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2026 Kia Sportage vs 2026 Mazda CX-50

Price, size, cabin, cargo, towing, safety and ownership side by side. Every value comes from the cited sources in each model-year profile, and gaps stay labeled instead of guessed.

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Swap A and B

Key differences

Where the published numbers differ

No overall winner: each line is one source-backed figure. Decide which ones matter for how you will use the SUV.

ASportage has

  • Starting pricelower starting price by $1,110
  • Rear legroommore rear legroom by 1.5 in
  • Maximum cargomore maximum cargo by 17.8 cu ft

BCX-50 has

  • Overall lengthlonger by 1.4 in
  • Wheelbaselonger wheelbase by 2.3 in

=Same figure

None of the compared fields are identical.

Head-to-head

The numbers, side by side

Bars share one scale starting at zero, so small real differences are not exaggerated. Where a profile lists several figures, the highest published one is used.

SportageCX-50
Starting price2026 Kia Sportage: lower starting price by $1,110
$28,790
$29,900
Overall length2026 Mazda CX-50: longer by 1.4 in
184.4 in
185.8 in
Wheelbase2026 Mazda CX-50: longer wheelbase by 2.3 in
108.5 in
110.8 in
Ground clearanceVaries by trim or option; compare the exact configuration
7.1 in FWD; 8.3 in AWD
8.3 in
Rear legroom2026 Kia Sportage: more rear legroom by 1.5 in
41.3 in
39.8 in
Front headroomVaries by trim or option; compare the exact configuration
39.6 in without sunroof; 37.8 in with sunroof
39.1 in without moonroof
Cargo behind rear seatVaries by trim or option; compare the exact configuration
36.6-39.6 cu ft
31.4 cu ft
Maximum cargo2026 Kia Sportage: more maximum cargo by 17.8 cu ft
69.3-74.1 cu ft
56.3 cu ft

Decision snapshot

Six buyer questions, without an overall winner.

Each card compares one documented criterion. A lead is shown only when both source-backed values use a compatible measurement; otherwise the raw facts stay visible and the criterion stays unresolved.

Starting priceStarting MSRP
ASportage$28,790Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
BCX-50$29,900Manufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Kia Sportage has lower published starting MSRP by $1,110.

EfficiencyHybrid fuel economy
ASportageNot verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile
BCX-5039 / 37 / 38 mpgManufacturer-published U.S. specification

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Maximum cargoMaximum cargo volume
ASportage69.3-74.1 cu ftCargo-floor position
BCX-5056.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Kia Sportage has more published maximum cargo volume by 17.8 cu ft.

Rear-seat roomRear legroom
ASportage41.3 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
BCX-5039.8 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Kia Sportage has more published rear/second-row legroom by 1.5 in.

Maximum towingComparable field unavailable
ASportageNot verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile
BCX-50Not verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile

No directly comparable source-backed field is available for this pair.

Basic warrantyNew-vehicle / basic warranty
ASportageVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date
BCX-50Verify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Table view

At a glance

Key specifications

2 of 6 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
Starting MSRPDifferent$28,790Manufacturer-published U.S. specification$29,900Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
Primary engine / systemData gap2.5L four-cylinderManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Primary outputData gap187 hpManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Maximum cargoDifferent74.1 cu ftLow cargo-floor position56.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
DrivetrainData gap—No source-backed value verified yetAWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Cargo behind rear seatData gap—No source-backed value verified yet31.4 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Price & trims

Pricing and trim lineup

4 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
Starting MSRPDifferent$28,790Manufacturer-published U.S. specification$29,900Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
Entry trimDifferentLX FWD · $28,790Gas2.5 S Select · $29,900Gas AWD
Highest listed trimDifferentX-Line AWD · $33,090AWD2.5 Turbo · $37,900Turbo AWD
Trim lineupDifferentLX FWD · EX FWD · X-Line AWD · HEV LX4 researched trims2.5 S Select · 2.5 Turbo · Hybrid Preferred3 researched trims

