The Kia Sportage always represented good value in the hotly contested compact crossover segment. This refreshed 2026 Kia Sportage SX Hybrid continues to carry that same tradition forward.
The Sportage dates as far back as 1993 internationally and has since spawned five generations. Early generations weren’t taken very seriously, partially because Kia’s reputation hadn’t yet matured in most international markets. It looked a little odd and was among the first crossovers out there that didn’t try and pretend it was an off-roader, so people didn’t quite know what to make of it. Considering Kia sold over seven million Sportages in that time frame, I think they’ve done alright.
We didn’t get the Sportage until Kia entered the Canadian market for the first time back in 1999. It arrived alongside the long defunct Sephia, and has since become one of the brand’s top-selling models up here in the land of maple. It’s easy to see why, once you spend some time in the latest iteration, especially in this tester’s well-equipped SX Hybrid trim.
Dressed to impress
The SX trim is top of the food chain, but like the Hyundai Tucson, the hybrid technically falls in the middle of the pack, above the gas-only models but below the PHEV. Talk about choice. The SX really spruces up the already attractive and refreshed-for-2026 exterior with some additional dark chrome trim to replace the less inspired black plastic pieces around the windows and wheel arches. That, along with the unique vertically stacked headlights and foglights, give the Sportage a premium feel that belies its price. The swoopy amber DRLs give the Sportage an unmistakable signature as it approaches you, the boxy grille matches the rest of the design, and the subtle matte silver trim surrounding the grille and lower bumper tie in well with the same design elements along the side and rear of the Sportage.
The tail lights are less intriguing than the headlights; they still offer up some visual pizazz, but the front three-quarter view of the Sportage is certainly my favourite. Not on my list of favourites are the 18-inch alloy wheels with their triangular aesthetic, looking far too busy for my liking. But to each their own.
The interior of the Sportage is well put together, with two 12.3-inch digital screens dominating the dash. Kia’s signature but sometimes confusing dual-function control panel sits below the infotainment screen, letting you use physical (or in some cases, haptic feedback) buttons to control either your audio or climate control. It’s a clever design, allowing a single row of buttons to work for two separate purposes, but I found myself cranking the heat up when I wanted to turn up the volume, or vice-versa. I’m certain an owner would eventually get accustomed to the setup, but having to switch ‘modes’ to make adjustments never felt entirely natural in my time with the Sportage. Still, while others run back to buttons and knobs with their tails between their legs, kudos to Kia for not really deviating from including physical controls.
The (synthetic) leather feels perfectly acceptable, spruced up nicely with a patterned stitch and a contrasting suede-like material across the top side of the seats, which are both heated and cooled up front (and heated in the back). There’s perhaps a bit too much black throughout the cabin, and only a small ambient lighting strip across the dash to brighten things up a touch. The centre console is finished with patterned dark grey trim, which looks nice but doesn’t do much to brighten up the otherwise dark interior. That being said, if the black bothers you so much, Kia offers an optional red leather interior. Passenger space overall is neck-in-neck with major players like the CR-V and RAV4, although it lags slightly in cargo space if you’re really counting.
Feature rich
Kia has always punched in well above its weight when it comes to offering value for the dollar, and the Sportage SX comes chock full of features and options to make it worth every penny. This includes heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering and heated rear seats, a surprisingly good Harman Kardon audio system, all your typical adaptive cruise and active safety features, and even an electrically heated windshield, which is unheard of in this segment. When it comes to features, Kia is pretty hard to beat.
On the road
I first experienced the 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid system in the Carnival, and it continues to impress here. With a combined output of 232 horsepower and a stout 271 pound-feet torque, it bests competitors like the CR-V and RAV4, and does so while being surprisingly smooth. Don’t get me wrong, the little 1.6 turbo isn’t the smoothest engine out there, but the way it works so perfectly with the electric assist is impressive. There isn’t a hitch or hiccup when power is handed off from one system to the other, even if you’re trying to feel it. It’s really that good. Other manufacturers have made huge strides as well, but something about Kia’s optimization here just feels so natural and right. I even tried to stump the system by aggressively coming on and off the throttle at random times and it would just respond to my requests without a moan.
The suspension and steering systems keep up as well, although not in any segment-defining way like, say, the Mazda CX-5 and CX-50. The ride is acceptable but a tick harsher than the CR-V, and overall noise, vibration, and harshness is about par for the segment. The AWD system is tied to a multitude of road and terrain drive modes available and worked well, but the standard issue Goodyear Assurance Finesse all season tires weren’t up to task for the dumping of snow we saw. Otherwise, the Sportage drives and rides exactly how you’d expect of a compact crossover.
A value leader
The 2026 Kia Sportage SX Hybrid isn’t the clear-cut value leader looking at price alone, as competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Rogue undercut it at similar trim levels. The $47,895 Sportage SX Hybrid does have a few tricks up its sleeve though, like the excellent audio system and infotainment, heated windshield, and most importantly, the stellar-and-stout hybrid system which is unmatched in power and refinement from other manufacturers but stumbles somewhat in fuel efficiency, at 8.6 L/100 km combined in my testing. If you’re looking to save money you can ditch the hybrid option entirely and save around $2,500, but you’d really be missing out on what makes the Sportage truly special in this competitive segment.
