Just a few hours are left at the time of writing until the 2024 LA Auto Show opens its doors to the public, and the two major South Korean carmakers seem to be having a field day. Both Hyundai and Kia raced on Thursday to be among the first to reveal their goodies and, as always, we were left, without exaggeration, awestruck at what we’ve learned.
Fresh out of the Kia oven the 2026 Sportage, a major (and by major I really meant that, as you'll see below) refresh of the fifth generation that was introduced back in 2021. The compact SUV, a favorite for fans of this type of vehicle in a lot of markets, bets big on technology upgrades, a literal invasion of trim levels, and a comprehensive list of powertrains.
Because the new Sportage brings so many novelties to the game we are forced to break down the SUV into its component parts, in a bid to make them all easier to grasp. Here they are below, the most important changes that will keep the compact SUV a force to be reckoned with in its segment.
Exterior
Already one of the most visually appealing SUVs out there (that's a personal assessment, but I'm pretty sure most of you agree), the Sportage gets a few nips and tucks for the upcoming model year.
The main targets of the redesign were both ends of the Sportage, with new bumpers installed front and rear, and an important reinterpretation of the vehicle's LED light assemblies (for both headlights and tail lights).
Kia also upgraded the wheels on which the Sportage rolls, and it now offers new designs for all three sizes available - 17-inch, 18-inch, and 19-inch.
Photo: Kia
Kia literally bathes the Sportage in an ocean of trim levels, each one bringing something unique to the table. Just to mess with your head, I'll list them here just as Kia did: LX, EX, SX, SX-Prestige, X-Line, and X-Pro Prestige. And they go hand in hand with three powertrain variants, namely ICE, Turbo Hybrid (HEV), and Turbo Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV).
All X-line models come with their own styling, and on the Hybrid version they throw in things like a panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, and black 19-inch wheels. Also black are the grille, bumper, badging and window trims.
The S Hybrid, on the other hand, as the poorer cousin that it is, offers 18-inch wheels, gloss black grille and window trims, and heated mirrors that use an LED turn indicator.
Interior
Just like its brethren Hyundai did with the new Ioniq 9, the biggest focus was on interior of the SUV. But unlike Hyundai, which spent a lot of effort on making people comfortable, Kia focused more on adding technology, to an extent it kind of makes you wonder if people will ever use it all on a daily basis.
Front and center is the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), built around a 12.3-inch curved touchscreen display. It can be used either alone, or in conjunction with an optional 10-inch head-up display, both technologies capable of supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Sportage comes with built-in WiFi that supports up to five devices (4G LTE tech), and can have Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant speak to its occupants through integrated smart speakers, or handle some (rather limited) tasks in times of need. Speaking of speakers, the smart ones are not necessarily the highlight of the interior. That honor probably falls on the audio system supplied by Harman Kardon.
Photo: Kia
Depending on trim level (but generally speaking within reach for most buyers), the new Sportage throws in things like USB-C charging ports (a must in modern times), heated seats (can you imagine a car without them?), and wireless charging, among others.
Engines
As said, as diverse the trim level offering is, as expansive the engine lineup. I've already mentioned the SUV relies on three types of powertrains to get going, so here they are.
On the internal combustion engine front, Kia will offer the Sportage with a single powertrain, a 2.5-liter inline-four tied to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available in either FWD or AWD, it delivers up to 186 horsepower and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
The Turbo Hybrid mixes the advantages of a 1.6-liter GDI powerplant with a revised version of the electric motor used in the Sportage. All of that is tied to a six-speed automatic transmission, and delivers a combined 231 horsepower, a slight increase of some four hp over the previous version. The towing capacity of this setup, it too offered in FWD or AWD variants, is just 2,000 pounds.
Last but not least comes the Turbo Plug-in Hybrid where the same GDI is paired to a more potent electric motor and the same six-speed tranny. In this case, power levels jump to 268 hp (7 hp more than before), but the towing capacity remains the same, 2,000 pounds. This model will only be available in AWD.
Kia says it will start selling the newest interpretation of its longest-running nameplate in the second quarter of next year. We're to expect details on pricing later down the road, but my feeling is the new SUV will be one people will be fighting to get their hands on starting next year.
Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies. Full profile
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