Performance

Engine, output and drivetrain

0 of 5 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
Engine / primary systemData gap2.5L four-cylinderManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Primary outputData gap187 hpManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
TransmissionData gap8-speed automaticManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
All-wheel driveData gapAvailable or standard by trimManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
DrivetrainData gap—No source-backed value verified yetAWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Fuel & efficiency

Fuel and efficiency details

0 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
Hybrid fuel economyData gap—No source-backed value verified yet39 / 37 / 38 mpgManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Size & footprint

Exterior dimensions

3 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
WheelbaseDifferent108.5 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification110.8 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Overall lengthDifferent184.4 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification185.8 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Overall widthData gap73.4 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Ground clearanceDifferent7.1 in FWD; 8.3 in AWDManufacturer-published U.S. specification8.3 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Cabin

Interior space and seating

3 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
Front legroomDifferent41.4 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification41.7 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Rear legroomDifferent41.3 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification39.8 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Front headroomDifferent39.6 in without sunroof; 37.8 in with sunroofManufacturer-published U.S. specification39.1 in without moonroofManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Passenger volumeData gap—No source-backed value verified yet100.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Cargo

Cargo space and practical measurements

2 of 2 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
Cargo behind rear seatDifferent36.6-39.6 cu ftCargo-floor position31.4 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum cargo volumeDifferent69.3-74.1 cu ftCargo-floor position56.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Utility

Towing, seating and capability

1 of 3 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
All-wheel driveData gapAvailable or standard by trimManufacturer-published U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Maximum cargoDifferent69.3-74.1 cu ftCargo-floor position56.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Cargo behind rear seatData gap—No source-backed value verified yet31.4 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Ownership

Warranty and service planning

0 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Kia SportageB2026 Mazda CX-50
New-vehicle / basic warrantyVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service dateVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date

Safety systems

Driver-assistance equipment and context

A2026 Kia

Sportage

Driver-assistance equipment is kept separate from crash ratings. Check the exact 2026 model on IIHS and NHTSA before relying on a rating or award.

  • Automatic emergency braking / forward-collision features
  • Lane-support features
  • Blind-spot systems where equipped
  • Check trim for available advanced driver assistance
B2026 Mazda

CX-50

Driver-assistance equipment is kept separate from crash ratings. Check the exact 2026 model on IIHS and NHTSA before relying on a rating or award.

  • Automatic emergency braking / forward-collision features
  • Lane-support features
  • Blind-spot systems where equipped
  • Check trim for available advanced driver assistance

Cabin technology

Infotainment, connectivity and convenience

A2026 Kia

Sportage

  • Infotainment and phone integration vary by trim.
  • Camera, parking and premium-audio features vary by equipment.
  • Connected-services availability and trial periods can change.
B2026 Mazda

CX-50

  • Infotainment and phone integration vary by trim.
  • Camera, parking and premium-audio features vary by equipment.
  • Connected-services availability and trial periods can change.

Evidence ledger

Source links and research freshness

Buying context

What to check before choosing a trim

A2026 Kia

Sportage

  1. The sunroof reduces published front headroom by 1.8 inches.
  2. Cargo volume changes with the dual-level floor position.
  3. Compare gas and hybrid trims with matching drivetrain and equipment.
Research caveat

Use the exact trim, drivetrain, roof equipment and powertrain when a number is configuration-sensitive. Cargo volume does not prove that a rigid item fits through the hatch; measure the exact vehicle for close-fit use cases.

Updated 2026-09-232 research sources
B2026 Mazda

CX-50

  1. AWD is standard across the lineup.
  2. Hybrid towing is lower than the referenced gas-model limit.
  3. The moonroof lowers published front headroom.
Research caveat

Use the exact trim, drivetrain, roof equipment and powertrain when a number is configuration-sensitive. Cargo volume does not prove that a rigid item fits through the hatch; measure the exact vehicle for close-fit use cases.

Updated 2026-09-232 research sources

Keep comparing

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