What’s New In The 2026 Kia Sportage? Updates You Should Know
Make new memories and break free from the ordinary inside a new 2026 Kia Sportage. This handsomely styled compact model features a lower-than-average price point, an overwhelming amount of standard features, and brand-new design and technology updates. Today we'll be comparing the popular 2025 Kia Sportage vs. 2026 Kia Sportage and their gas-powered trims, but keep in mind that you may also find electrified Sportage HEV and PHEV variants at our DARCARS Kia of Lanham dealership.
2026 Kia Sportage Updates
- Restyled and refined exterior, including new headlights and DRLs
- Dual driver-centric 12.3-inch panoramic displays
- Available new 10-inch Head-Up Display
- Standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ in all trims
- Available Highway Driving Assist 2 in the Advanced Driver Assist System
- Available Forward Collision Avoidance Assist
- Exciting Terrain mode on X-Line, X-Pro Prestige, and all AWD trims
- Standard Hands-On Detection warning to keep drivers focused
- Available Digital Key for smartphone-based vehicle control
- New features via Kia Connect
Why the 2026 Kia Sportage Is Tailor-Made for Lanham Drivers
Remember the standstill traffic on your commutes home from work? Think back to all those times you were late to dinner, soccer practice, or an evening show because the D.C. Beltway was backed up for miles. Although this vehicle can't stop highway congestion, the 2026 Kia Sportage can make every drive more comfortable and safe.
- Prevents Lane-Change Collisions: With a standard or available Blind-Spot Collision Warning, your Sportage will visually and audibly warn you if a vehicle is in your blind spot.
- Wards Off Fender-Benders: The Sportage's Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist technology can automatically brake your SUV to help stop it from colliding with other cars.
- Averts Parallel Parking Mishaps: City drivers know how tough it can be just to find a streetside parking space, let alone fit into it. With Front and Rear Park Distance Warning, your Sportage will alert you when you're too close to other vehicles.
- Helps Tired Drivers Stay Alert: If you've ever driven home tired after a long day at work, you know how critical systems like a Lane Departure Warning and Driver Attention Warning can be.
- Retains Warranty Coverage for Years: To show how much the brand truly stands behind their vehicles, Kia has equipped the Sportage with an industry-leading Kia 10-year/100,000-mile Warranty Program.1
We highly recommend the new Kia Sportage to families who want excellent safety programs and full-length side airbags to protect their children, along with new drivers who could benefit from the support of alerts when exiting highways or parking.
2026 Kia Sportage Trim Levels
The new Sportage trim lineup has been streamlined from seven to six, beginning with the LX and ending with the X-Pro Prestige. Heated front seats come standard in all but the first 2026 Kia Sportage interior, important for staving off cold Lanham mornings. Ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel can be yours in either of the top two trims, and you can enjoy a 12.3-inch center touchscreen in every 2026 Sportage edition.
2026 Kia Sportage Features
This SUV may be compact, but that doesn't stop it from packing as many cabin, safety, and driver-assist technologies into the Kia Sportage interior as possible. We outlined many of the SUV's best features above, but you'll also get these amenities with every Sportage lease or purchase:
- Remote start
- Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
- Wireless device charging in all but the LX
- SiriusXM® satellite radio
- Bluetooth® with multi-device connectivity
- Kia Connect smartphone and smartspeaker integration
- Over-the-Air updates
2026 Kia Sportage Specs
There is certainly a long list of exterior and technology updates to the 2026 Kia Sportage, but specs remain blissfully the same as the outgoing model year. Beneath the bold Sportage hood, you'll find a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission in every variant. This SUV is also quite predictable on Maryland roads, offering accurate steering, a controlled chassis, and a Kia Sportage towing capacity of 2,500 pounds.2
2026 Kia Sportage Review: New Features & Changes
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| 2025 Kia Sportage | 2026 Kia Sportage | |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | 2.5L 4-cyl | |
| Horsepower / Torque | 187 hp / 178 lb-ft | |
| Drivetrain | FWD / AWD | |
| Drive Modes |
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| Interior Design | Cloth or SynTex upholstery | |
| Technology Updates | Carryover from 2024 |
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| Exterior Changes |
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| New Safety Features | Carryover from 2024 |
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2026 Kia Sportage Colors
Clad any 2026 Kia Sportage in Ebony Black, Panthera Metal, and Glacial White Pearl paint for a timeless, regal appearance. You'll also find either Steel or Wolf Gray as a choice, depending on the variant. All but the entry-level LX can be wrapped in Nebular Blue – our dealership's personal favorite for 2026 – and X-Line, SX Prestige, and X-Pro Prestige editions can announce their arrivals in Runway Red.
Looking for a two-tone palette? Build a top-spec X-Pro Prestige to gain white, gray, blue, and red dual-color choices. Interior colors are refined yet dynamic, ranging from a Saturn Black woven cloth in the LX to a perforated and quilted Carmine Red SynTex in the SX.
Find Your Kia Sportage SUV in Lanham, Maryland Today
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the 2025 and 2026 Kia Sportage?
The 2025 Sportage is a fantastic two-row SUV with seven trim levels, FWD and AWD options, cloth or SynTex upholstery, and dark-themed enhancements for select trims. In 2026, Kia Sportage variants were compressed into six options and added a long list of technology upgrades, including dual 12.3-inch infotainment and instrument screens, plus standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.
Will the 2026 Kia Sportage have a redesign?
While the 2026 Kia Sportage did not undergo a complete redesign, it did receive design enhancements. Specifically, the new Sportage showcases new headlights, reshaped daytime running lights, available Highway Driving Assist 2, and a snow-, sand-, and mud-ready Terrain mode in X-Line, X-Pro Prestige, and all AWD trims. Other optional new features include Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, a 10-inch Head-Up Display, and Digital Key.
What are the trims of the 2026 Kia Sportage?
The 2026 Kia Sportage now comes in six trim variations: LX, EX, X-Line, SX, SX Prestige, and X-Pro Prestige. All trims come equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, SiriusXM® satellite radio, and Bluetooth® with multi-device connectivity. You'll also get wireless device charging in all but the entry-level LX.
Featured Customer Review
Brian Weisman
9/14/2024
I just returned from picking up my new Kia Sportage from DARCARS Lanham Kia. The whole team: Adel, Chico, and Stephen were knowledgeable and super helpful. They even drove to the Darcars in Frederick to get the car I wanted in the color I wanted. They didn’t try to push a bunch of extras I didn’t need, and when I picked up the car tonight, Stephen took the time to explain many of the car's features and made sure I had the Kia app installed and connected to the car. Great cars and great customer service at DARCARS Lanham Kia!
1Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.
2Towing requires additional equipment. See Owner's Manual for towing capacity, additional instructions and warnings. Always use caution while towing.
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.