Kia Sportage vs. Lexus RX 350
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Kia Sportage and Lexus RX 350 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Kia Sportage and the Lexus RX 350.
When we compare the Kia Sportage's and the Lexus RX 350's specifications and ratings, the Kia Sportage has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency and resale value. The Lexus RX 350 has the advantage in the areas of reliability, overall quality score and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Kia Sportage's and the Lexus RX 350's specifications and ratings, the Kia Sportage is a better car than the Lexus RX 350.
Pricing: A used 2024 Kia Sportage ranges from $28,546 to $38,671 while a used 2024 Lexus RX 350 is priced between $52,993 to $66,936. For a new model, the Kia Sportage's price is between $29,294 and $39,594, with the Lexus RX 350 priced between $52,880 and $67,145.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Kia Sportage loses 42.2 percent of its value and the Lexus RX 350 loses 42.5 percent of its value. This means the Kia Sportage retains 0.3 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Lexus RX 350.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Kia Sportage is 8.2 out of 10 while the Lexus RX 350's quality rating is 8.4 out of 10. This results in the Kia Sportage being ranked 9 out of 19 Best Small SUVs and the Lexus RX 350 being ranked 2 out of 20 Best Luxury Midsize SUVs.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Kia Sportage is 7.6 out of 10. For the Lexus RX 350 the reliability rating is 8.9 out of 10. This gives the Lexus RX 350 an advantage in reliability compared to the Kia Sportage.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Kia Sportage’s base engine makes 187 horsepower, and the Lexus RX 350 base engine makes 275 horsepower. The Sportage is rated to deliver an average of 28 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 472 miles. The RX 350 is rated to deliver an average of 25 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 516 miles.This gives the Kia Sportage the advantage in fuel efficiency and the Lexus RX 350 the advantage in maximum range. The Sportage uses regular unleaded, and the RX 350 uses premium unleaded.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the Kia Sportage has higher safety ratings than the Lexus RX 350, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 Stars compared to 4.42 out of 5 Stars. When comparing IIHS evaluations, both the Kia Sportage and the Lexus RX 350 have the same Top Safety Pick award.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$29,294 - $39,594
Starting MSRP:
$27,190
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact SUVs)
$27,871
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact SUVs)
$23,860 - $30,300
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$52,880 - $67,145
Starting MSRP:
$48,600
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
$72,087
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
$48,600 - $127,200
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$33,304
Price Range:
$28,546 - $38,671
Category Avg Price:
(Compact SUVs)
$33,244
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact SUVs)
$29,649 - $36,546
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
1,386
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
7,182
# Good or Great Deals:
261
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$59,910
Price Range:
$52,993 - $66,936
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
$82,938
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
$54,923 - $133,203
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
590
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
6,303
# Good or Great Deals:
61
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$11,717
Depreciation %:
43.1%
Resale Value $:
$15,473
Residual Value %:
56.9%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Compact SUVs)
42%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Compact SUVs)
29.1% - 47.3%
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$21,021
Depreciation %:
43.3%
Resale Value $:
$27,579
Residual Value %:
56.7%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
53.4%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
43.3% - 61%
Kia Sportage Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.2 / 10
Reliability:
7.6 / 10
Retained Value:
7.9 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
Lexus RX 350 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.4 / 10
Reliability:
8.9 / 10
Retained Value:
7.9 / 10
Safety:
8.4 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Kia Sportage
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.2
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Compact SUVs)
10.9
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact SUVs)
9.9 - 13.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
8.7%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Lexus RX 350
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
12.8
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
10.1
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
7.9 - 12.8
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
49.6%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
5.7
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
2.6
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
1.8 - 18.3
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.5
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
3.8
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Midsize SUVs)
0.8 - 41.1
Kia Sportage Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 19Ranking
1 out of / 7Ranking
1 out of / 6Ranking
4 out of / 19Ranking
5 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 19Ranking
7 out of / 67Ranking
7 out of / 19Ranking
8 out of / 20Ranking
8 out of / 19Ranking
8 out of / 14Ranking
9 out of / 19Ranking
10 out of / 19Ranking
10 out of / 19Ranking
10 out of / 19Ranking
11 out of / 67Ranking
11 out of / 19Ranking
11 out of / 19Ranking
11 out of / 13Ranking
13 out of / 30Ranking
14 out of / 59Ranking
14 out of / 19Ranking
17 out of / 67Ranking
18 out of / 67Ranking
27 out of / 67Ranking
27 out of / 67Ranking
31 out of / 67Ranking
33 out of / 67Ranking
35 out of / 67Ranking
36 out of / 67Ranking
43 out of / 67Ranking
44 out of / 67Ranking
46 out of / 67Lexus RX 350 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 20Ranking
1 out of / 19Ranking
1 out of / 1Ranking
2 out of / 68Ranking
2 out of / 20Ranking
3 out of / 20Ranking
3 out of / 10Ranking
5 out of / 68Ranking
6 out of / 6Ranking
7 out of / 68Ranking
10 out of / 20Ranking
10 out of / 20Ranking
12 out of / 20Ranking
14 out of / 20Ranking
16 out of / 20Ranking
17 out of / 20Ranking
20 out of / 20Ranking
21 out of / 59Ranking
26 out of / 68Ranking
32 out of / 68Ranking
37 out of / 68Ranking
37 out of / 68Ranking
40 out of / 68Ranking
42 out of / 68Ranking
62 out of / 68Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Kia Sportage Trim Levels
SX, SX-Prestige, X-Line, X-Pro, X-Pro Prestige, EX, LX
Lexus RX 350 Trim Levels
Base, F SPORT Handling, Luxury, Premium, Premium+
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
10 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 70000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
TOP SAFETY PICK
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4.42 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
TOP SAFETY PICK
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
187 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque:
178 foot-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.055 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
275 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque:
317 foot-lbs @ 1700 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.066 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
25 / 33 / 28
Range (city/hwy):
358 / 472 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.4 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
22 / 29 / 25
Range (city/hwy):
392 / 516 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Roof Rack:
Available
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
Available
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
Standard
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Quad Seats:
N/A
Wifi:
Standard
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.6 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.5 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.4 inches
Rear Leg Room:
41.3 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
55.6 inches
Cargo Space:
39.6 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
74.1 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.5 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.1 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
58.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
37.4 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.5 inches
Cargo Space:
29.6 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
46.2 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3396 lbs
Width:
73.4 inches
Height:
65.4 inches
Length:
183.5 inches
Wheelbase:
108.5 inches
Ground Clearance:
7.1 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4155 lbs
Width:
75.6 inches
Height:
67.3 inches
Length:
192.5 inches
Wheelbase:
112.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
8.2 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
235/65R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
19.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
235/60R19
Exterior Colors
Black
Ebony Black / Fusion Black
Gray
Gravity Gray / Steel Gray
Silver
Everlasting Silver
White
Glacial White Pearl / Snow White Pearl
Blue
Not available
Green
Not available
Red
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Caviar
Gray
Cloudburst Gray
Silver
Iridium
White
Eminent White Pearl
Blue
Nightfall Mica
Green
Nori Green Pearl
Red
Matador Red Mica
Interior Colors
Black
Black
White
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Black w/ Black Cascade Trim
White
Macadamia w/ Black Cascade Trim