The Ford EcoSport has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sportage doesn't offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the EcoSport. But it costs extra on the Sportage.

The EcoSport has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Sportage doesn't offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the EcoSport and the Sportage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford EcoSport is safer than the Kia Sportage:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford EcoSport is safer than the Kia Sportage:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The EcoSport's 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EcoSport's warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the EcoSport gets better mileage than the Sportage:

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the EcoSport's engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Sportage doesn't offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The EcoSport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it's removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sportage doesn't offer a cap-less fueling system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Ford EcoSport as a “Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle” (PZEV). The Kia Sportage is only certified to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV) standards.

The EcoSport is 1 foot, 3.1 inches shorter than the Sportage, making the EcoSport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the EcoSport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sportage doesn't offer active grille shutters.

The EcoSport has .3 inches more front headroom and 1.4 inches more front legroom than the Sportage.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the EcoSport uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Sportage doesn't offer electronic trailer sway control.

The EcoSport's driver's power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Sportage's standard driver's power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the EcoSport's available exterior PIN entry system. The Sportage doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The EcoSport's standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn't have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Sportage's manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The EcoSport SES/Titanium's standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The EcoSport (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Sportage doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the EcoSport is less expensive to operate than the Sportage because it costs $172 less to do the manufacturer's suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the EcoSport than the Sportage, including $154 less for a water pump, $144 less for a muffler, $25 less for fuel injection and $431 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford EcoSport will be $1252 to $3713 less than for the Kia Sportage.