Compare the2026 Kia SportageVS 2025 Dodge Hornet

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Kia Sportage have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Hornet doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Sportage are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Hornet doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Sportage and Hornet offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sportage with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning also has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Hornet’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sportage and the Hornet have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The Kia Sportage has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Hornet has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Hornet’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Dodge covers the Hornet. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Hornet ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage’s reliability 37 points higher than the Hornet.

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage gets better mileage than the Hornet running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Hornet requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (14.3 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (6 out of 10) than the Dodge Hornet (5 to 6). This means the Sportage produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Hornet every 15,000 miles.

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

For better traction, the Sportage has larger tires than the Hornet (235/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

The Sportage has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Hornet doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Hornet (108.5 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Hornet.

The Sportage AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Hornet GT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Hornet R/T (8.3 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Sportage to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Sportage’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Hornet GT (8.3 vs. 8 inches).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 pounds less than the Dodge Hornet.

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

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Sportage X-Pro Prestige is quieter than the Hornet GT:

The Sportage has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Hornet (102 vs. 98).

The Sportage has .8 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Hornet.

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

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Hornet with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 27 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Hornet’s (2500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage 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 Hornet doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Sportage (except LX/EX)’s standard Easy Access Function glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Hornet doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sportage has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Hornet only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

When the Sportage with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Hornet’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Sportage is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Hornet doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sportage, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Dodge Hornet isn't recommended.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Dodge Hornet by almost 8 to one during 2024.