The standard assistance and safety suite is quite complete, including automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, lane keeping, front and rear parking sensors, automatic high-beams, and a driver attention monitor. Upper trims like ours get a 360-degree camera and forward collision assistance, as well.

Worth Considering?

So, what’s the bottom line on the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige? Let’s start with cost: With an as-tested price of $49,780, it fails to undercut competitors like the RAV4 Prime, which brings the Sportage PHEV’s challenges into focus—although plenty nice in this trim, it may yet lack the cachet to compete in that arena, and the large price gap of roughly $10,000 between the base Sportage Hybrid and the entry-level PHEV will likely make a lot of difference to buyers.

And honestly, that’s a shame, because the Sportage PHEV is good. Competitors do certain specific things better than the Sportage, but you’ll have a tough time finding a better-balanced example among small SUVs. What this right-sized plug-in SUV does well—perhaps what it does best—is to put you at ease behind the wheel, and that’s a very big deal in the owner experience.

2026 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige AWD Specifications
BASE PRICE	$48,685
PRICE AS TESTED	$49,780
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, front-motor, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door plug-in hybrid SUV
POWERTRAIN	1.6L turbo direct-injected DOHC 16-valve I-4, 177 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 195 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm Permanent-magnet motor, 97 hp, 224 lb-ft
TOTAL POWER	268 hp
TOTAL TORQUE	271 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION	6-speed automatic
BATTERY	13.8-kWh NMC lithium-ion
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4,284 lb (58/42%)
WHEELBASE	108.5 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	184.4 x 73.4 x 66.9 in
TIRES	Michelin Primacy A/S 235/55R19 101V M+S
EPA FUEL ECONOMY, CITY/HWY/COMBINED	87/78/83 mpg-e (battery charged) 35/36/36 mpg (battery depleted)
EPA RANGE, ELECTRIC/TOTAL	34/470 mi
ON SALE	Now
MotorTrend Test Results
0-60 MPH	6.7 sec
QUARTER MILE	15.0 sec @ 93.9 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	125 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.76 g
FIGURE-EIGHT LAP	27.4 sec @ 0.64 g (avg)