2025 Subaru Outback vs. Kia Sportage Exterior Design

Distinctive looks ensure you leave an impression whether you drive the 2025 Subaru Outback or 2025 Kia Sportage. The rugged, adventure-ready profile of the Outback lends itself to utility with a long, relatively flat roof with standard raised roof rails. In contrast, the Sportage features unique, angular lighting and a more rounded-off profile. Premium LED headlamps are standard with either SUV, but the Outback features standard LED fog lamps, which are an optional feature on select Sportage trims. For everyday convenience, the Outback offers a hands-free power rear gate, and the Sportage offers a smart power liftgate. The Sportage offers a panoramic sunroof while the Outback offers a power moonroof.

Other notable exterior differences include:

• Wheel Sizes — While you can get either SUV with 17- or 18-inch wheels, the Kia Sportage also offers larger 19-inch wheel options.
• Off-Road Trim Design — Both SUVs offer an off-road-oriented trim, but the Outback is built with greater off-road capability. The Outback Wilderness gives you unique suspension with 9.5 inches of ground clearance, added protection with a front skid plate, and excellent traction thanks to standard Yokohama GEOLANDAR® all-terrain tires. You’ll get 8.3 inches of ground clearance, front and rear skid plates, and all-terrain tires with the Sportage X-Pro trim.

2025 Subaru Outback vs. Kia Sportage Interior Design & Technology

Premium tech and thoughtful interior design help make both the 2025 Subaru Outback and 2025 Kia Sportage excellent daily drivers. You can enjoy a number of similar features in both models, including available dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Both models share the convenience of an optional wireless phone charger, but only the Outback offers an available automatic-dimming rearview mirror.

Other notable interior and technology differences include:

• Harman Kardon® Sound System — Both SUVs offer a Harman Kardon sound system — the Outback includes 12 speakers and a 576-watt equivalent GreenEdge® amplifier, while the Sportage comes with eight speakers and HALOsonic® technology.
• Premium Seating — Only the Subaru Outback offers the soft-touch comfort of leather or Nappa leather seat upholstery. You can get woven cloth or SynTex artificial leather in the Sportage, and cloth or water-repellent StarTex® are additional options in the Outback.
• Custom Comfort — Shared options like heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel keep you and your co-pilot comfortable during weather extremes while you drive the Outback or Sportage. However, only the Subaru Outback offers heated rear seats for your passengers.
• Infotainment Tech — Interact with all your maps, playlists, and incoming communication via large screens in either SUV. In the Outback, you get either dual 7-inch SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia displays or an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus display that stretches vertically along the center of the dash. By comparison, the Sportage comes with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display with the option for a 12.3-inch touchscreen in select trims. While both models include standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, the Outback offers wireless functions with these same features.

2025 Subaru Outback vs. Kia Sportage Engine Specs & Fuel Economy

Turbocharged power helps set the 2025 Subaru Outback apart from the 2025 Kia Sportage. While their standard 2.5L engines have a similar horsepower and torque output, the Outback delivers a higher maximum towing capacity and slightly stronger city fuel economy estimates than the Sportage. However, with its exclusive 2.4L turbocharged engine, the Subaru Outback stands out with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, along with a 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity.

Another notable difference is the two models’ supporting mechanical components. Both Outback engines distribute their power to a standard symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) system via a Lineartronic® continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the Sportage is available with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD and a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. The symmetrical AWD system of the Outback delivers power to all four wheels consistently, while the Sportage system is a part-time system that sends power to the front wheels most of the time, and transfers power to the rear wheels as needed. Optimize the traction settings for your SUV using standard X-MODE® on your Outback or standard, selectable normal, smart, and sport drive modes with the Sportage.

See the Outback and Sportage engine specs in the following chart.

2025 Subaru Outback vs. Kia Sportage Size & Cargo Space

Find spacious versatility in both the 2025 Subaru Outback and 2025 Kia Sportage. In terms of overall size, the Outback is just over 8 inches longer and 245 pounds heavier than the Sportage. Inside, you’ll notice the Outback provides more front legroom while the Sportage offers slightly more rear legroom — and both seat five with their two-row interiors. Maximum cargo space for both SUVs is close, with a slight edge going to the Subaru Outback when the rear seats are folded down.

Compare the key dimensions for both models in the accompanying table.

2025 Subaru Outback vs. Kia Sportage Safety Options & Features

Make peace of mind a constant with every drive in the 2025 Subaru Outback and 2025 Kia Sportage. In emergency situations, systems like pre-collision braking and automatic emergency steering provide support in the Outback, and the Sportage gives you forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection. As part of its standard EyeSight® driver assist technology suite, the Outback includes advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering; navigation-based cruise control with stop-and-go is included with select Sportage trims. Rearview cameras are standard fare on either SUV, and you can upgrade to a 180-degree camera on select Outback trims or a surround view monitor on the Sportage.

Available Outback safety features include:

• EyeSight driver assist technology
  • Advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering
  • Pre-collision braking
  • Lane departure and sway warning
  • Lane-keep assist
  • Automatic emergency steering
• High beam assist
• DriverFocus® distraction mitigation system
• Blind spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert
• Reverse automatic braking
• 180-degree front-view monitor
• Rear vision camera

Available Sportage safety features include:

• Forward collision avoidance assist
• High beam assist
• Front and rear park distance warning
• Lane departure warning
• Lane-keeping assist
• Lane following assist
• Driver attention warning
• Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist
• Safe exit warning
• Blind spot view monitor
• Reverse parking collision avoidance assist
• Surround view monitor