2027 Kia Sportage vs Honda CR-V: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Sportage — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–3 across 10 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($28,990 vs $31,520) and more available power (268 hp vs 204 hp). Choose the CR-V if you'll sell in about five years (66.3% vs 47.8% of value retained).
Scorecard: Sportage 4 pts · CR-V 3 pts across 10 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Sportage | 2027 CR-V | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $28,990 | $31,520 | Sportage |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.51 | 0.50 | Tie |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 47.8% | 66.3% | CR-V |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 41 mpg | 40 mpg | Tie |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 268 hp | 204 hp | Sportage |
| Max towing (1) | 2,500 lb | 1,500 lb | Sportage |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 39.6 cu ft | 39.3 cu ft | Tie |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 4.6% off MSRP | 5.7% off MSRP | CR-V |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 8 | 4 | CR-V |
| Weighted points | 4 | 3 | Sportage |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: it's a wash — Sportage 41 mpg vs CR-V 40 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: it's a wash — Sportage 5 vs CR-V 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Sportage — $28,990 vs $31,520 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $22,948 for the Sportage vs $24,633 for the CR-V.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the CR-V — 66.3% vs 47.8% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Sportage — 2,500 lb vs 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Sportage starts at $28,990 and tops out at $47,390; the CR-V runs $31,520 to $42,950 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Sportage buyers paid a median 4.6% off MSRP across 15 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 8.7% off. Verified CR-V buyers paid a median 5.7% off MSRP across 49 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 6.7% off. Used, the median asking price is $22,948 for the Sportage and $24,633 for the CR-V (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Sportage: 0.51 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 60th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- CR-V: 0.50 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 63th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Sportage 8, CR-V 4.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Sportage 2016 (caution) · CR-V 2016 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Sportage | 2027 CR-V | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $28,990 | $31,520 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $47,390 | $42,950 |
| Horsepower | 187–268 hp | 190–204 hp |
| Max torque | 271 lb-ft | 179 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 24–41 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 29–40 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 2,500 lb | 1,500 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 39.6 cu ft | 39.3 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| Sportage | CR-V | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 184.4 in | 184.8 in |
| Width | 73.4 in | 73.5 in |
| Height | 65.4 in | 66.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.5 in | 106.3 in |
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in | 7.8 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Sportage lists for a median $16,398 — 47.8% of today's median new price of $34,274. A 5-year-old (2021) CR-V lists for a median $24,626 — 66.3% of today's median new price of $37,127.
Shop both
- See 32,216 new 2027 Kia Sportages for sale →Median listed price $35,635 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See 47,358 new 2027 Honda CR-Vs for sale →Median listed price $39,237 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Kia Sportage
More on the Honda CR-V
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Sportage better than the CR-V?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Sportage — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–3 across 10 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($28,990 vs $31,520) and more available power (268 hp vs 204 hp). Choose the CR-V if you'll sell in about five years (66.3% vs 47.8% of value retained).
Which is more reliable, the Sportage or the CR-V?
They're even: 0.51 vs 0.50 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold — inside our 15% tie band. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Sportage and 4 for the CR-V.
Which holds its value better, the Sportage or the CR-V?
The CR-V: a 5-year-old example lists for 66.3% of the new price, versus 47.8% for the Sportage, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Sportage or the CR-V?
The Sportage starts lower: $28,990 vs $31,520 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 4.6% off MSRP on the Sportage (15 deals) and 5.7% on the CR-V (49 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the Sportage or the CR-V?
It's a wash: 41 mpg vs 40 mpg best EPA combined.
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Kia Sportage vs Honda CR-V: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/kia-sportage-vs-honda-cr-v, updated November 8, 2026.