Tucson vs Sportage on Safety: Which Compact SUV Protects You Better?

Saudi Arabia: When you're spending over 100,000 riyals on an SUV for your family, safety is not just a feature but everything that protects lives. The Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage share the same platform, the same parent company, and similar price tags in Saudi Arabia. But when metal meets metal, one of them does a better job of keeping you alive. 

Of late, new car buyers in Saudi Arabia have been extremely focused on safety features; the reason is now quite clear from buying patterns. More emphasis is now given to features that protect families when they are on the move than ever before. To help you make the right choice, we compare the safety features of these two SUVs.  

The Crash Test Factors

The Tucson earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus for 2025, and that's the highest rating you can get. The Sportage? The IIHS has not yet fully tested it for the current generation. That's not a small detail when you are doing three-digit speeds on the Riyadh-Dammam highway with your kids in the back.

NHTSA, the American safety agency, puts both through brutal 35 mph frontal crashes. The Tucson comes out ahead, and inside impacts, the results are consistent. So clearly, the numbers explain everything, and they are hard to hide, and these numbers say Tucson's body structure absorbs impact better.

But here's what you need to know about the Sportage: the blind spot warning system costs extra. In Tucson, it's standard across the lineup. You are paying 95,000 to 118,000 SAR for a Sportage. Why are you paying for a feature that could prevent you from hitting a motorcycle you didn't see?

The Tables Tell the Story

Safety Feature Comparison

Feature	Hyundai Tucson	Kia Sportage
IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus	Yes (2025)	Not tested
Blind Spot Warning	Standard all trims	Costs extra
Forward Collision Assist	Acceptable rating	Not tested
Airbags	6 (including knee)	6 (knee varies)
Remote Parking Assist	Available	Not available
Headlight Rating	Good	Fair/Acceptable
Highway Driving Assist	Standard on higher trims	Standard on higher trims

ADAS Systems: Where It Gets Interesting

Both SUVs come loaded with driver assistance tech: forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. On paper, they come across as identical twins.

But the Tucson's Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist got an Acceptable rating from IIHS for pedestrian detection. The Sportage hasn't been tested. Maybe it is just as good, maybe not.

The Tucson also offers Highway Driving Assist on upper trims, which combines adaptive cruise with lane centring. This feature significantly reduces the exhaustion of long drives to Jeddah. The Sportage has it too, but you are paying more to get the trim level that includes it.

And then there's Remote Smart Parking Assist on the Tucson Limited. Your SUV parks itself. The Sportage? The Sportage does not come equipped with this feature. Is it essential? No. But if you are not an expert at parallel parking in tight Riyadh streets, it's one less thing to stress about.

Airbags and Build Quality

Six airbags are standard in both, covering the front, side, and curtain. The Tucson boasts a driver knee airbag. The Sportage has knee airbags too, but availability varies by trim.

What really separates them is body structure. Hyundai uses high-strength steel in specific zones of the Tucson to improve rigidity. The Tucson's cabin holds its shape better. That matters in real accidents. Not the ones you plan for, but the ones you don't.

Headlights: The Overlooked Safety Feature

Why does this matter in Saudi Arabia? Because we drive at night. A lot. And better headlights mean you see that camel, that stopped truck, or that pedestrian in dark clothes crossing a poorly lit road. An additional second of visibility can determine whether you brake in time or not.

Pricing vs Safety Value

Model	Starting Price (SAR)	Top Price (SAR)	IIHS Rating	Blind Spot Standard
Tucson	109,985	135,285	Top Safety Pick Plus	Yes
Sportage	95,720	118,608	Not fully tested	No

What This Means for You

The Sportage starts at a lower price point, about 14,000 riyals less. That's real money for buyers in this segments, but at the cost of compromising on tested safety credentials and paying extra for features that should be standard.

The Tucson costs more upfront, but everything you need for maximum protection is included or available. And when it comes to protecting your family on roads where the fatality rate is still too high, it makes sense to invest appropriately, based on what you are getting.

What is clear in this comparison is that neither of these SUVs is unsafe. Both Korean brands are known for their build quality, features, and proven track record on Saudi roads. These both pass minimum standards with room to spare. But the Tucson goes further even when compared with other competitors. It has the crash test results, the standard safety equipment, and the build quality to back up its higher price.

Also Read: Genesis GV70 vs Infiniti QX55: Premium Crossover Battle for Saudi Drivers