Kia makes tasteful updates to the Sportage for 2026 as it adds more technology and a new transmission into the mix. Korean market gets the 2026 Sportage first but it will eventually be coming to the U.S.
Kia is making a number of revisions to the Sportage for 2026.
The Kia Sportage has been a strong seller for Kia but with the rest of the model lineup adopting a new design language, the Sportage’s older lines are beginning to become more noticeable with other rivals also getting ahead of it when it comes to raw technology.
The Korean car brand is out to show that it still sees the Sportage as a key player in its utility lineup and has unveiled the updated 2026 model which will bring a number of revisions to the CUV when it makes its debut in Korea before eventually making its way to other markets including the U.S.
New face makes this Sportage fall in line
In addition to the new front fascia, the interior also gets several revisions.
At first glance, the changes Kia made to the outside will be hard to spot with the 2026 model sharing alot in common with the outgoing 2025 model. However, look closer and you’ll find that the boomerang-shaped lighting accents have been pitched with the new lenses adopting Kia’s “Star Map” lighting with the vertically stacked headlights being a key example of this in action. The new units are also simpler in design than before and allow the Sportage to fall in line with other models like the Kia Carnival. The front grille has been stretched to match these headlights but it still has the same core “Tiger Nose” look. The rear has been tweaked too with Kia removing the faux exhaust tips and tweaking select elements of the rear bumper.
The interior also gets changes with designers streamlining the design of the dashboard by removing some of the air vents that wrapped around the infotainment screen and instrument displays. The gear shift also gets replaced with a small dial and the steering wheel is traded in for a new “Double D” cut design which gives it a look that’s very reminiscent of the 1990s. The new wheel also comes with grip detectors to help ensure the driver has their hands on the steering wheel when using the Highway Driving Assist system. Meanwhile, the 12.3-inch infotainment system gets new software including a new augmented view mode and the ability to get Over-The-Air updates.
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New driving mode and an eight-speed automatic beef up performance
A new eight-speed transmission makes its way to the turbocharged model and a new Infant Driving Mode makes driving with babies easier.
The engines and the hybrid systems are carried over from the outgoing model but Kia focused the bulk of its updates on the turbo model with this version of the Sportage getting a new eight-speed automatic that replaces the seven-speed DCT with Kia saying that the new transmission improves the Sportage’s performance and driving behavior but don’t expect it to make the Sportage a formal performance model anytime soon.
In addition to the new transmission, a new “Infant Driving Mode” is also onboard with the new mode smoothing out the regenerative braking and the drive experience for infants that might be riding along in the Sportage. Other revisions to the suspension also smooth out the ride too, with extra sound-deadening material improving the amount of noise that’s filtered out of the cabin. Like other new Kia and Hyundai markets, the Korean home market gets first dibs but the model will be coming to other markets in the near future. That includes the U.S. where the model will most likely get minor pricing and marketing changes to help it mesh with the sales strategy here in our country.
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