2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a distinctive design with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might have described as frog-like. Kia, however, referred to the Sportage’s styling as “Euro-focused.” This two-row crossover SUV had a relatively short wheelbase and short overhangs, making it well-suited for city driving. The headlights were carried over from the previous year, and the Sportage could be equipped with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents, with physical buttons and knobs for tuning and volume below. The interior, while not the most tech-forward, was still a pleasant place to sit.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, was based on the same platform as the Jeep Compass but took design inspiration from the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The Renegade received a subtle refresh in 2019, and for 2021, those design changes continued. Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack, making controls easily accessible. It offered a variety of trims and special editions, each with unique features and equipment, such as the Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. These trims provided a range of options from basic to luxury and off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was available in LX, EX, or SX Turbo trims, with options for front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim offered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. All Sportage models featured a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD Sportage with the 2.4-liter engine was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while AWD models saw a slight decrease. The Sportage’s suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left room for improvement. The SX Turbo trim was particularly rewarding for those seeking a sporty drive.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. An upgraded turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine was also available, offering 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with options for FWD or 4WD. While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged option provided better torque and refinement. The Renegade’s ride quality was solid, with good cornering stability and maneuverability in tight spaces. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road suspension and terrain management system, offered impressive off-road capabilities, making it the only trim with Jeep’s “Trail Rated” designation.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, though on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, offered good interior space for passengers. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 8-way power adjustment for the passenger, along with heated and ventilated seats. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was less competitive compared to other compact crossovers.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the seats in use, which was above average for the subcompact SUV segment. Its tall, boxy design allowed for ample headroom in both rows, and the front seats offered great legroom. The rear seats, while not as spacious, were still suitable for adults. The Renegade featured numerous storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for additional space or as a table for gear.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface for its infotainment system, which included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard. Most trims also benefited from Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trims offered additional features like wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus and physical buttons, though not the most cutting-edge.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen available on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, featuring a logical menu layout and easy-to-read graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on both screens, and a Kenwood premium audio system was available as an option.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was strong in safety, offering a comprehensive 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 SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage received Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS for its upgraded headlights and performed well in NHTSA crash tests.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made several previously optional safety features standard, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection, with the exception of the Trailhawk trim. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors were optional. Despite these features, the Renegade received only four out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests. Parallel parking assist was also available as an option.