2026 Kia Sportage Road Test and Review

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

For a family of four, a five-passenger vehicle is often a pretty comfortable fit. The trouble is when you need to carry a fifth person. That’s when some five-seaters start to feel pretty pinched. 

The 2026 Kia Sportage is a compact crossover. And that word “compact” can sound like trouble for five-person plans. But as we found during a recent weeklong test, the Sportage has more space than you might expect – despite a starting price of less than $30,000. 

Available with a gasoline-only engine or a choice of two fuel-sipping hybrids, the Sportage is newly updated for 2026 with a redesigned front end, an overhauled dashboard, upgraded in-dash technology, and new amenities. For this review, we spent a week testing the updated 2026 Sportage to learn more about its pros and cons. Keep reading to see what we learned and whether this is the right roomy five-seat SUV for you. 

Tougher New Face

The current-generation Sportage debuted as a 2023 model. This redesign turned the Sportage from one of the smallest compact crossover SUVs into one of the largest. It also introduced a dramatic new design with chunky headlamps set into LED spears that Kia called “boomerangs.” 

This year, though, Kia redesigned the Sportage’s front end. Rather than sleek and unique, it’s more boxy and upright – a tougher face that matches the larger Kia Sorento mid-size crossover and Carnival minivan. There’s still an LED strip, but now it’s an amber turn signal on the outer edge of the vertical headlamps. With a spear pointing toward the rear of the vehicle, Kia transitions between this blocky new nose and the Sportage’s flowing body. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Overhauled Infotainment

The 2026 Sportage also gets a new infotainment system. The overall dashboard looks similar, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen sharing a single panel with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. But versus last year’s Sportage, the new model has Kia’s latest-generation infotainment. That brings a revised screen layout and – for the first time – a wireless connection to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. We appreciate no longer having to plug in a phone to use our mobile apps on the car's screen. But overall, we have mixed feelings about the new infotainment setup. In particular, it’s harder to find a view that shows what song is playing on the radio. But in most cases, the system looks good and works well. 

Kia also adjusted some details on the dashboard this year. It smoothed out the dash, removing some visual clutter of a vertical climate vent standing next to the touchscreen. And it replaced some dated glossy black plastic with more muted materials. Unfortunately, Kia stuck with a slick-looking but inconvenient panel that doubles for climate and audio controls; you must tap a touch-sensitive button to change between the panel’s dual functions. In other words, if you want to change the climate temperature, you first tap the swap icon so the audio system’s volume knob becomes a temperature dial. 

So we have a few nitpicks about the Sportage’s dashboard. But overall, it looks contemporary, it’s well built, and its controls aren’t the worst out there. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Ample Passenger Space

We mentioned that we frequently carried five people during our week in the Sportage. That was two adults in the front, two children in car seats in the back, and an adult in the back between them. 

In many cars, that would be quite a pinch. But it wasn’t a problem in the Sportage. The front and rear seats have plenty of legroom. The rear seat is wide enough for a third person. And the wide center console gives some space between the driver and front passenger. 

The Sportage also includes some high-end comfort amenities. Heated front seats are standard on all but the base LX model, where they’re optional. And the top Prestige trim levels also include a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats. Hybrid models also add heated rear seats at the Prestige level. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Tons of Cargo Room, Too

The Sportage also has ample cargo space. The volume measures 40 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 74 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. That’s among the best of any compact crossover. The seats were a little annoying to fold; a release handle in the cargo hold only dropped the seats partway, forcing us to go around to each side of the car to finish the job. But the end result was more room than you’ll find in some mid-size SUVs – such as the Nissan Murano or Chevrolet Blazer. 

We also appreciated the Sportage’s space for small items in the cabin. In addition to the generously sized center console bin, you can get extra space in the console by folding away the cleverly designed retractable cupholders. 

Towing is also above average for this class. Models with the base gas-only engine can tow up to 2,500 pounds, while the hybrids manage a still-respectable 2,000 pounds. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Choose Your Powertrain

We mentioned that the Sportage comes in a choice of three powertrains. The base Sportage engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine is smooth and quiet when you’re not pushing it too hard, but it quickly runs out of steam. That’s when it gets loud and labored without digging up much more grunt. You don't even get great gas mileage in exchange – 25 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and about 2 mpg less with all-wheel drive. We averaged 27 mpg in an AWD model we tested a couple years ago. 

The Sportage Hybrid, or HEV, is both more powerful and more economical. Between its 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and its two electric motors, it makes 232 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. With electric motors helping drive the car, the little gas engine doesn’t have to work as hard. (The electric battery recharges while you drive by capturing energy from the brakes and the gas engine.) As a result, its EPA ratings jump to 35 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. Our AWD test vehicle hit the 35 mpg estimate during our weeklong test despite subfreezing temperatures (when hybrids are less economical) and a full load of passengers. An even more efficient front-drive model is available only on the base LX trim level; it hits an exceptional 42 mpg combined.

