2026 Kia Sportage Gets Refresh, Expanded Trim Choices

The Kia Sportage has been sold in North America for 30 years. It’s hard to believe it has been around that long, but as Kia’s longest-running nameplate, it’s been on sale in America since the 1990s.

About three years ago, the fifth generation of the small SUV debuted and for the 2026 model year, it gets a full refresh. New trims, increased power, better technology, and more familiar family styling highlight the changes. Let’s take a look at what’s new below.

Fresh, Familiar Face

Like most of Kia’s new SUVs, the 2026 Sportage incorporates the brand’s “Opposites United” design language. The front and rear bumpers are updated, while there’s unique styling for the X-Line and X-Pro models. The headlights are stacked, featuring cube LED projectors inside. There are amber LED daytime running lights utilizing the “Star Map” theme Kia has throughout the manufacturer’s lineup. That theme carries over to the taillights with a transparent housing. The Sportage can come with 17-inch, 18-inch, or 19-inch alloy wheels, which have been refreshed.

More Tech, More Connection

Inside, some of the main technology on offer includes a 12.3-inch LCD display, over-the-air (OTA) updates, wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, a 10-inch head-up display,

Digital Key 2.0 Premium, a 360-degree Surround-View Monitor, Harman Kardon audio system, heated rear seats on hybrid models, and a wireless phone charger.

New digital features allow for streaming music, connecting personal devices with the Wi-Fi Hotspot, and even the gimmick of customizing the screen’s theme in the colors of a favorite basketball team. The audio/climate touchpad continues to be included, switching the menu bar between the two functions at the touch of a button.

Other updates inside include new accent trims for the instrument panel, center console and door panels. The goal is to reduce fingerprint smudges and if that means less piano black, we’re all for it.

Small Power Gains

The 2026 Kia Sportage models that run only on gasoline include a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that should make around 187 horsepower. It will be paired up to an 8-speed automatic transmission for both front- and all-wheel drive versions. When properly equipped, it can tow up to 3500 pounds. 

Regular hybrid versions of the 2026 Kia Sportage continue to have a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine paired with a 47.7kW motor. The electric motor has revised programming, with total system power now reaching 231 hp, an increase of 4 hp over the current model. Hybrids can also come with front- or all-wheel drive and are paired up to a 6-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, the maximum towing capacity is a bit lower at 2,000 pounds. 

Finishing out the lineup, the Sportage PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid) also uses a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder paired to a more powerful 72kW motor that’s also revised this year. Total system output is up 7 hp, now at 268 hp. The Plug-in can only be had with all-wheel drive but features a 6-speed automatic transmission and 2,000-pound towing capacity like regular hybrid models. 

For models that do power all four wheels, the all-wheel drive system uses an electro-hydraulic coupling with a center-locking differential. It has the ability to distribute differing levels of power between front and rear wheels depending on road and driving conditions. 

For Those Off-Roading

The Kia Sportage will continue to offer more rugged variants for those looking to do some mild off-roading. All three trims can now be had as the X-Line, while only pure-gasoline models can be had as the X-Pro Prestige trims. Both X-Line and X-Pro Prestige come standard with all-wheel drive and unique tire-tread-like stitching pattern on the SynTex synthetic leather seats.

The Sportage X-Line has unique front and rear bumper with faux skid plate-shaped molding. There are added terrain modes that include Snow, Mud, and Sand. The side mirrors, roof rack, and window trim are finished in gloss black. There are unique 19-inch alloy wheels, and the roof rack is raised to better accommodate various attachments.

The Sportage X-Pro Prestige ups the off-road capability with higher sidewall B.F. Goodrich all-terrain tires on 17-inch matte black wheels. There are LED fog lights and LED Projector headlights, as well as a heated windshield and wiper washer nozzles. It also possible to get the X-Pro Prestige in a two-tone color scheme.

Safety and Line-Up

Standard safety equipment on the 2026 Sportage includes auto emergency braking and hands on detection. Other available technology consists of forward collision avoidance, highway driving assist, parking distance warning and more.

The 2026 Kia Sportage lineup for 2.5-liter vehicles will be LX, EX, SX, SX-Prestige, X-Line, and X-Pro Prestige. The 2026 Kia Sportage HEV (hybrid) comes in LX, S (new), EX, X-Line (new), and SX-Prestige. The Plug-in 2026 Sportage comes in X-Line and X-Line Prestige.

More details like pricing and final power levels will be available closer to launch.

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