2026 Kia Sportage gets sharper looks, better interior, 1.6

The fifth-generation Kia Sportage has received a number of upgrades in South Korea and is expected to arrive in North America in 2026

Three years after the fifth-generation model debuted, Kia has launched the facelifted Sportage in South Korea. The SUV benefits from a redesigned front fascia and an upgraded interior, as well as some interior changes.

The Sportage’s mid-life refresh follows the same formula Kia has used for the Picanto, Sorento, Carnival, K4 and K8, bringing them visually in line with the brand’s growing lineup of electric vehicles. The highlight is the front end, which features a sharper pair of vertically stacked headlights, new bumper air intakes and a redesigned grille that gives the SUV a more confident, upright stance.

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The profile has been largely retained, apart from new designs for the front fenders and alloy wheels with 17, 18 and 19-inch diameters. The rear also looks familiar, but there are fresh LED patterns on the taillights and some minor changes on the rear bumper.

In addition to the long-wheelbase version pictured (for South Korea, North America and Australia), the aforementioned visual updates are expected to be applied to shorter European versions as well.

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Going inside, the SUV gets a curved digital cockpit with dual 12.3-inch screens, a new head-up display, a modern two-spoke steering wheel, mood lighting, slimmer AC vents and improved switchgear. Safety kit has also been upgraded, with a new steering wheel grip detection system, vibration warning, driver-facing cameras and the latest ADAS.

Kia offers a choice of three interior colors – casual brown, black and navy gray – joining the eight available exterior colors.

New gearbox for turbo, slight power boost for hybrid

The entry-level Sportage is equipped with a inherited 2.0-liter LPG engine producing 144 hp (107 kW/146 hp). The more powerful turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine produces the same 177 hp (132 kW / 180 PS) but is now paired with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is said to deliver more power than the old seven-speed gearbox. Smooth shifting dual clutch setup.

Finally, an improved hybrid system adds 5 horsepower (3.7 kilowatts). More specifically, the self-charging hybrid unit consists of a turbocharged 1.6-liter ICE with an output of 177 hp (132 kW / 180 hp) and an electric motor with an output of 64 hp (47.7 kW). What is certain is that Kia will continue to offer a plug-in hybrid version of the Sportage in other markets, including North America.

Kia engineers also improved the hybrid’s regenerative braking, allowing the driver to adjust its intensity via the paddle shifters. Additionally, intelligent regenerative braking works automatically based on road conditions and navigation input. In addition, the Kia Sportage EV inherits the baby driving mode of the closely related Hyundai Tucson, resulting in smooth acceleration.

In terms of chassis settings, the front wheel struts use new two-way shock absorbers, which are said to reduce road noise. The Sportage’s NVH performance has been further improved thanks to the application of additional sound insulation material on the B-pillars, crash pads and door trim. Note that from 2023, the pre-facelift Sportage comes standard with acoustic glass on the front windows and higher trim on the rear windows.

In South Korea, prices range between KRW 28.36 million (USD 20,600) and KRW 48.7 million (USD 35,300), depending on powertrain choice and trim level. In a clever cross-promotion, Kia also announced a partnership with Netflix to showcase its vehicles in the second season of the global hit Squidward.

A US-spec version of the facelifted Kia Sportage is expected to debut sometime next year, just in time for the 2026 MY.