2022 Kia Sportage vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that we often recommended to growing families due to its practical design and features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load toddlers into rear-facing child safety seats, and its spacious third-row seat comfortably accommodated additional passengers like grandparents or carpool kids. The Odyssey also offered substantial cargo space, rivaling that of a Chevrolet Suburban when the third-row seat was folded down and the second-row seats were removed. Despite its practical design, the Odyssey had a sense of style, especially in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and kinked sliding doors that created dramatic character lines.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Sportage had a more polarizing exterior design. While the tiger-nose grille looked out of place, other design elements like the four-dot running lights and Volkswagen-style symmetry added a touch of elegance. The SX Turbo trim featured 19-inch wheels that gave the SUV a planted stance. Inside, the Sportage adopted Germanic design cues with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and metal pedal covers. The interior was upscale, with easy-to-use buttons and knobs for the stereo and climate controls, making it a user-friendly vehicle.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls on the dashboard. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During a test drive in Southern California, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. While the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, its brakes tended to overheat on long descents, leading to pedal vibration and an audible grumble.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the SX Turbo offered quick acceleration, especially in Sport mode. The Sportage's suspension provided a smooth and compliant ride, though it exhibited some body roll and lateral rocking. The SX Turbo trim also included upgraded brakes and exclusive 19-inch wheels, enhancing its sporty driving character.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and an onboard vacuum cleaner. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, making it easier to tend to children or create a pass-through to the third-row seat. 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 space to 88.8 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats expanded it to 144.9 cubic feet.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, though smaller, offered a roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim featured perforated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel. Rear seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom, air conditioning vents, and a USB charging port. The Sportage provided 30.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 60.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The smart liftgate technology allowed for hands-free access to the cargo area, though it could be turned off if not needed.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims included navigation, WiFi hotspot access, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk technology. The rear-seat entertainment system featured a 10.2-inch display with HDMI inputs and a "How Much Farther?" app. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was considered outdated, with a small screen and limited voice-recognition capabilities.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SX Turbo trim added wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for volume and tuning, and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system lacked advanced features like a WiFi hotspot and wireless smartphone mirroring.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including Honda Sensing, which offered adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, the safety features could be overly sensitive, leading to an unnatural driving experience. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Kia Sportage included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trims added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. The SX Turbo trim also featured adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received favorable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating, qualifying it for a Top Safety Pick award.