2026 Kia Sportage review

Mid-sized SUVs are big sellers in Australia, with models like the Kia Sportage trying to carve as big a slice of the pie as possible for the Korean automaker – achieving fourth place in the segment and 10th overall for sales in 2024.

Deviating in approach from the segment’s best-selling Toyota RAV4 – which was reduced to a single petrol-hybrid powertrain option last year – the Sportage continues to offer petrol, turbo-petrol, diesel and petrol-hybrid engines, however the manual transmission has been axed.

For 2026, the Kia Sportage has received a new all-wheel-drive option for its hybrid variants, as well as refreshed styling and mechanical updates elsewhere as it looks to close the gap on the segment front-runners.

How much does the 2026 Kia Sportage cost?

With four grade levels (ascending S, SX, SX+ and GT-Line), four powertrain options (more on those below), and front- or all-wheel drive configurations, there is a total of 13 variants in the 2026 Kia Sportage to choose from. 

A little excessive? Maybe, but Kia Australia says it wants to offer a Sportage fit for every buyer, believing the market itself may naturally prune the line-up.  

With the manual gone, the range now opens at $37,990 for an S trim fitted with a 2.0-litre petrol engine driving the front wheels through an automatic transmission, representing an increased cost of entry for the Sportage of $4995. Closing out the line-up at the top end is a new flagship trim level –  the hybrid-powered, all-wheel drive GT-Line for $60,370.

If powertrain is your main buying factor, a 2.0-litre diesel variant can be had for as little as $43,390, the hybrid 1.6-litre turbo-petrol for $46,560, and a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol for $47,080.  

The 2026 Kia Sportage’s pricing means its entry-level and flagship grades are cheaper and more expensive respectively than the Toyota RAV4’s – which run from $42,260 to $58,360 before on-roads.

A seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and 12 months of free roadside assistance (which can be conditionally extended up to eight years if serviced with Kia) should give owners additional peace of mind.

What is the 2026 Kia Sportage like inside?

The minimalist and sleek interior design carries over from the pre-facelift Sportage, with only select tweaks made throughout the cabin for this update.

A 12.3-inch centre touchscreen now comes standard across the range, accompanied by another 12.3-inch driver display screen in the GT-Line, or an integrated 4.0-inch unit in lower trims. A head-up display also comes fitted for the first time, available on GT-Line variants.

A clever new control panel beneath the centre air vents can be switched between climate and multimedia inputs, effectively increasing off-screen controls without making the dash look cluttered. This unit controls single-zone climate in S and dual-zone in higher trims.

Front seat design is sound, offering great support and comfort during our long test drives. Rear legroom is exceptional, with the Sportage boasting a 2755mm wheelbase (up 65mm on the Toyota RAV4), with a competitive 543L of boot storage with seats up and 1829L with them down. Power adjustment is added from SX+ up, with GT-Line also scoring it for front passengers.

A new-design two-spoke steering wheel comes fitted across the range, heated in SX+ and GT-Line petrol and diesel variants (previously only available for hybrid models). Upholstery is uprated from cloth to synthetic leather and a wireless phone charger is fitted in SX+ and GT-Line variants. GT-Line also scores ambient mood lighting.

Externally, the Sportage has received new light and bumper styles front and rear, aligning it with the brand’s most current design language.

What equipment does the 2026 Kia Sportage come with?

Typical of its segment, the 2026 Kia Sportage gets a comprehensive standard equipment list to stay competitive against benchmark models.

That now-standard 12.3-inch centre touchscreen comes fitted with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on all grades, also picking up DAB digital radio (previously only on SX trim and above). Over-the-air update functionality joins for 2026 via Kia’s ‘ccNC’ platform, able to pair to the Kia Connect phone app to give owners access to various remote controls of their vehicle.

Speaking of remote controls, the 2026 Kia Sportage also comes with remote engine start across the range now, with a remote park assist function offered on all GT-Line variants (previously only on diesel).

Automatic LED headlights (three-lamp up to SX+, four-lamp in GT-Line) are complemented by LED taillights. Power-folding mirrors, roof rails and alloy wheels complete the exterior (growing from 17 to 19 inches through trim levels, with all hybrid models getting 18-inch units).

How safe is the 2026 Kia Sportage?

The 2025 Kia Sportage will carry over its five-star ANCAP safety score, received for the pre-facelifted version in 2022.

