2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid Expert Review
Reviewed by Billy Rehbock
Ever since we sampled the trio of current-generation Kia Sportage variants, we’ve thought the hybrid does the best job balancing value and efficiency. For 2026, the Sportage undergoes an early refresh with new styling details and a revised interior. Compact SUV rivals to the 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid include the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Honda CR-V Hybrid.
Kia also offers a Sportage with all-electric range—read about the PHEV model here.
What’s New
●Reworked front and rear bumpers
●An updated front fascia with a stacked LED headlight design and available amber daytime running lights
●Available cube-style projection headlights
●Revised LED taillights with a more geometric shape
●An extra 4 hp
●Dual 12.3-inch displays with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
●Available 10.0-inch head-up display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto navigation integration
●New S and X-Line variants
●Available forward collision avoidance assist with direct oncoming detection
●Available Highway Driving Assist 2
●Updated front, side, and rear parking sensors
●Available Digital Key lets you lock, unlock, and start car with mobile app
●Terrain drive mode for X-Line trim
●Restyled dashboard
●New wheel designs
What We Think
Where the gasoline-only Kia Sportage stumbles, the hybrid excels. We like the styling and tech-forward cabin used by all versions of Kia’s compact SUV. However, the naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine equipped on the mainstream Sportage range doesn’t cut it; acceleration and fuel economy are entirely unremarkable. The Sportage Hybrid is a lot quicker and provides smooth acceleration. And although the Sportage PHEV is even more rapid off the line, its value and mediocre all-electric driving range are significant drawbacks.
If you’re in the market for a Sportage Hybrid, we suggest going with FWD, as equipping AWD drops fuel economy. Ride quality is smooth in most situations, but the too-soft suspension tuning lends itself to poor body control on rough roads. There’s little steering feedback, but the rack is responsive and linear.
Overall, we appreciate what the Sportage Hybrid brings to the table. Clever interior details including hooks on the back of the headrests and configurable cupholders make the space feel a little more special than the average compact crossover. Speaking of space, the interior has lots of room for passengers to get comfortable. If the Kia Sportage’s styling has caught your eye, go for the hybrid.
Performance and MPGs
Every Kia Sportage Hybrid comes equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 44-kW electric traction motor situated between the engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. There’s a 4-hp bump for 2026, so output now totals 231 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Kia continues to offer the basic LX model for 2026, so FWD still serves as the entry-level powertrain layout. Otherwise, all other versions of the Sportage Hybrid utilize AWD.
In our testing, a 2023 Kia Sportage HEV AWD accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, a full 2.0 seconds quicker than the gasoline-only model. If you opt for the more powerful Sportage PHEV, you’ll see another 0.2 second fall off from the hybrid’s 0–60-mph time.
Fuel economy favors the FWD Kia Sportage Hybrid, which is rated at 42/44 mpg city/highway for 2025. Equipping all-wheel drive drops those figures to 38/38 mpg. Even with the revised hybrid system, these fuel economy figures should mostly carry over for the 2026 model year.
2026 Kia Sportage PHEV: Range, Charging, and Performance
The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV carries over with a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder, an electric motor, and a larger battery than what’s outfitted to the Sportage Hybrid. Due to a revised drivetrain, output rises by 7 hp for the new model year. This plug-in hybrid develops 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, routed to a standard all-wheel-drive system via a six-speed automatic transmission. Electric driving range is 34 miles while total range is rated at 430 miles (2024 figures).
Safety Ratings and Features
NHTSA awards the 2025 Sportage Hybrid five stars overall, with five stars given for front crashes, five stars for side crashes, and four stars for rollovers. IIHS has not separately tested the Hybrid but has named the 2024 Sportage a 2024 Top Safety Pick, the institute’s second highest distinction. We expect 2026 models to receive similar scores.
Kia equips the 2026 Sportage Hybrid with standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping, rear parking sensors, automatic high-beams, and a driver focus monitor. The automaker reserves blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera for higher trim levels. New available features include forward collision avoidance assist with direct oncoming detection, Highway Driving Assist 2, and updated front, side, and rear parking sensors.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The Kia Sportage Hybrid’s interior dimensions remain the same for 2026. As such, second-row legroom continues to trump that of the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
Technology
Kia has completely overhauled the tech on offer in the 2026 Sportage Hybrid. LX, S, EX, and X-Line trims receive a 12.3-inch LCD driver readout with an integrated 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster display, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. SX, SX-Prestige trims are equipped with a curved 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with satellite radio, Kia Connect, voice commands, Wi-Fi, and navigation with over-the-air map updates. The upgraded pair of screens is also available on the X-Line trim as part of the X-Line Technology package.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard regardless of trim. A 10-inch head-up display is available, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto navigation integration.
Kia Connect services enable remote vehicle start, cabin preconditioning, vehicle lock status monitoring, and route planning. Keyless entry and push-button start are now standard, while Digital Key 2.0 Premium is available. Kia brings along an entry-level six-speaker audio setup on the Sportage’s lower trims, while the premium Harman Kardon eight-speaker arrangement will likely still be equipped on more upscale variants.
2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid Trim Levels
Kia offers the 2026 Sportage Hybrid at five trim levels: LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX Prestige. The new Sportage S Hybrid serves as a sportier-looking lower-end model, with standard features including a 12.3-inch LCD readout, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, front and rear USB-C ports, keyless entry with push-button start, a power driver’s seat with heated front seats, heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, 18-inch dark-colored wheels, and gloss black exterior trim.
For the first time, Kia offers the Sportage Hybrid with one of its rugged-looking X-Line variants. The X-Line Hybrid is standard with a 12.3-inch LCD readout, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, front and rear USB-C port, wireless charging, a power driver’s seat, faux leather seat upholstery with heated front seats, heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals, LED foglights, a panoramic sunroof, overhead LED interior lighting, a smart power liftgate, and 19-inch black wheels. Kia rounds out the Sportage X-Line Hybrid’s cosmetics with a gloss black grille, badges, and window trims.
