Compare the2026 Kia Sportage PHEVVS 2026 Lexus NX

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Sportage PHEV. But it costs extra on the NX.

Both the Sportage PHEV and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Kia Sportage PHEV is safer than the NX:

The Sportage PHEV comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The NX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage PHEV 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the NX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the NX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sportage PHEV’s warranty.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Sportage PHEV is faster than the NX 350h AWD:

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage PHEV running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the NX 350 running its gasoline engine (35 city/36 hwy vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage PHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 AWD requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage PHEV stops shorter than the NX:

The Sportage PHEV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage PHEV has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the NX.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage PHEV’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the NX (108.5 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage PHEV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8.3 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Sportage PHEV to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Sportage PHEV’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the NX (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches).

The front grille of the Sportage PHEV uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Sportage PHEV has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Sportage PHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (34.5 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Sportage PHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (65.5 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Sportage PHEV’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds).

The power windows standard on both the Sportage PHEV and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sportage PHEV is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The NX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage PHEV’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the NX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage PHEV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the NX.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Lexus NX by over two to one during 2025.