Kia Sportage vs Suzuki Grand Vitara: compact SUVs compared
Updated Report an error By Sarah Whitmore
Kia · 2010–2015
Sportage SL
- Power
- 85 kW116 PS
- 0–100 km/h
- 12.3 s
- Top speed
- 173 km/h
- Kerb mass
- 1,490 kg
Suzuki · 1998–2005
Grand Vitara I (FT/GT)
- Power
- 116 kW158 PS
- 0–100 km/h
- 12.4 s
- Top speed
- 170 km/h
- Kerb mass
- 1,245 kg
At a glance
Who suits what, worked out from the catalog figures of the versions above.
Categories won: Sportage SL 1 Grand Vitara I (FT/GT) 1
- City Sportage SL Length: 4,440 mm vs 4,700 mm; Consumption: 5.3 l/100 km vs 10.9 l/100 km
- Performance Grand Vitara I (FT/GT) Power per tonne: 93 kW/t vs 57 kW/t
Verdict Opinion
The Grand Vitara is the genuine off-roader of the pair: permanent four-wheel drive, a low range and a ladder frame built into the body make it better suited to rough tracks and towing. The Sportage is the easier everyday car, with lighter running gear, a wide engine range and, from 2010, a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
If the car will rarely leave tarmac, the Sportage makes more sense; if it will, the Grand Vitara is the more capable tool.
- Sarah Whitmore
In the mid-2000s the Kia Sportage and the Suzuki Grand Vitara went head to head as compact SUVs, but they took opposite paths. The second-generation Sportage (JE, also written KM), shown in Paris in 2004, moved to a car-like unibody shared with the Hyundai Tucson. The second Grand Vitara (JT), introduced in 2005, kept serious off-road hardware.
The two names have since parted ways in Europe: the Sportage continued through three more generations, while Suzuki dropped the "Grand" in 2015 and replaced the JT with the monocoque Vitara. For most buyers this is therefore a comparison of used cars from 2005 to 2015, with the newer Sportage generations as context.
Engineering, design and everyday use
Engineering and drive
The Grand Vitara JT uses a monocoque with an integrated ladder frame, independent suspension all round and permanent four-wheel drive with a 47:53 torque split. Five-door cars have a lockable centre differential and a low range with a 1.97:1 reduction. The JE/KM Sportage is front-wheel drive or has permanent all-wheel drive with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, without a low range.
Engines overlap closely. The Sportage offered a 2.0 petrol with 104 kW (141 PS), a 2.7 V6 with 129 kW (175 PS) and a 2.0 CRDi diesel rising from 83 kW (113 PS) to 110 kW (150 PS). The Grand Vitara had a 1.6 with 78 kW (106 PS), a 2.0 with 103 kW (140 PS), a 2.4 with up to 124 kW (169 PS), 2.7 and 3.2 V6s and a 1.9 diesel with 95 kW (129 PS).
Size and practicality
The five-door Grand Vitara JT is 1,810 mm (71.3 in) wide on a 2,640 mm (103.9 in) wheelbase, with 398 L (14.1 cu ft) of boot space seats up and 1,386 L (48.9 cu ft) to the roof. Towing is rated at 1,700 to 2,000 kg (3,748 to 4,409 lb) braked, depending on version; the second-generation Sportage is rated at up to 1,800 kg (3,968 lb). A three-door Grand Vitara on a 2,440 mm wheelbase was also sold.
Safety and ownership
In 2007 Euro NCAP gave the five-door Grand Vitara four stars for adult occupants, three for children and three for pedestrians. The next Sportage (SL) earned five stars in 2010. In the German TUV Report 2026, the older Grand Vitara showed above-average chassis defects and brake-line complaints. Kia's seven-year, 150,000 km European warranty applies to the Sportage from the 2008 model year.
Race Stats side by side
Each figure is a 0–100 score from the catalog numbers, the same as on the 1CARS Race cards. PI is the overall performance index (100–999) and its class D–S.
| Stat | Sportage SL | Grand Vitara I (FT/GT) |
|---|---|---|
| PI | C · 407 | B · 543 |
| Power | 33 | 48 |
| Grip | 32 | 65 |
| Handling | 55 | 80 |
| Top speed | 28 | 27 |
| Launch | 22 | 22 |
| Reliability | - | 91 |
Grip and handling are estimates from drive type, weight, height and body (hover a figure to see where it comes from). 1CARS Race
Who wins a race?
Quarter-mile (402 m) drag from a standing start, dry road, no reaction time - the 1CARS Race physics on the catalog figures of these versions.
