Kia Sportage vs Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer presented a traditional SUV aesthetic, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer. This resulted in a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile reminiscent of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. Its grille leaned forward slightly, featuring laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel centre caps were protected by acrylic glass. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent suspension, and the use of aluminum and composite materials helped reduce weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared styling features with the Wagoneer but offered more luxury with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional higher-grade materials.

The 2023 Kia Sportage arrived with a completely redesigned look, drawing comparisons to French automakers like Renault and Citroen. Its styling was exciting and exotic, with standout features such as bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar. The Sportage was available in five trim levels in Canada, starting with the LX trim, which offered front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, with cloth seats in the base LX trim. The interior featured a large front windshield and a relatively low beltline for improved visibility. Higher trims boasted over two feet of display space on the dash, although some interior elements, like hard plastic and piano-black finishes, were less impressive. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard from the EX trim.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine featured cylinder deactivation for better fuel efficiency and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer could accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds, despite its hefty weight of around 2,900 kilograms. It came standard with a Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system, which included a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, offering adjustable height for various driving conditions. With a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 centimetres, the Grand Wagoneer could tackle off-road challenges, although its size limited its trail capabilities. The vehicle's ride was smooth, but at higher speeds, it felt bouncy and ungainly.

The 2023 Kia Sportage introduced hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, but the gas-powered version featured a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered front-wheel drive as standard on the LX trim, with all-wheel drive available. The new engine was slightly larger and more powerful than the previous 2.4-litre engine, with improved fuel economy. However, the absence of a turbocharged engine option, which was available in the previous generation, left the Sportage feeling less powerful. The X-Line trim added rugged visual cues but lacked additional off-road features. The Sportage's all-wheel-drive models offered 21 centimetres of ground clearance, making it capable of handling typical off-road conditions.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, front-row space was more limited compared to these rivals. The Grand Wagoneer boasted 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. With all rear seats folded, cargo space reached 2,667 litres. The vehicle had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a compact crossover, competed in a crowded segment. The new model was 180 mm longer with an 86 mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor, offering more interior space. Rear-seat legroom measured 1,050 mm, with 966 mm of rear headroom. The trunk provided 1,121 litres of cargo space, expanding to 2,098 litres with the rear seat folded. The front seats featured typical storage options, including a cubby ahead of the shifter, tandem cupholders, and a spacious centre console bin. A panoramic sunroof was available. However, the Sportage's technology, such as touch-sensitive HVAC controls, could be frustrating to use, as they required switching between climate and navigation functions.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and offered a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices. Second-row passengers had access to a 10.25-inch centre console touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which had an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software update capability. While the system offered many features, the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2023 Kia Sportage boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system on EX-and up trims, paired with a panoramic, curved 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on the X-Line Limited. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were wired on the top interface, while the base LX trim offered wireless connectivity with an 8-inch screen. The icons on the screen were similar in appearance, making it challenging to find the right button while driving. Despite these quirks, the Sportage offered impressive technology, including Bluetooth, keyless entry, wireless charging on higher trims, rear USB-C charging ports, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and a Harman Kardon audio system on the X-Line Limited.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of collision-avoidance tech and advanced driver assistance systems as standard, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, lane-departure warning, and a backup camera. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and safe exit warning. The X-Line Limited trim included blind-view monitor, highway driving assist, front and rear parking sensors, projection LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and a surround-view camera. Like the Grand Wagoneer, the Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.