DecodedCars2026 Kia Sportage
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- AWD 4dr SUV, FWD 4dr SUV
- Engines
- 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 42 combined · 41 city / 44 hwy
- Length
- 184.3 in
- Curb weight
- 3,486–3,618 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 1 campaign
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 42 MPG combined — 39% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 40 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2026 Kia Sportage is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo and 2.5L 4-cyl), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 184 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 109-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,618 lb (AWD 4dr SUV).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 42 MPG combined (41 city / 44 highway), 39% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $1,600 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Sportage — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Sportage →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Gwang-Ju, Gyeonggi Province · West Point, Georgia
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2026 Sportage configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWD 4dr SUV | 184.3 in | 73.6 in | 65.7 in | 108.7 in | 63.8 / 64.2 in | 3,618 lb | 58/42 |
| FWD 4dr SUV | 184.3 in | 73.6 in | 65.7 in | 108.7 in | 63.8 / 64.2 in | 3,486 lb | 58/42 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportage Hybrid FWD Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 41 / 44 / 42 | +39% | $1,600 | 209 |
| Sportage Plug-in Hybrid Plug-in Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 35 / 36 / 36 | +39% | $1,850 | 97 |
| Sportage Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 35 / 36 / 35 | +35% | $1,900 | 251 |
| Sportage FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | -7% | $2,400 | 317 |
| Sportage AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 26 | 0% | $2,600 | 339 |
| Sportage X-pro | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 26 / 24 | -7% | $2,800 | 374 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Kia Sportage.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kia Sportage (this car) | 42 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 35 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 26 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 23 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
Recalls (1)
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel · Jan 26, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V046000 · 42,677 vehicles
- Problem
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.
Not every 2026 Kia Sportage is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Sportage years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Sportage | 41 | 184.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 Sportage | 43 | 183.5 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 74 |
| 2024 Sportage | 43 | 183.5 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 110 |
| 2023 Sportage | 43 | 183.5 in | ★★★★★ | 7 | 309 |
| 2022 Sportage | 26 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 46 |
| 2021 Sportage | 26 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 54 |
| 2020 Sportage | 26 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 164 |
| 2019 Sportage | 25 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 71 |
| 2018 Sportage | 26 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 165 |
| 2017 Sportage | 26 | 176.4 in | Not rated | 4 | 403 |
| 2016 Sportage | 23 | 174.8 in | Not rated | 2 | 134 |
| 2015 Sportage | 23 | 174.8 in | Not rated | 2 | 146 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Kia. How we calculate this →