See the 2026 Kia Sportage with its expanded safety features, all-wheel drive capability, and sophisticated tech in a versatile, spacious SUV
The new Kia Sportage embraces a do-it-all approach to daily life. With seating for five, an expansive cargo room, available all-wheel drive, and an expanded array of safety and technology features, the Sportage strikes a balance between daily practicality and sophisticated SUV styling. The Sportage continues to build on its reputation as the best-selling Kia nameplate in history, offering a compelling blend of style, functionality, and innovative technology.
Exterior Design
The Sportage shares the same cut-above design aesthetic as its family members, the Kia Sorento and Kia Telluride. Its bold exterior is characterized by distinctive LED lighting elements, including projection LED headlights, LED positioning lights, and LED daytime running lights that create an unmistakable presence on the road.
Depending on the trim level, the Sportage offers various wheel options ranging from 17-inch alloy wheels on the base LX model to 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tires on the X-Line and X-Line Limited trims. The X-Line models feature distinctive black exterior accents and exclusive X-Line design elements that enhance the SUV’s rugged yet sophisticated appearance.
The Sportage comes in a variety of exterior colour options, including:
- Snow White Pearl
- Fusion Black
- Steel Grey
- Wolf Grey
- Heritage Blue
- Gravity Grey
- Jungle Green (exclusive to X-Line and X-Line Limited)
Additional exterior features include privacy-tinted rear door glass, heated and power-folding sideview mirrors, roof rails, and a rear spoiler. The EX trim adds rain-sensing wipers and a panoramic sunroof, further enhancing the vehicle’s premium feel.
Advanced Technology
The Sportage integrates cutting-edge technology throughout the vehicle to enhance convenience, comfort, and the overall driving experience.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All Sportage models come equipped with a 12.3-inch multimedia interface with AM/FM/MP3 capability, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system supports Bluetooth hands-free cell phone connectivity and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration for seamless connection with your devices.
The EX trim and above feature a 12.3-inch multimedia interface with navigation, providing comprehensive guidance wherever your journey takes you. For audiophiles, the X-Line Limited offers a premium Harman Kardon audio system that delivers an expertly tailored sound experience.
Digital Features
The Sportage incorporates numerous digital innovations:
- Digital Key lets you use your smartphone as a secure key to lock and unlock doors and start the engine without a keyfob (available on X-Line Limited).
- LCD/TFT Heads-up Display (HUD) projects key driving information directly onto the windshield just below your eyeline, adapting to ambient light for optimal visibility (available on X-Line Limited).
- Wireless Charging keeps your smartphone fully charged while on the road without the hassle of cables (available on X-Line and above).
- Kia Connect with over-the-air updates allows all Sportage models to receive automatic over-the-air updates to many electronically controlled systems, including the powertrain, reducing the need for dealership visits.
- Infotainment/Climate Switchable Controller shares the same LCD softkey keyboard. Users can press the fan icon to transform the controls to climate functions or press the arrow icon to switch them to infotainment.
- Smart-Power Liftgate opens automatically when you stand behind it for three seconds with your Smart Key and closes with the push of a button (available on EX Premium and above).
Interior Comfort and Design
The Sportage offers remarkable roominess and comfort for five adults with an interior designed for both aesthetics and functionality. Each display screen, system control, and convenience feature has maximum visibility and easy reach.
Seating and Comfort
All Sportage models come standard with heated front seats, while higher trims add:
- Air-cooled front seats (EX Premium and X-Line Limited)
- Heated rear seats (EX Premium and X-Line Limited)
- Driver’s seat memory function (EX Premium and X-Line Limited)
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat (X-Line and above)
- Power-adjustable front passenger’s seat (EX Premium and X-Line Limited)
The seating materials progress from cloth in the base LX model to synthetic leather in higher trims, with the X-Line Limited offering distinctive quilted synthetic leather in either Black or Terracotta Brown. The EX Premium also provides an exclusive Carmine Red quilted synthetic leather option.
Climate and Convenience
Base models include air conditioning with rear climate ventilation, while EX and above trims feature dual-zone automatic climate control with an automatic defog system. USB charging ports for rear passengers are conveniently located in the seatbacks ahead of them, ensuring all occupants can keep their devices powered.
Additional interior features include:
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel (standard across all trims)
- Heated steering wheel (X-Line and above)
- 60:40 split-folding rear seats
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Alloy pedals (EX Premium and X-Line Limited)
- Deluxe door scuff plates (EX Premium and X-Line Limited)
- Satin chrome interior door handles (EX Premium and X-Line Limited)
Cargo Space and Versatility
The Sportage excels in providing expansive and flexible cargo space that adapts to your needs. With the rear seats in place, the cargo capacity ranges from 1,036 to 1,121 litres (36.6 to 39.6 cu. ft.) depending on cargo floor position. Folding the rear seats expands this to an impressive 1,962 to 2,098 litres (69.3 to 74.1 cu. ft.).
