on other trims. This larger screen featured navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging. The Tucson's infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive menu layouts and handy hard buttons for additional convenience.

The 2021 Kia Sportage also boasted a well-functioning 8-inch touchscreen interface with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features. USB ports were also included. Most trims benefited from Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim further enhanced the experience with wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology in the Sportage was praised for its usability, thanks to logical menus, physical buttons, and handy knobs. While not groundbreaking, the tech offered a reliable and convenient user experience.

When it came to safety, both vehicles had a comprehensive list of driver-assistance features. The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and received a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS.

The 2021 Kia Sportage also excelled in safety, providing an impressive list of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The top-tier SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage held a "Top Safety Pick" status from the IIHS and performed well in NHTSA crash tests.