The 2026 Kia Sportage Gets a Baby Telluride Makeover—with No Big Price Hike
With updated styling and the same wide breadth of powertrain options as before, the Sportage remains a good deal.
The Kia Sportage compact SUV gets a blocky, toughened-up exterior refresh (and new interior tech) for 2026 and the big news is that, well, it looks less different than before. Introduced for the 2023 model year, this generation Sportage previously wore a somewhat adventurous front-end design with what was best described as otherworldly vibes. It was striking, to be sure, but for the 2026 Sportage, Kia's stylists have reworked its front end for a more rectilinear appearance in line with the brand's hugely popular Telluride three-row and one-size-up Sorento SUVs. Inside, the Sportage gains Kia's latest touchscreen and digital gauge cluster tech, boasting faster processing and snappier graphics than before. And surprise of all surprises, none of these fairly involved changes result in big price increases across the Sportage lineup.
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Partly, that's because mechanically, the Sportage is much the same as last year. There are three powertrains on offer: A gas-powered Sportage with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and front- or all-wheel drive; a Sportage Hybrid, powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with electric assist making 281 hp; and the Sportage Plug-In Hybrid with the same electrified turbo setup albeit with a bigger battery for an estimated 34 miles of EV-only range and more muscular 268 hp total. The trim level structure similarly carries over, with a few exceptions. Last year's LX, EX, X-Line, and SX models are joined by a new Hybrid S trim and the X-Pro with a vaguely more off-road-ish appearance than other Sportages.
The new 2026 Kia Sportages are out now, and as before, standard equipment is generous. The entry-level Sportage LX comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, proximity key entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and those new dual 12.3-inch dashboard displays. EX models upgrade to standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a power driver's seat, faux leather seating upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a wireless phone charger, and a power liftgate. Sportage X-Line models get mostly blacked-out trim and wheels and similar equipment to the EX, while the SX adds Kia's Highway Driving Assist feature, a panoramic sunroof, and navigation standard.
As its name implies, the SX Prestige is even nicer, adding in standard heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree parking camera, blind-spot cameras, and a Harmon Kardon audio system. Finally, the X-Pro Prestige blends the SX Prestige's features with a heated windshield and all-terrain tires, along with a generally more off-road-y vibe.
Those trim level distinctions largely carry over to the equivalent Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Sportage models. While the upper-level Hybrid and PHEV versions are pricey for the segment (nearly fifty grand for a Sportage!?), the meat of the lineup is priced competitively, with the EX, X-Line, and SX Prestige variants falling well within the ordinary range among competitors such as the Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Chevrolet Equinox, and others. Below is the pricing for the 2026 Sportage lineup, and how much pricing has risen over the 2025 models.
2026 Kia Sportage Full Lineup Pricing
A lifelong car enthusiast, I stumbled into this line of work essentially by accident after discovering a job posting for an intern position at Car and Driver while at college. My start may have been a compelling alternative to working in a University of Michigan dining hall, but a decade and a half later, here I am reviewing cars; judging our Car, Truck, and Performance Vehicle of the Year contests; and shaping MotorTrend’s daily coverage of the automotive industry.
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