The Sportage (except LX/EX) offers an optional 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.
Both the Sportage 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, front wheel drive, 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Lexus UX:
|
|
Sportage |
UX |
| OVERALL STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
|
|
Driver |
|
| STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
| Neck Injury Risk |
24.5% |
33% |
| Neck Stress |
263 lbs. |
371 lbs. |
| Neck Compression |
14 lbs. |
17 lbs. |
| Leg Forces (l/r) |
48/154 lbs. |
376/433 lbs. |
|
|
Passenger |
|
| STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
| Chest Compression |
.4 inches |
.7 inches |
| Neck Injury Risk |
30.9% |
36% |
| Leg Forces (l/r) |
292/203 lbs. |
345/566 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
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 is much safer than the UX:
|
|
Sportage |
UX |
| Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
| Structure |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
| Head/Neck Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
| Chest Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
| Thigh/hip Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
| Thigh Forces L/R |
22/292 pounds |
360/315 pounds |
| Thigh Forces L/R |
22/292 pounds |
360/315 pounds |
| Leg Forces L/R |
360/540 pounds |
584/607 pounds |
| Restraints |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
|
Rear Passenger Injury Measures |
|
| Head/Neck Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
| Chest Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
| Thigh Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
| Restraints |
ACCEPTABLE |
POOR |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Lexus UX:
|
|
Sportage |
UX |
|
|
Front Seat |
|
| STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
| Hip Force |
247 lbs. |
323 lbs. |
|
|
Rear Seat |
|
| STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
| HIC |
82 |
96 |
| Hip Force |
581 lbs. |
633 lbs. |
|
|
Into Pole |
|
| STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
| HIC |
270 |
292 |
| Spine Acceleration |
35 G’s |
44 G’s |
| Hip Force |
480 lbs. |
919 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
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 UX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

