2026 Kia Sportage expands hybrid choice to challenge Toyota RAV4 harder

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Kia Australia has released pricing and specifications for its facelifted Sportage range for model year 2026.

Key updates include revised styling inside and out, added tech and safety features, a choice of all-wheel drive for hybrid variants and revisions to the turbo petrol powertrain.

Sportage maintains its four-tier variant hierarchy – S, SX, SX+ and GT-Line – and continues the choice of diesel, petrol and self-charging petrol-electric hybrid powertrains.

Outside, Sportage now features a “Sorento-inspired” look that boasts vertically stacked ‘star map’ headlights and redesigned taillights with revised front fascia – with a new-look grille – and rear bar elements.    

All four variant tiers feature new wheel designs, with the hybrid version of the GT-Line benefitting from a unique 18-inch style that separates it from the 19-inch GT-Line petrol and diesel versions. Paint colour choice has expanded with two new regular hues in Wolf Grey and Heritage Blue.

Design wise, the MY26 Sportage’s lightly remodelled interior includes a redesigned two-spoke wheel and a 12.3-inch multimedia display, which now includes Kia’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) connected services. 

Over-the-air updates, as previously seen in Sorento, are now available for Sportage across the line-up.

Powertrain updates

Kia Australia has added the choice of all-wheel drive to the  1-6L ‘T-GDI’ turbo-petrol-based self-charging hybrid format, a $3000 upcharge over the front-drive HEV powertrain.

Only two of the four available trim levels offer hybrid power, with the HEV SX priced from $46,450 (FWD) and $49,450 (AWD), while the flagship GT-Line is priced at $57,370 (FWD) and all-you-can-eat $60,370 (AWD).

The hybrid system combines the 132kW/265Nm 1.6T engine with 44kW/264Nm electric drive, backed by six-speed automatic transmission in both FWD and AWD guises.

The base 115kW/192Nm 2.0L naturally aspirated engine with six-speed auto remains the entry-grade powertrain, starting from $37,990 in the S. It’s also offered in SX at $40,480 and SX+ at $45,080, all front-wheel drive.

Big news in the petrol line-up is that the seven-speed dual-clutch has been dropped in favour of an eight-speed torque converter automatic – as used in the diesels – in the 132kW and 265Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre option.

Here pricing starts at $47,080 for the SX+ and $53,990 for GT-Line, both with all-wheel drive.

The 137kW and 416Nm 2.0L diesel with eight-speed auto powertrain is also offered across all grades, starting from $43,390 for S, $45,880 for the SX, $50,480 for the SX+ and $56,400 for the GT-Line.

Specification upgrades

All variants get a smattering of new features, starting with base S, which gets 12.3-inch media (with ccNC Lite), Kia Connect with OTA updates, a smart key with push button start, and adaptive Smart Cruise Control. 

The sole SX upgrade is the 12.3-in media (with full ccNC) while SX+ now adds wireless phone charging, Highway Drive Assist (active lane following with adaptive cruise) and heated steering wheel.

The flagship GT-Line has added a head-up display, dynamic welcome light functionality front and rear, and a heated steering wheel in petrol and diesel grades.  

Make Model Year: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• S FWD 2.0L: $37,990
• SX FWD 2.0L: $40,480
• S AWD Diesel: $43,390
• SX+ FWD 2.0L: $45,080
• SX AWD Diesel: $45,880
• SX FWD HEV: $46,450
• SX+ AWD 1.6T: $47,080
• SX AWD HEV: $49,450
• SX+ AWD Diesel: $50,480
• GT-Line AWD 1.6T: $53,990
• GT-Line AWD Diesel: $56,400
• GT-Line FWD HEV: $57,370
• GT-Line AWD HEV: $60,370