- 1 Grand Vitara I (FT/GT)Grand Vitara I (FT/GT) · 116 kW (158 PS) 17.98 sat 118 km/h
- 2 Sportage SLSportage SL · 1.7 · diesel · 85 kW (116 PS) 18.10 sat 121 km/h · +0.12 s
Size and weight
| Sportage SL | Grand Vitara I (FT/GT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,440 mm174.8 in | 4,700 mm185.0 in +260 mm +10.2 in +5.9% |
| Kerb weight | 1,490 kg3,285 lb | 1,245 kg2,745 lb −245 kg −540 lb −16.4% |
| Fits a standard garage? | Tight | No data |
Difference vs Sportage SL (±). Garage check: a standard single garage takes a car up to about 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) long and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) wide (width as listed in the catalog; some makers include the mirrors). Leave about 0.6 m (2 ft) to open the doors.
Full specifications
| Kia Sportage | Suzuki Grand Vitara | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Version | Sportage SL · 1.7 · diesel · 85 kW (116 PS) | Grand Vitara I (FT/GT) · 116 kW (158 PS) |
| Production years | 2010–2015 | 1998–2005 |
| Body | SUV, Convertible | SUV, Convertible |
| Class | SUV / crossover | SUV / crossover |
| Country | South Korea | Japan |
| Performance | ||
| Power Why it matters: More power means stronger acceleration and easier overtaking, especially with a full load. | 85 kW (116 PS) 114 hp | 116 kW (158 PS) 156 hp Better |
| Power, all versions | 61–195 kW (83–265 PS) 82–261 hp | 64–135 kW (87–184 PS) 86–181 hp |
| Torque Why it matters: Torque is the pulling force you feel when accelerating from low revs, towing or climbing hills. | 260 Nm 192 lb-ft | No data |
| 0–100 km/h Why it matters: A shorter 0–100 km/h time means quicker getaways and safer merging onto fast roads. | 12.3 s | 12.4 s |
| Top speed Why it matters: Top speed hints at how relaxed the car is at motorway speeds, even if you never reach it. | 173 km/h 107 mph | 170 km/h 106 mph |
| Power per tonne | 57 kW/t 69 hp/ton calculated | 93 kW/t 113 hp/ton calculated Better |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Fuel | Diesel | No data |
| Engine | 1,700 cc 1.7 l | 6 cyl |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual | automatic |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive | Four-wheel drive (4×4) |
| Dimensions and weight | ||
| Length | 4,440 mm 174.8 in | 4,700 mm 185.0 in |
| Width | 1,855 mm 73.0 in | No data |
| Height | 1,635 mm 64.4 in | No data |
| Wheelbase | 2,640 mm 103.9 in | No data |
| Kerb weight Why it matters: A lighter car is usually more agile and uses less energy. | 1,490 kg 3,285 lb | 1,245 kg 2,745 lb Better |
| Boot Why it matters: A bigger boot fits more luggage, shopping or a pram. | 465 l 16.4 cu ft | No data |
| Fuel tank Why it matters: A larger tank means more distance between fuel stops. | 58 l 15.3 gal US | No data |
| Economy and running costs | ||
| Fuel consumption Why it matters: Lower consumption cuts running costs and CO₂ emissions on every trip. | 5.3 l/100 km 44.4 mpg US Better | 10.9 l/100 km 21.6 mpg US |
| CO₂ | 139 g/km | No data |
| Fuel cost per year | €1,310/year estimated | No data |
| Range on a full tank | 1,094 km 680 mi estimated | No data |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP | ★★★★★ (2010) | No data |
These cars do not differ in the data we have.
Equal rows hidden (2): Body, Class.
Better marks the stronger figure - only for measurable specs (power, torque, 0–100 km/h, consumption, boot, weight).
Estimated at 15,000 km a year with fuel at €1.65/l diesel.
In plain words
Kia Sportage is quicker: 0–100 km/h in 12.3 s against 12.4 s for Suzuki Grand Vitara. Suzuki Grand Vitara is 260 mm longer than Kia Sportage (4,700 mm vs 4,440 mm). Suzuki Grand Vitara is lighter by 245 kg (1,245 kg vs 1,490 kg). Kia Sportage is the older design (from 1993); Suzuki Grand Vitara arrived in 1998. On the catalog figures, the Kia Sportage is the pick for city; the Suzuki Grand Vitara is the pick for performance.
Which one to choose
Choose the Kia Sportage if you want a comfortable family crossover with front- or all-wheel drive, a newer generation for better safety, and Kia's long European warranty on later cars.
Choose the Suzuki Grand Vitara if you need real off-road ability with a low range and a lockable centre differential. The 2.4 petrol is the stronger engine; the 1.9 diesel has known oil-loss and turbocharger issues.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Sportage have a low range like the Grand Vitara?
No. From 2004 the Sportage uses front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with an electronically controlled clutch. The Grand Vitara JT has permanent four-wheel drive, and five-door cars add a lockable centre differential and a low range.
Which is safer?
Euro NCAP rated the Grand Vitara in 2007 with four stars for adult occupants. The 2010 Sportage scored five stars overall, and the 2022 model five stars again.
Is the Grand Vitara still sold in Europe?
No. In Europe it was replaced in 2015 by the monocoque Suzuki Vitara. A different Grand Vitara has been built in India since 2022 but is not exported to Europe.