2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a distinctive design with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might have likened to a frog-like appearance. Despite this, Kia described the Sportage’s styling as “Euro-focused.” This two-row crossover SUV had a short wheelbase and overhangs, making it well-suited for urban environments. The headlights were carried over from the previous year, and the Sportage offered wheel options ranging from 17 to 19 inches. Inside, the 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish focal point, complemented by air vents and physical controls for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most advanced in terms of technology and fashion, provided a comfortable and pleasant experience for occupants.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Odyssey was often recommended for families due to its practicality and comfort. The minivan’s sliding side doors were a significant advantage, especially in tight parking spaces, making it easier to load children into car seats. The Odyssey offered a spacious and comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers without hassle. It also provided ample cargo space, with the ability to fold down the third-row seat and remove the second-row seats for maximum storage capacity. While the Odyssey’s design adhered to traditional minivan aesthetics, it featured stylish elements like kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels on the Elite trim. The interior boasted quality materials, a low console, and a well-organized center stack, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was available in LX, EX, and 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 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All 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 slightly lower figures. The Sportage’s suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left room for improvement. The SX Turbo trim, in particular, offered a sporty driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, generated 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan utilized a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain. Its EPA fuel economy estimate was 22 mpg in combined driving. The Odyssey was praised for its enjoyable driving character, with quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill grades could lead to pedal vibration and audible grumbling. Despite this, the Odyssey remained a delightful vehicle to drive, offering a balance of performance and practicality.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, while on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, provided 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 seat folded.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. The Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. Storage space was abundant, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row seats were comfortable, with the option to remove the center section for added flexibility. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for various configurations, enhancing safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey provided 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat increased cargo capacity to 88.8 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats offered a massive 144.9 cubic feet of space.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface with standard Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports. Most trims included Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus and physical controls, though not groundbreaking.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto starting with the EX trim. Navigation and HondaLink connected services were available on the Touring trim. The Odyssey also featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, along with a rear-seat entertainment system on Touring and Elite trims. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. However, the Odyssey’s infotainment system was considered outdated compared to rivals, with a small screen and limited voice command functionality.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety, offering a comprehensive suite 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 high safety ratings, with the SX Turbo earning Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Odyssey also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.