A hybrid compact SUV combines two highly sensible things: A highly practical 5-passenger utility vehicle, and a highly efficient powertrain. Peanut butter and jelly has nothing on one of these. Two of the best such examples of this excellent combo are the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Kia Sportage Hybrid.
Here’s how both of these overachievers compare.
2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid
The Honda CR-V has been a long been benchmark among compact SUVs, and is our reigning Best Buy Award winner among them. The 2025 CR-V is available with a standard gasoline-only powertrain, but we think the CR-V Hybrid is the best version of itself, being both the most fuel-efficient version and the most powerful of CR-V models. Prices for the 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid start at about $36,000, including destination charge.
Honda CR-V Hybrid Highlights
Fuel efficient: This is why most drivers buy a hybrid, and the CR-V Hybrid will make you glad you did. It returns up to 40 mpg with front-wheel drive or 37 mpg with all-wheel drive. As a bonus, it’s also more powerful than a standard, gasoline-only CR-V. Win-win.
Traffic Jam Assist: Being stuck in traffic can be a soul-sucking experience. This feature can be a balm. The system can make steering adjustments, accelerate, and brake to keep up with traffic below 45 mph. Combined with adaptive cruise control, this is a real helper for highway treks and traffic jams alike.
Cargo space: The CR-V Hybrid has one of the roomiest cargo bays in its class, offering 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.5 with them down. Just as important, loading and unloading is easy thanks to the CR-V’s low floor. It’s like they think of everything.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CR-V Hybrid models for sale near you.
2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid
Don’t be surprised if you do a double-take when seeing the latest Kia Sportage. We certainly did, and we test cars for a living. Simply put, the Kia Sportage is a real looker, just like other vehicles in the automaker’s lineup these days. And we’re not just talking exterior. The inside also glows with premium tech and surprisingly helpful features. Like the CR-V, the Sportage is also available with a standard gasoline engine or in hybrid form, which we highlight here. Also available is a plug-in hybrid variant. The 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid is all the more attractive with a starting price of around $30,000.
Kia Sportage Hybrid Highlights
Value: At its starting point, the Kia Sportage Hybrid is about $6,000 less than the starting price of a Honda CR-V Hybrid. Though that base model won’t bring as many driver-assist features, it’s still a significant chunk of change.
Warranty: In this regard, the Sportage Hybrid beats the CR-V Hybrid hands-down. Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty can’t be beat.
Impressive tech: From dual 12.3-inch digital displays to Kia’s Blind-Spot View Monitor, Harman Kardon premium audio, and even the ability to remotely park the vehicle while standing outside of it, the Kia Sportage Hybrid offers tech the CR-V can’t match.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sportage Hybrid models for sale near you.
Similarities
Both of these hybrid SUVs pack a lot: A lot of cargo space, a lot of miles per gallon, and a lot of value.
Pricing
New 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid Prices
New 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid Prices
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for vehicles and vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid | 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter gas-electric 4-cylinder | Turbo 1.6-liter gas-electric 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 204 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 227 hp @ 1,500 rpm |
| Torque | 179 lb-ft @ 1,700 – 5,000 | 258 lb-ft @ |
| Transmission | CVT | 6-speed automatic |
| Fuel economy MPG | 43 city/36 highway/40 combined | 42 city/44 highway/43 combined |
| Also Available | gasoline; AWD | gasoline; AWD; Plug-in hybrid |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 inches | 108.5 inches |
| Overall Length | 184.8 inches | 183.5 inches |
| Width | 73.5 inches | 73.4 inches |
| Height | 66.5 inches | 65.4 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.3 feet | 38.6 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.2 inches | 39.6 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 38.2 inches | 39.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.3 inches | 41.4 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 41.0 inches | 41.3 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.9 inches | 57.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 55.9 inches | 55.6 inches |
| Cargo Volume rear seats up/down | 39.3/76.5 cubic feet | 39.5/73.7 cubic feet |
New 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid Prices
New 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid Prices
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles and New 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Conclusion
The Honda CR-V is currently our top-rated compact SUV, but getting a hybrid version does mean stepping up to a higher trim and, thus, spending more money. And as good as it is, the Honda still doesn’t have the kind of innovative tech that can be found in the Kia. The Sportage Hybrid, meanwhile, starts thousands below its CR-V rival. While the lower trims don’t have adaptive cruise control, they still pack a lot of other features. Which is best for you? Here again, it’s a toss-up. Check your budget, see which has the features you want most, and test-drive each.