Kia Sportage

HOW IT LOOKS WHEN YOU SEE IT ON THE STREET: Crisp angles and expressive panels give the Kia Sportage unique character. Diamond shaped head lamps pop out and carryover the angle used in the kia logo. The 2026 Sportage Carries on a fresh look for the newest generation adding in more nifty tech features. The strategy is working for kia as it sold even more cars last year. We drove the wolf gray Sportage X-Pro Prestige All-wheel Drive model.

How it feels on the inside: Kia embeds a long list of new tech features for the 2026 model year such as duel 12.3 inch displays, a safety system called Drive Wise, blind spot view, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Harmon Kardon audio system.

How it drives: Sportage handling is steady and sure. Sportage’s various offerings are also its downfall: there are 12 different configurations to choose from which is confusing for shoppers. The 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. There’s also a hybrid and plug-in hybrid option, which doesn’t have huge impact on the core driving experience. The park system is a helpful tech option. Our test Sportage earned 24 miles per gallon.

Space for people and things: Give the people what they want — more room. The new gen delivers additional legroom and 40 cubic feet of cargo spaces for storage.

What should you compare it to: Mazda CX5, Honda CRV.

How much is it: The Sportage starts at $27,615. Our souped up vehicle was priced at $42,055. The model we drove is near the top-of-the-line.