Nissan Xterra vs. Kia Sportage Review

Performance
When it comes to horsepower, the Nissan packs quite a punch and will knock the Kia Sportage down a few rungs. On the flip side, bear in mind that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums.

Handling
With their similar turning radiuses, the Kia Sportage and the Nissan Xterra most definitely handle approximately the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Kia's engine is tremendously smaller than the Xterra's. Keep in mind that smaller engines can be stressed more; on the other hand, smaller engines are often cheaper to fix. The Kia Sportage could learn a lesson or two from the Nissan as far as torque. The Nissan Xterra packs quite a wallop compared to the Kia Sportage regarding torque, which is roughly equivalent to acceleration.

Utility
Neither the Kia Sportage nor the Nissan Xterra has a marked advantage regarding seating capacity. There's no clear winner between the Kia Sportage and the Nissan Xterra with respect to transporting cargo. Towing is substantially more the Nissan Xterra's forte than it is the Kia Sportage's.

Convenience
The Sportage's fuel tank will need to be replenished slightly more often than the unit in the Nissan Xterra.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Kia Sportage offers a bit more head room than the Nissan Xterra, there really isn't much of a difference. The ampler interior dimensions of the Kia Sportage make it considerably roomier for your passengers than the Nissan Xterra.

Dimensions
The Nissan Xterra is considerably more bulky than the Kia Sportage. Your wallet will hurt more every time you fill up the Nissan Xterra than the Sportage because of its larger tank. The Kia Sportage and the Xterra compete for the same parking spaces.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. The Sportage is considerably cheaper to get to the dealership than the Nissan. The Kia Sportage won't save you much money at the pump compared to the Nissan Xterra. The Nissan Xterra uses a lot of gasoline compared to the Kia Sportage. The Sportage is significantly less costly than the Nissan Xterra as far as MSRP.

Overview
The basic after-sale protection that comes with the Nissan Xterra isn't quite as generous as the Kia's.