Kia's (000270.KS) Sportage, a compact sport utility vehicle, outscored its segment rival, the Mazda CX-5, in a comparison test by a German automotive magazine.
The Sportage scored 569 points in a September comparison test of gasoline-powered compact SUVs conducted by Auto Bild, beating the CX-5's 552 points by a 17-point margin.
Auto Bild evaluated seven categories: body, comfort, powertrain, driving performance, connected car features, environmental performance and running costs.
The Sportage outscored the CX-5 in five of them, including body (95 points), comfort (114 points), powertrain (91 points), driving performance (75 points) and running costs (88 points). The CX-5 scored 93, 108, 85, 69 and 81 points, respectively.
The Sportage accelerated from a standstill to 100 kilometers per hour in 9.2 seconds, faster than the CX-5's 10.6 seconds.
In passing acceleration from 80 kph to 120 kph, it posted 6.4 seconds, two seconds quicker than the CX-5's 8.4 seconds.
Braking performance was also stronger. Stopping distances from 100 kph measured 34.6 meters in cold conditions and 34.4 meters when warm, shorter than the CX-5's 36.1 meters and 35.6 meters.
The Sportage also earned high marks for a maximum payload of 593 kilograms, a rear seatback release function, ride comfort and cabin quietness, and a seven-year or 150,000-kilometer warranty.
"The Sportage is a compact SUV that offers a long warranty and is convenient for everyday use," Auto Bild said in its overall assessment, adding that "the Kia feels somewhat more modern overall than the CX-5."
Auto Bild is considered one of Germany's three leading automotive magazines, along with Auto Motor und Sport and Auto Zeitung.
In July, Auto Motor und Sport ranked the Sportage first overall in a comparison test of four compact SUVs that also included the CX-5, Ford's Kuga and Citroen's C5 Aircross.
The Sportage was named Best Family SUV for 2025 and Family SUV of the Year for 2026 by What Car?, a leading British automotive publication, and also won a Best Hybrid award for 2026 from U.S. News & World Report and Cars.com in the United States.
A Kia official said the Sportage "has consistently won recognition for its product appeal and competitiveness through evaluations by global automotive media and leading German specialist magazines," adding that the company "will do its best to continue delivering well-rounded product quality and reliability that customers can feel in real-world driving."
