Compare the2026 Kia Sportage PHEVVS 2026 Lexus UX

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Sportage PHEV achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus UX has not been tested.

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

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sportage PHEV has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the UX.

Both the Sportage PHEV and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Kia Sportage PHEV weighs 640 to 852 pounds more than the Lexus UX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Sportage PHEV is much safer than the UX:

The Kia Sportage PHEV has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The UX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

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 UX’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 UX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the UX 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.

The Sportage PHEV’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 65 more horsepower (261 vs. 196) and 119 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 152) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia Sportage PHEV is faster than the Lexus UX:

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the UX:

The Sportage PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 34 miles. The UX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Sportage PHEV has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (13.7 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Sportage PHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the UX:

The Sportage PHEV stops much shorter than the UX:

For better traction, the Sportage PHEV has larger tires than the UX (235/55R19 vs. 225/50R18).

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage PHEV’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the UX (108.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage PHEV is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the UX.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the UX 300h F Sport Handling pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage PHEV has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the UX (8.3 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Sportage PHEV to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 UX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Sportage PHEV has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear headroom, 6.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage PHEV’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Sportage PHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (34.5 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Sportage PHEV has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage PHEV uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Sportage PHEV has a much higher standard payload capacity than the UX (1164 vs. 890 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Sportage PHEV and the UX 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 UX 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 UX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Sportage PHEV has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the UX Premium/F Sport. The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the UX.

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 UX.

The Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sportage PHEV and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Lexus UX by almost 22 to one during 2025.