2026 Kia Sportage PHEV Review

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is a bit like a bridge between a conventional hybrid and a full electric vehicle (EV).

While one like the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV tested here doesn’t travel as far on electricity as an EV does, it will continue to drive after its stored charge depletes as long as there’s gas in the tank. The Sportage also comes with gas-only or conventional hybrid powertrains, and the PHEV tops the lineup. It comes in three trims, including the new-for-2026 entry-level EX at $48,545, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,150. The EX Premium that started the lineup last year is now the mid-range model at $51,645, while the top SX tested here starts at $55,145.

Styling 8 / 10

The Sportage PHEV gets a mild refresh for 2026, with updated front and rear styling, and redesigned head- and tail lights. All trims ride on 19-inch wheels. The cabin makeover smoothed out the dash ahead of the passenger, updated the steering wheel, and best of all, the previous gloss-black centre console now has a matte finish, so sunlight doesn’t glare off it and into the driver’s eyes.

Safety 9 / 10

The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hadn’t crash-tested the Sportage PHEV at the time of this writing, but it gave the hybrid its top five-star rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also hadn’t broken out the PHEV but gave the gas-powered 2026 Sportage its Top Safety Pick+ designation in 2025 after it got the top “Good” in all three crash tests, including the updated moderate front overlap that now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger, as well as to those in front.

All trims include emergency front braking, adaptive cruise control with highway driving assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and the now-mandatory back-up camera. The top SX trim adds side parking sensors, emergency rear braking, a panoramic camera, and camera-based blind-spot monitoring, which broadcasts a real-time video in the instrument display of what’s alongside the vehicle with either signal activated.

It also has a higher level of highway driving assist that will check and then change lanes when you tap the turn signal. It’s a bit finicky, though, as it requires you to have your hands on the wheel while it does — but if you’re holding a bit too tight the system thinks you’re trying to steer, and it shuts off and leaves you to do it yourself.

Features 8 / 10

The entry-level EX is a new trim for 2026, and it includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless charger, auto-dimming mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated faux-leather seats, driver’s side power adjustability, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and a heated windshield that does a very good job, but it can be tiring to continually look past the tiny vertical wires in the glass. The EX Premium adds a panoramic sunroof, power-folding mirrors, a hands-free power tailgate, power passenger seat, cooled front seats, and heated rear seats. The SX further adds a customizable liquid-crystal instrument cluster, upgraded stereo, head-up display, remote parking assist, and phone-as-key functionality.

User-Friendliness 7 / 10

It’s easy to get in and out of the Sportage, and visibility is good, but some of the controls could be better. While the heated and ventilated seats and some driving modes are controlled using buttons, the climate modes and infotainment menus are icons on a touch panel above the centre console.

That handles both, and you have to tap an icon that switches it from one menu to the other. That also changes the functions of the two dials, so they either handle cabin temperature or stereo volume and tuning. The icon is small, and it’s not always easy to quickly and accurately find and tap it.

Practicality 8 / 10

The Sportage has a generous cargo compartment, and the liftover height of the rear bumper is relatively low so it’s easy to get items in and out of it. The 60/40 rear seats fold in line with the cargo floor for more space. Up front, there’s an open cubby ahead of the console box for small items, and the wireless charger can hide your phone under a sliding lid. The cup holders have sliding dividers so you can flip them out for holding drinks, or push them away to use the full space for storage. Should you need to tow, it can handle a maximum of 907 kg (2,000 lb).

Comfort 9 / 10

The Sportage is a comfortable vehicle, with supportive seats that stay that way during long drives. The heater kept me warm in bitterly cold weather — once I got the temperature dial set to that function, of course — and the heated seats have three warmth settings and the steering wheel two. Rear-seat legroom is good, the ride is smooth, and the cabin is quiet.

Power 8 / 10

The Sportage PHEV is powered by a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder engine that, on its own, makes 177 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque; and when combined with the hybrid system, that rises to 268 net hp and 271 net lb-ft. (That’s a slight increase from 2025, when it made 261 net hp and 258 net lb-ft.)

That’s not the most powerful PHEV out there; the redesigned Toyota RAV4 makes 324 net hp, but it accelerates smoothly and has no trouble with highway passing power. The six-speed automatic transmission provides a crisp, taut feel that’s often missing with the gearless and usually-noisier operation of a continuously-variable transmission (CVT) used by others.

Driving Feel 8 / 10

The Sportage PHEV is primarily an everyday commuter, and that’s exactly how it drives. It isn’t exciting, but the handling is predictable and responsive. The standard all-wheel-drive system primarily powers the front wheels and sends torque to the rear ones as needed for traction; and along with winter tires, it did a good job through a couple of heavier snowfalls during my week with it. After it’s plugged in and charged, the Sportage has a rated 53 km on electricity alone; and once that depletes, it automatically converts to conventional self-charging hybrid operation, switching between gasoline, electricity, or a combination of the two, depending on driving conditions.

Fuel Economy 7 / 10

The Sportage PHEV is rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 53 km of electric-only driving on a charge, and that should handle much of a day’s commute for most Canadians, but it trails some of its competitors. Its Hyundai Tucson PHEV sibling is rated at 64 km; the updated Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is good for 72 km; and the new Toyota RAV4 PHEV is rated at 80 km. The Sportage PHEV can be charged from a 110-volt household outlet, or in two hours on a 240-volt home or public charger. When operating as a gas-electric hybrid, it’s rated at 6.7 L/100 km city, 6.4 highway, and 6.6 combined, and it takes regular-grade gas. In my week with it, plugging it in regularly but in cold weather and with a couple of longer trips, I averaged 5.4 L/100 km.

Value 7 / 10

The Sportage PHEV runs between $48,545 and $55,145. It’s hard to compare because, as of this writing, most of its redesigned 2026 rivals hadn’t yet been priced; but its Hyundai Tucson PHEV sibling, which only comes in top Ultimate trim, is $49,849 (all prices including delivery). The big question for consumers is what they’ll get out of it. The Sportage PHEV is $4,900 to $5,000 more than the Sportage Hybrid, while NRCan estimates the difference in gasoline will be $668 less in the PHEV’s favour (not including electricity costs), so there’s a considerable payback period for that extra price. Determine if it’s the best deal for you, including your willingness to regularly plug it in for maximum savings. If you’re not, the hybrid will be your better value.

The Verdict

The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV may not be an exciting vehicle to drive, but it works well, it’s roomy with plenty of cargo space, and it’s comfortable and quiet. But many rivals have more electric-only range and that, plus the extra cost, are factors that you need to consider both with the Sportage, and with any PHEV, before you move up to a hybrid that comes with a plug.