What kind of vehicle is the 2026 Kia Sportage? What does it compare to?

Kia’s entry in the most popular compact crossover segment rivals bestsellers such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, and squares off against the related Hyundai Tucson as well as redesigned versions of the Mazda CX-50, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Chevy Equinox. 

Is the 2026 Kia Sportage a good SUV?

It’s a cutthroat class and more driver conveniences this year should improve on the 2025 Sportage’s TCC Rating of 6.8 out of 10. Three powertrains, six trim levels, a roomy interior, edgy styling, a good infotainment system, and an excellent warranty bolster its rating. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

What’s new for the 2026 Kia Sportage?

The mid-cycle refresh dusts off the ends for a new take on the Sportage’s dogbone grille. Flanked by amber running lights and with available cube headlights stacked in a column, the front end now looks like Catwoman’s mask. With flexed fenders and available roof rails, as well as wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 19 inches, the Sportage blends both feminine curves and masculine angles to mostly good effect. 

The big glow up is inside, where Kia has made standard its dual 12.3-inch digital displays that curve gently toward the driver. The awkward vent brackets have been ironed out into one horizontal line that splits the upper and lower dash and makes the cabin seem wider and lower, with more outward visibility. The dual-function climate panel switches between climate controls and touchscreen menu buttons, and dials on the end keep the simple functions simple. Yay. 

A new flat-top and -bottom steering wheel steers three mostly carryover powertrain choices:

a relatively coarse 187-hp inline-4 with an 8-speed automatic in front- or all-wheel drive; a 1.6-liter turbo-4 hybrid making 231 hp (up 4 hp this year) with a 6-speed automatic and an excellent 43-mpg combined rating with front-wheel drive (38 mpg with AWD); or a plug-in hybrid with the same engine but a larger battery and motor with a 268-hp combined rating (up 7 hp) with standard AWD. In our testing of last year’s models, we prefer the hybrid’s overall ride quality and value. 

The exterior and interior footprint of the 2026 Sportage carry over, and that’s a good thing as it’s roomy enough to fit five adults. With 41.3 inches of rear legroom, rear seat passengers have just about as much space as front passengers. Fold down the 60:40-split rear seats and the cargo hold and its tiered floor expands from 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space to more than 74 cubic feet of space. Hybrid and plug-in versions lose a bit of space due to their battery packs, but the Sportage is one of the roomier compact crossovers behind the Honda CR-V.

Expect the Kia Sportage’s top safety ratings to carry over for 2026. Kia equips it with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, active lane control, and automatic high-beam LED headlights. Adaptive cruise control costs extra, and Kia offers an advanced hands-free driving system that works for a couple minutes at a time as long as the driver is paying attention to the road. 

How much does the 2026 Kia Sportage cost?

Prices will be announced next spring, but expect an increase from the 2025 Sportage that starts at $28,565 for the base LX model with front-wheel drive and climbs to about $45,000 for the X-Line Prestige plug-in hybrid. Historically, Kia only charges about $1,500 more for the hybrid, and $1,800 more for all-wheel drive. 

The starting price includes a pretty good standard feature set, including a keyless entry and start, as well as a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster curved into a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Options range from a wireless smartphone charger and surround-view camera system to a blind-spot camera and all-terrain tires.

Where is the 2026 Kia Sportage made?

Either West Point, Georgia, or in South Korea, depending on the configuration.