2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was built on the N3 platform, shared with the larger Kia Sorento, resulting in a significant size increase over its predecessor. It was 7.1 inches longer with a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase, enhancing rear-seat legroom. The new model was also about an inch taller and half an inch wider. The Sportage Hybrid featured a bold design with angular LED headlights and distinctive “boomerang” LED daytime running lights, giving it a unique appearance. The interior was centered around a large optional infotainment display, with a clean, minimalist design. While the base models had cloth seats, higher trims offered SynTex artificial leather, which felt somewhat cheap despite its eco-friendly appeal.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid, with a base price of $33,700, presented a more conservative styling approach. Its design was characterized by a technical face and a rear quarter view that offered an upscale appearance. The Sport Touring Hybrid model, priced at $39,850, featured leather seats with orange contrast stitching and a sophisticated cabin. The CR-V's interior was noted for its quality materials and thoughtful design, with features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and dual-zone climate control. The CR-V provided a comfortable and spacious environment, with easy access and generous legroom, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a single electric motor, producing a total of 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The base LX trim offered standard front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive, while the EX and SX-Prestige trims were all-wheel drive only. The powertrain delivered smooth and predictable acceleration, with a seamless transition between electric and gasoline power. The Sportage Hybrid provided a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, although its steering felt artificially heavy in Sport mode. It had a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation two-motor hybrid drive system, combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering 204 horsepower. The system operated transparently, with the gasoline engine sometimes acting as a generator. The CR-V Hybrid was rated at 37 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle achieved 32.4 mpg on a mountainous route. The CR-V offered a compliant ride with predictable handling, although the steering felt unusually heavy. It was easy to drive, with reliable braking performance, but lacked the off-road capability or driving excitement of some competitors.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version. It provided more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids, but less for second-row passengers. The Sportage Hybrid featured a dual-level cargo floor, offering 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.7 cubic feet with them folded. The interior included clever storage solutions, such as a rotary shift knob and adjustable cupholders, enhancing practicality.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in form and function, with quality materials and a spacious interior. It featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and dual-zone climate control. The CR-V's back seat was comfortable, with generous legroom and adjustable backrest angles. The cargo area offered 34.7 cubic feet in the Sport Touring model, expanding to 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The CR-V provided ample storage, although the glove compartment was smaller than expected.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a panoramic display. The system was user-friendly, with touch controls and analog knobs for audio and climate adjustments. Hybrid models included multiple USB-C ports and optional wireless phone charging.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid was equipped with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Sport-L and Sport Touring trims offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was basic, and the walk-away automatic locking feature provided added security.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's safety ratings were unavailable at the time of testing. It offered standard forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go. The SX-Prestige trim included advanced features like a blind-spot view camera and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced safety features, including forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sport-L and Sport Touring trims added parking sensors and low-speed automatic braking. The CR-V received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS for 2023, although NHTSA ratings were not available.