Kia Niro vs Sportage – which is best?

Don’t forget about the Kia Niro, which has a long list of sensible talents and new, bold styling. It’s a really tough choice if you’re considering both of these SUVs at a Motorpoint store near you, so we’ve put them against each other to find a winner.

Kia Niro vs Sportage compared

Styling

Spurred on by the boldness of the latest Sportage, the Niro has also decided to take some of the limelight. Unusually shaped headlights make the front end look like nothing else on the road, while further back the slim rear windscreen is bookended by boomerang-like LED slashes – and even little air vents. Entry-level models sit on teeny wheels for efficiency, but you can get bigger alloys on higher-spec trim levels.

If you want the Niro’s qualities (more on those below) but would rather a car that blends in a bit more, make sure to check out the older Niro, sold from 2016 to 2022.

Familiarity hasn’t dulled the Sportage’s styling yet. The confident, outgoing look is characterised by eye-catching LED running lights that separate the grille from the headlights, which look hidden at first glance. Chrome-effect touches add interest, while the tailgate includes pointed brake lights and a large black panel to take the visual weight out of the rear end. Even so, Kia has revealed the facelift Sportage, which is likely to go on sale before the end of 2025.

Interior

On first glance, the Niro and Sportage look pretty similar inside. High-spec models of both get two large screens grouped into one sleek panel, with a touch panel below the infotainment screen that switches between climate control and screen functions. It’s very clever but some testers find it a little fiddly to use. Cheaper models of both cars get smaller screens, which do the job perfectly well but don’t look quite so impressive.

Both get an easy-to-use infotainment system and plenty of useful touches, plus a good mix of premium-feeling and durable materials.

There are differences, though. To our eyes the Niro’s steering wheel looks more futuristic, although the curved screen surround contains a smaller touchscreen than the Sportage offers (10.25 inches in the Niro, versus 12.3 inches in the Sportage). 

Dimensions and practicality

There’s less in it between the dimensions of the Niro and Sportage than you might expect. The Niro feels more like a big hatchback than a 4x4 from behind the wheel. You sit lower than in the Sportage and there’s not quite so much headroom. Still plenty of headroom for the majority of adults, though.

The fully electric Niro actually has the biggest boot of any Niro, with a thoroughly useful 475 litres at your disposal. The normal ‘self-charging’ hybrid is close behind at 451 litres – a difference you won’t notice in real life – but having to package a petrol engine and the electric gubbins means the Niro PHEV loses the underfloor storage and drops to 348 litres.

In comparison, the Sportage seems to make more of its dimensions. Passenger space is up there with the best in class, as is boot space. And the difference between the hybrid and plug-in hybrid is much smaller, meaning every Sportage has more than enough space for family life.

Engines

Whichever Niro you buy, you’re guaranteed excellent fuel efficiency. The standard hybrid model returns up to 64mpg with the smallest wheels, which makes it one of the most economical SUVs you can buy. Officially, the plug-in hybrid jumps up to 353mpg, although that’s only achievable if you make maximum use of the 38-mile electric range.

Our favourite Niro is the fully electric one, because it has a smooth-as-glass driving experience and a 285-mile range – more than many larger and more expensive EVs. And, if you can charge at home, you’ll experience incredibly low running costs.

The Sportage lineup kicks off with a conventional petrol engine, so it’s the one to pick if you want a manual gearbox or don’t fancy anything with electrification. Further up the range, the Sportage’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines are more powerful than the Niro’s, and top-spec cars get the option of all-wheel drive – for marginally better grip on slippery surfaces, rather than letting you go fully off-road.

Value

As we write this, there’s only £100 difference in the price of a new entry-level Niro and Sportage. But the bigger Sportage is exclusively petrol, whereas the Niro is a hybrid – the difference between these engines is about 20mpg, meaning the Niro will be far more cost-effective in the long run if you’re spending £30,000 on a Kia SUV.

High-spec PHEV and EV versions of the Niro creep over the £40,000 mark, at which point you’ll be paying the luxury car tax until the car is six years old. All PHEV Sportages and top-spec full-hybrid models are subject to the higher rate.

As a new car, the Niro EV is usurped by the cheaper and newer Kia EV3 although, as it’s been out longer, the Niro EV is considerably better value than the EV3 as a used car.

The Niro is generally cheaper than a Sportage of similar age, spec and mileage on the used market. On PCP finance, the jump to the Sportage is likely to be less than £50 per month, which you might see as reasonable for the extra space and power that you get.

Which is best?

The fact that the Niro is cheaper to buy as a used car, and noticeably cheaper to refuel, gives it the edge against the Sportage. Not everyone will need the Sportage’s enormous boot, and the Niro’s slightly smaller length will make it fractionally easier to park.

But the Sportage’s stocky, expensive-looking styling will be worth the slight premium over the Niro for many people. There are a broader range of engines and trim levels to suit your requirements in the Sportage, plus more passenger space and bigger screens.

Why not test-drive both at your nearest Motorpoint store and see which you prefer?

Read our in-depth Kia reviews, or shop used Kia Sportage and used Kia Niro cars for sale at Motorpoint.