The Sportage PHEV is a plug-in hybrid with a bigger battery, which you can charge up using electricity from the grid. Unlike a fully electric car, it keeps a gas engine on board for when you run out of range. In theory, this means you could, say, commute to work without using any gasoline, then take a multiday road trip without needing to worry about finding a charger. The EPA rates it at 34 miles of fully electric range. In practice, though, we found the gas engine kicked on to run the heater – burning gas even when the battery was fully charged. 

The Sportage HEV is a modest $2,000 upcharge over the equivalent gas-only Sportage. That buys you better gas mileage with quicker acceleration thrown into the bargain – or vice versa. The PHEV, however, costs another $5,000 on top of that. The PHEV is the most economical member of the lineup if you charge it every day. But especially given how its gas engine often comes on regardless, we’d stick with the HEV. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Agreeable Ride and Handling

The Sportage rides and handles well. Big wheels like our SX Prestige test vehicle’s 19-inchers can clomp over bumps, but the Sportage is otherwise steady and comfortable. (Most trim levels come with 17-inch or 18-inch wheels.) It’s easy to drive, too, just without the sporty precision you might find in a Mazda CX-50 or even a Honda CR-V. Push the Sportage hard, and you’ll find that the steering becomes vague and slow to respond compared to those rivals. 

Also don’t expect the Sportage to be an off-road master. Even the off-road-themed X-Pro brings all-terrain tires and more off-road driving modes than the typical Sportage – but not an upgraded suspension or higher ground clearance. Any AWD Sportage can easily handle a muddy road or light snow, but none is meant for hard-core off-roading. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Lots of Features for the Money

The 2026 Kia Sportage is packed with amenities up and down its lineup. You can stick with a base or midlevel model to score a low price, or you can get a high-end version with more features than the competition at the same price. 

Prices start at $28,690 for the base Sportage LX with the gas engine (plus a mandatory $1,445 destination charge). Our test vehicle is the HEV SX Prestige, which costs just over $40,000. At that price, you get heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic roof, front and rear automatic braking, a blind-spot camera that appears in the gauge cluster, a surround-view parking camera, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, and the ability to use your phone as a key. Many of these features are missing from a similarly priced Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V – if they’re offered at all. And you can get some of these amenities even on lesser trim levels. Every Sportage also has a longer warranty than most rivals. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Sportage vs. the Competition

We’re fans of the Sportage, but it faces some tough competition among five-seat compact crossovers. Another favorite of ours is the Honda CR-V, which stands out for a simple but well-built interior with easy-to-use controls; an excellent balance of ride comfort and handling performance; and just as much space inside as the Sportage. But the Honda costs more, has less stylistic flair, and doesn’t have as many premium amenities. 

Another top competitor is the Toyota RAV4, the class’s newly redesigned best-seller. The RAV4 now comes only as a hybrid, which costs more than even the Sportage HEV – to say nothing of the gas model. The RAV4 is more economical than the Sportage HEV, but the Kia is quicker, quieter, roomier, and more agile – a pretty convincing set of advantages. However, the redesigned RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (due in the spring) drives better and uses less gas than the Sportage PHEV. 

We’d also shop the Sportage against the affordable yet upscale and fun-to-drive Mazda CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid. It’s not as roomy as the Kia, and its controls are harder to use. But if you appreciate sharp handling over carrying five people, the Mazda deserves your attention. 

The Nissan Rogue is a spacious yet premium-feeling compact crossover that sells for reasonable prices. It’s newly available as a plug-in hybrid, but more significantly, its base gas-only three-cylinder can get better mileage than the Sportage HEV on the open highway. Only the expensive Rogue PHEV can match the Sportage HEV in stop-and-go conditions, though. 

The Hyundai Tucson is a corporate cousin to the Sportage, sharing its mechanical components and most of its advantages and disadvantages. If you like the Sportage but prefer the Tucson’s style or get a better price quote from your Hyundai dealer, it would serve you well. We also prefer the Hyundai’s control layout. 

Finally, we’re also fans of the subcompact Kia Seltos. It’s as roomy as past generations of the Sportage, and it costs thousands less. If you’re not attached to maximum space or luxury, its value is compelling. There’s no hybrid version, though. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige and 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid TrailSport ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Value for the Money, and More

The 2026 Kia Sportage has a lot of value and luxury for the money. Its driving experience isn’t quite premium, especially with the base engine. But the design looks upscale inside and out, and the Sportage is packed with technology and high-end amenities. 

Whether you’re interested in lots of space for the money or lots of comfort amenities in a compact, easy-to-drive package, the Sportage delivers. We highly recommend the Sportage HEV for its extra power and fuel efficiency. But whatever you choose, you’ll get a well-rounded crossover with genuine space for five people. 

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt