As one of the best-selling models in the Kia lineup, the Sportage has always been celebrated for its compact size and efficiency. Making its global debut at the LA Auto Show, the 2026 Kia Sportage elevates these qualities with a design that aligns more closely with its larger siblings: the Telluride, the Sorento, and the Kia EV9. The new Sportage offers three powertrain options: gas-powered, plug-in hybrid, and standard hybrid, catering to a variety of driving preferences. Inside, the Sportage features a luxurious interior with options for a dial gear selector or a standard lever, depending on the trim. Advanced features such as a head-up display and an extended multimedia screen enhance the driving experience.
The exterior design of the 2026 Kia Sportage is both modern and striking, featuring amber lightning bolt daytime running lights, star map lighting, and pixelated taillights that echo the design language of other Kia vehicles. Despite its updated aesthetics, the Sportage remains compact and easy to drive, making it a practical choice for urban environments. With its blend of style, efficiency, and advanced technology, the 2026 Kia Sportage is poised to maintain its position as a top seller in the Kia family.
Read more on Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottyreiss/2025/01/06/kias-path-to-premium-brand-status-advances-with-the-2026-kia-sportage/
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With a wider front grille, amber daytime lights and winky stacked LED headlights, the 2026 Kia Sportage will greet car buyers and drivers with a more modern, cohesive look that harkens to Kia’s other popular models, the Telluride and EV9.
The addition of “Star map Lighting,” which became the Kia signature with the introduction of the Telluride, is where the makeover starts for the 2026 Kia Sportage. But it’s also what links Kia’s strategy to evolve the brand from budget to premium.
Updating the Kia Sportage to look and feel more luxe is also an important factor in the brand’s journey; with nearly 600,000 sold globally in 2024, Sportage is Kia’s best selling vehicle.
The new design takes an almost radical approach to the classic Tiger Nose grille which has been the foundation of Kia’s design language for nearly 20 years.
Not unlike BMW’s stretching of its kidney grille or Jeep’s ever-evolving seven-slot Sarge grille, Kia continues to play on the theme with modern dimensions; for the 2026 Sportage the grille spans to the corners of the front end, integrating into the stacked headlights. The look is distinct and modern, but without too much risk.