A thorough safety equipment list is bestowed to even base S trim, including front and rear parking sensors (new for 2026), a centre airbag, autonomous emergency braking (with junction detection), lane-keeping, lane-following and intelligent speed limit assists, adaptive cruise control, a rear view camera, tyre pressure monitoring and multi-collision braking.

SX+ and up gets parking collision avoidance (rearward), and blind-spot and surround-view monitors, while GT-Line comes fitted with ‘Highway Driving Assist’, able to simultaneously control speed, lane centering and changing, adaptive cruise and driver distraction.

What powers the 2026 Kia Sportage?

As mentioned, four powertrains can be had in the 2026 Kia Sportage, however not all trim levels score all engine options.  

A two-litre four-cylinder petrol kicks things off. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the engine produces 115kW and 192Nm, with Kia claiming an 8.1L/100km consumption figure. The engine is available on S, SX and SX+ grades, only with a front-wheel-drive layout.  

Next up is a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit, pumping out 132kW and 265Nm and driving through a newly fitted eight-speed auto (the same as found in the diesel variant), doing away with the previously criticised and temperamental seven-speed dual-clutch auto. Kia says the turbo engine will do 7.5L/100km on the combined cycle.

  
The turbo engine can only be paired to an all-wheel-drive system, available on SX+ and GT-Line variants.

If it’s torque you’re after, the 2.0-litre diesel four-cylinder pumps out 416Nm with peak power of 137kW and a 6.3L/100km claimed consumption. Available only with all-wheel drive, the diesel can be optioned for all model grades.

Considered the flagship powertrain, hybrid variants combine the 1.6-litre turbocharged unit with a 47.7kW/264Nm electric motor for combined outputs of 173kW and 367Nm. A frugal 4.9L/100km consumption is claimed for front-wheel drive variants (5.3L/100km for all-wheel drive), falling just shy of the RAV4’s 4.7L/100km consumption.

Hybrid buyers now have their choice of front- or all-wheel-drive layouts, however can only option the drivetrains on SX and GT-Line.  

(All figures are claimed via the WLTP standard.) 

What is the 2026 Kia Sportage like to drive?

Kia is committed to tuning the ride and handling of its Australian models to better suit out roads and the new Sportage is no exception.

Logistical issues caused way back in the COVID-19 days meant the pre-update Sportage never benefited from a local steering tune, with development being halted at the cessation of its suspension calibration. Fixed for 2026, all variants have received the new, bespoke steering tune – with the newly released all-wheel-drive hybrid receiving a suspension overhaul from what’s sold abroad.

The work translates to well-mannered and assured dynamics on-road. Roll control, bump absorption and overall composure proved top-notch during our testing over a variety of road surfaces and speeds. The Sportage displays a firm ride, providing tons of feedback, without ever making drivers or passengers suffer for the privilege. All-wheel-drive variants win out for stability as expected.

Steering is direct and quick; the nose tucking in with very little input – erring on the point of being excessive at speed but making for easy driving around town.

Steering weight is on the heavier side and, even with local tuning, has an unnatural ‘return to centre’ feeling if drivers try to rush it.

The new, thick-spoked steering wheel forces a somewhat unnatural hand position, requiring additional bend in the elbows and wrists to compensate for thumbs that don’t naturally curl over its grips, however this doesn’t overly detract from what is an ergonomically refined drive.

All powertrains do their work as expected from their power and torque outputs, but the diesel is still the pick for on-road performance, picking up smoothly from all speeds – its only foibles found in the transmission mapping that lets the engine rev well beyond the point where it’s stopped producing torque when you step on it.

The Open Road’s take on the 2026 Kia Sportage

If we had to put the Sportage’s updates for 2026 into one word, it would be ‘consolidation’.

This 2026 Kia Sportage is how the current-generation probably should’ve always been in Australia, with the all-wheel-drive hybrid and eight-speed auto (for turbo-petrol) options added to the line-up making it feel complete.

There isn’t really a wrong combination among the 13 variants on offer, and it will be interesting to see if Kia’s wide net approach helps it to close the gap on Toyota’s much narrower one.

Pros: heaps of configuration options; excellent ride composure; more standard tech and safety

Cons: styling updates not really a step forward; price increases; still behind benchmark on hybrid consumption figures