2022 Kia Sportage vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2022 Kia Sportage featured Kia's tiger-nose grille styling, which worked well on other models but not as effectively on the Sportage. The grille, placed under oversized headlights and over a chrome trim, resembled a fake mustache, detracting from the SUV's overall appearance. Despite this, Kia nailed other design elements, such as the four-dot running light signature reminiscent of the Porsche Macan and the Volkswagen-style symmetry of the back door shut line and rear fascia seam. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels added to its stylish and planted stance.

Inside, the Sportage showcased Germanic design cues with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and plain white markings on a black background for instrumentation. The SX Turbo trim included metal pedal covers and offered a choice of black, gray, and beige colors, creating a high-contrast look. The interior felt upscale, with buttons and knobs making it easy to adjust various settings. The transmission shifter's solid and fluid operation added to the sense of quality.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, continuing from its 2021 redesign, embraced its minivan identity while incorporating SUV-like styling. The front end had a macho appearance, and Toyota re-engineered the door hinges and slides to hide the slider channel below the rear side window frame. The rear doors featured integrated styling details, and the overall profile was assertive with a nice stance. Base models came with 17-inch wheels, while upper trims offered 18-inch and 20-inch options.

Inside, the Sienna avoided the typical minivan feel with an uncluttered front cabin design. It offered ample storage, including an under-console open area, big door pockets, and numerous cup holders. The second and third rows provided comfortable, roomy seating, with available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious three-across bench in the third row. The third-row bench was a 60/40-split that easily stored away into the floor, and the second-row seats slid up to 25 inches for easy access to the third row.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with two engine options. Most models had a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, forming a competitive but unremarkable powertrain. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, boasted a robust 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque, making it ideal for those living at higher elevations. Both engines used a six-speed automatic transmission, with Kia's Dynamax all-wheel-drive system available as an option.

The SX Turbo's acceleration was quick, with maximum torque arriving at a low 1,450 rpm and remaining available until 3,500 rpm. The sudden surge of torque could surprise drivers, and switching to Sport mode made the SUV eager to accelerate. The Sportage featured a MacPherson strut front suspension and an independent multi-link rear suspension, with the SX Turbo getting upgraded brakes and exclusive 19-inch wheels. The ride was smooth and compliant, though there was some body roll and lateral rocking. The Sportage felt athletic and sporty in turns, but the steering could have been quicker and sharper.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna carried over its hybrid powertrain from 2021, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. FWD was standard, with AWD available on all trims. The AWD system added a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), offering four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport.

Handling was better than expected for a minivan, thanks to the Toyota Next Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform's front suspension and steering and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The Sienna Hybrid achieved impressive EPA fuel economy ratings, with FWD models getting 36 mpg city/36 mpg highway/36 mpg combined, and AWD models getting 35 mpg city/35 mpg highway/35 mpg combined. The 288-volt nickel metal-hydride battery pack was tucked under the front seats, and it came with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, though on the smaller side of the compact crossover SUV scale, offered a remarkably roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, ten-way power adjustment for the driver's seat, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel was standard.

Rear seat legroom was generous, and the seat itself was comfortable, with air conditioning vents and a USB charging port for rear passengers. However, the maximum cargo volume was limited, with 60.1 cubic feet available when the second-row seats were folded down and 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat. The Sportage featured Kia's smart liftgate technology, which opened the liftgate hands-free by standing near the back of the vehicle.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading luggage and freight, with cargo measurements of 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity.

The standard 60/40-split third-row bench stored away into the floor easily, and each row had storage cubby space and cupholders. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated with foot-motion triggers, making it convenient to access the vehicle with hands full.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trims also included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo featured wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for stereo volume and radio tuning, and logical onscreen menus.

However, the UVO Link system was falling behind in terms of technological sophistication. The 8-inch screen was small compared to competitors, there was no WiFi hotspot, and the voice-recognition technology was inconsistent. The smartphone mirroring was wired instead of wireless, but the system was still simple and easy to use.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna offered a wealth of standard and available technology features. A 9-inch touchscreen was standard, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, one USB media port, and six USB charging ports throughout the cabin. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not available, which was a notable oversight.

The Sienna included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect telematics services, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi wireless phone charging available on higher trims. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker setup on the LE to a 12-speaker JBL system on higher trims. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch 1080p display, remote, and wireless headphones.

A color multi-information display in the instrument panel center displayed various information, with a 10-inch color head-up display available on Platinum trims. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror, and remote keyless entry with push-button start was standard, upgraded to Smart Key System on higher trims.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available on higher trims. The SX Turbo also included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received good crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating, making it an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also had 10 airbags, several LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit. A spare tire was available, mounted in the wall of the cargo space for safety and convenience.