This versatile cargo area allows for multiple configurations and easy access, making the Sportage an ideal companion for weekend adventures or daily errands. The smart power liftgate, available on higher trims, further enhances convenience when loading and unloading.
Performance and Capability
Engine and Transmission
The Sportage has a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that delivers 187 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 178 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. This is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that provides smooth and responsive shifting.
Drive Systems
The Sportage offers two drive configurations:
- Front-wheel drive (FWD) - standard on base LX model
- All-wheel drive (AWD) - available on LX and standard on all other trims
The all-wheel drive system enhances traction and stability in various road conditions, making the Sportage a capable performer throughout the year.
Efficiency and Range
Fuel efficiency varies by drive type:
- FWD models: 9.3/7.0/8.3 L/100km (city/highway/combined)
- AWD models: 9.9/7.8/8.9 L/100km (city/highway/combined)
With a 54-litre fuel tank, the Sportage offers a good range between fill-ups.
Towing Capability
The Sportage offers towing capability ranging from 1,653 to 3,500 pounds, making it suitable for hauling small trailers, boats, or recreational equipment. All models come with trailer lighting pre-wiring and trailer stability assist (TSA) as standard features.
Advanced Safety Systems
The Sportage features a comprehensive array of advanced technologies to monitor, sense, and even intervene when driving safety is at risk.
Standard Safety Features
All Sportage models come equipped with:
- 8 airbags (dual advanced front, dual side curtain, dual front side seat, dual rear side)
- Electronic stability control (ESC)
- 4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Hill-assist control (HAC)
- Downhill brake control (DBC)
- Trailer stability assist (TSA)
- Forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA 1.5)
- Parking distance warning (PDW) Front/Rear
- Lane keeping assist (LKA)
- Lane following assist 2 (LFA 2)
- Rear occupant alert
- Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
- Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Higher trims add sophisticated safety technologies:
- Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist uses radar to detect vehicles in your blind spot and may apply braking power when an approaching vehicle is detected (X-Line and above).
- Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance-assist helps detect approaching cross traffic when in reverse and may apply brakes when necessary (X-Line and above).
- Highway Drive Assist (HDA and HDA 2) provides advanced driving assistance on highways (EX and X-Line Limited).
- Forward collision-avoidance assist 2 (FCA 2) with junction turning function provides audible alerts when it detects a vehicle approaching yours when making a left turn at an intersection (X-Line Limited).
- Blind view monitor enhances visibility of blind spots (X-Line Limited).
- Surround View Monitor provides a 3D, 360° bird’s-eye view of the area around the vehicle through a four-camera array (X-Line Limited).
Trim Levels and Features
The Sportage is available in five distinct trim levels, each offering progressively more features and amenities.
LX (FWD/AWD)
The base LX trim establishes a solid foundation with:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Automatic LED headlights
- 12.3-inch multimedia interface
- 4-inch Supervision LCD/TFT instrument cluster
- Smart key with push-button start
- Smart cruise control with stop & go
- Cloth seats with heated front seats
X-Line
Building on the LX AWD, the X-Line adds:
- 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tires
- Black exterior accents and X-Line design elements
- Ladder-type roof rails
- Blind spot collision avoidance assist
- Rear cross-traffic avoidance assist
- Wireless phone charger
- Synthetic leather seats
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Heated steering wheel
EX
The EX builds on the X-Line with:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Panoramic sunroof
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Highway Drive Assist 1 (HDA)
- 12.3-inch multimedia interface with navigation
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- HomeLink system
EX Premium
The EX Premium enhances the EX with:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Matte chrome and dark satin finish elements
- Power-folding sideview mirrors
- Smart power liftgate
- Driver’s seat memory function
- Power-adjustable front passenger’s seat
- Air-cooled front seats
- Heated rear seats
- Alloy pedals
X-Line Limited
The top-tier X-Line Limited adds:
- 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tires
- LED headlights (4 cube projection) with low beam assist
- LED fog lights
- Highway Drive Assist 2 (HDA 2)
- Forward Collision Avoidance Assist 2 (FCA 2)
- Blind view monitor
- Surround view monitor
- Harman Kardon premium audio system
- 12.3-inch Supervision LCD/TFT instrument cluster
- LCD/TFT Heads-up display (HUD)
- Digital Key
Warranty and Support
The Sportage comes with the Kia comprehensive warranty program:
- 5-year/100,000 km comprehensive warranty
- 5-year/100,000 km limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year/unlimited km 24-hour roadside assistance
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2026 Kia Sportage: A Standout SUV
The Kia Sportage represents a compelling blend of versatility, technology, and sophisticated design. With its range of trims offering progressively more features and amenities, there’s a Sportage model to suit various preferences and needs. Whether tackling daily commutes or weekend adventures, the Sportage delivers with its comfortable interior, adaptable cargo space, advanced safety features, and capable performance. The available all-wheel drive system further enhances its versatility in various driving conditions, making the Sportage a standout option in the competitive SUV segment.
Learn More About 2026 Kia Sportage at Kia.ca