Kia Sportage vs Toyota Corolla Cross: Specs Compared
Also searched as Toyota Corolla Cross vs Kia Sportage specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Kia Sportage is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 43 mpg combined versus 42 mpg for the Toyota Corolla Cross, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Kia Sportage leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2027
Kia Sportage
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 69 configurations
2022–2026
Toyota Corolla Cross
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 14 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Kia Sportage | Toyota Corolla Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 43 mpg ✓ | 42 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 42 mpg | 46 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 44 mpg ✓ | 39 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,450 | $1,450 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 55 g/mi ✓ | 209 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI; PHEV, SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI | SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (S8), Automatic (S6) | Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (AV-S10) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular Gas and Electricity, Regular | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2027 | 2022–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 69 | 14 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Kia Sportage vs Toyota Corolla Cross dimensions and size
The Kia Sportage is 8.7 inches longer than the Toyota Corolla Cross on a wheelbase 4.7 inches longer, and 354.9 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Kia Sportage (2026) | Toyota Corolla Cross (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 184.3 in | 175.6 in | 8.7 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 73.6 in | 72 in | 1.6 in |
| Height | 65.7 in | 64.6 in | 1.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.7 in | 103.9 in | 4.7 in |
| Curb weight | 3,618 lbs | 3,263 lbs | 355 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Kia Sportage vs Toyota Corolla Cross: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Kia Sportage burns about $1,450 of fuel annually against $1,450 for the Toyota Corolla Cross. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Toyota Corolla Cross is the stronger commuter at 46 mpg city, while the Kia Sportage pulls ahead on the interstate at 44 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Kia Sportage is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI; PHEV, SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid), the Toyota Corolla Cross with 2 (SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI). Across 69 recorded Kia Sportage configurations and 14 for the Toyota Corolla Cross, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Kia Sportage is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Toyota Corolla Cross with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Kia Sportage emits 55 g/mile of CO2 versus 209 g/mile for the Toyota Corolla Cross. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Sportage vs Corolla Cross: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Kia Sportage or the Toyota Corolla Cross?
The Kia Sportage is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 43 mpg combined versus 42 mpg for the Toyota Corolla Cross, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Toyota Corolla Cross runs about $1,450 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $1,450 for the Kia Sportage — a difference of roughly $0 per year.
What engines do the Sportage and Corolla Cross offer?
Kia Sportage: SIDI; PHEV, SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI. Toyota Corolla Cross: SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the Kia Sportage and the Toyota Corolla Cross as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they compete directly.
More Sportage comparisons
More Corolla Cross comparisons
Comparison id: kia-sportage-vs-toyota-corolla-cross