What happens when you make the right tweaks to a vehicle’s exterior for a mid-cycle refresh? The 2026 Kia Sportage X-Line Limited we have as this week’s tester shows what is possible. Currently in its 5th generation, the Sportage whittles its way up the charts. With Sportage sales up 20% from last year, Kia is definitely doing something right.
The 2026 Kia Sportage doesn’t get the love or attention like its main competitors in the Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V do – granted, both of those are pretty darn impressive. The Sportage shares the same platform and tech as the Hyundai Tucson, both are mechanically similar with differences in design, inside and out.
What’s new outside?
Last year’s 2025 Sportage had an oddly designed headlight array which was not widely loved. The refreshed 2026 Sportage receives a new fascia with updated lighting and new taillights, which bring it more in tune with the rest of the Kia lineup. With this being the X-Line Limited, basically everything on the exterior has been blacked out, including the sweet 17-inch wheels on our tester. Despite being reigned in, the Kia Sportage thankfully remains one of the more interesting looking compact sport utility vehicles currently on sale.
What’s new inside?
Kia should receive kudos for one of the better looking interiors in the segment, especially in the case of our optional two-tone Terracotta leatherette interior. You know this is a cut above when you jump into the driver’s seat and are greeted with a two toned steering wheel that is usually reserved for luxury vehicles.
The use of this convincing synthetic upholstery elevates the interior by being applied on the centre console, on door trim and on the dashboard. The interior is inviting and an overall nice place to be in. A good old-fashioned shifter is present on the centre console; no buttons here to change gears.
Infotainment and technology
Twin 12.3-inch screens sit atop the dash in a shared housing as the gauge cluster and infotainment display. This overall design is used in all current Kia products, and it’s simple to use and crystal clear. The Sportage does also have Kia’s odd HVAC/Media control panel that requires you to switch from one to another with a touch of a button.
It’s cool at first, but gets frustrating when you want to quickly adjust one or the other. At least you don’t have to navigate through the infotainment screen for those basic functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present as well as a wireless phone charger. Front seats are also heated and cooled on the 2026 Kia Sportage X-Line.
Powertrain and efficiency
The 2026 Kia Sportage offers three powertrain options; our tester has the base combustion-only engine, a 2.5 Liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. You can move up to the hybrid version for more power and better fuel economy and if that’s not enough, the PHEV version offers slightly more power still, but you will pay significantly more as you move up the hierarchy.
Mash on the throttle on our tester and the engine battles its way to 100km/h in 9.0 seconds. It sounds like it’s struggling, and the 8 speed automatic transmission does its best to get up to speed, but has a tendency to hesitate when you need a quick jolt of passing power. Fuel efficiency would be considered okay in the segment. It’s rated at 10.5 L/100km in the city and 8.5 L/100km on the highway for a combined 9.5 L/100km, and we observed a real average of 9L/100km. The 2026 Kia Sportage will happily take regular grade fuel.
Pricing and summary
Pricing for the 2026 Kia Sportage starts at an MSRP of $30,695 for the base LX FWD model. Our X-Line Limited tester has the Steel Grey paint option for an additional $250 which brings the price from $45,595. No other options are available, as it has just about everything you could want, save for a peppier powertrain. This is slightly cheaper than a comparable Honda CR-V Trailsport, but without feeling cheap.
The 2026 Kia Sportage X-Line Limited is a relatively competitive vehicle when it comes to its value, technology, exterior and interior design. Everything comes together quite well visually but it does lack the powerplant refinement that is found in its Japanese counterparts. Overall, it could use a few more minutes in the oven before it can go head to head against offerings from Toyota and Honda.
