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2026 Kia Sportage
added to My List
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2026

2026 Kia Sportage

9
/10
Original MSRP
$28,690 - $47,190
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Features We Love
Car Mom Review

The Exterior

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First Row

First Impressions: A Compact SUV That Feels Premium

Right away, the 2026 Sportage feels like a big step up.

The interior is where this car really shines. Kia continues to impress with tech, and this might be one of the most high-end interiors you’ll find at this price point.

Standout Interior Features:

  • Curved dual-screen display (looks seamless and modern)
  • Wireless charging + multiple USB-C ports
  • Ambient lighting throughout the cabin
  • Retractable cupholders + great center console storage

The seat design alone feels luxury-level, with layered materials (faux suede, leather, perforation, and piping). It’s giving premium SUV—not entry-level compact.

One downside:
The climate and media controls share the same panel, so you have to toggle between them. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s not the most intuitive setup when you’re juggling kids and snacks and life.

Driver Experience

The driver’s seat is a win—especially for taller drivers.

  • Comfortable and supportive
  • Great visibility
  • New oval-style steering wheel (a trend we’re seeing more often—and it works)

Overall, it feels modern, fresh, and thoughtfully designed.

‍

‍

Second Row

Second Row Comfort & Features

This is where the Sportage overdelivers for its size.

  • Spacious legroom (even for tall passengers)
  • Flat, supportive bench seat
  • Panoramic sunroof makes the cabin feel bigger
  • Heated rear seats (in higher trims)
  • Air vents + smartly placed charging ports on seatbacks
  • Small but thoughtful touches like bag hooks

It feels airy, functional, and family-friendly.

‍

Third Row

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Trunk

Trunk Space: A Huge Win

For a 2-row SUV, the cargo space is impressive.

You can easily fit:

  • A double stroller
  • Costco haul
  • Sports gear + groceries

Plus:

  • Cargo cover included
  • Fold-flat seats for even more space
  • Underfloor storage + spare tire

This is one of those SUVs where you won’t feel like you’re constantly playing trunk Tetris.

‍

Safety

The Kia Sportage is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and received 5 stars from NHTSA.

Car Seat Setup

Car Seat Setup:

  • 2 sets of lower anchors (LATCH)
  • 3 top tether anchors across the back
  • Flat, wide bench = easier installs + less overhang issues

Real-Life Take:

  • Works for rear-facing seats, even with taller drivers
  • Might be tight with bulkier or rotating car seats if you’re very tall
  • Best suited for 1–2 car seats comfortably

‍

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Community Reviews

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3.9 / 5

32 Reviews

Exterior Styling
3.2
Performance
4.1
Technology
4.5
Interior Design
3.8
Second Row Comfort
4.5
Third Row Comfort
3.6
Reliability Score
4.6 /5
82%
Would
purchase
again
12 Reviews with 3+ years of ownership
Kids
=
2 Kids
filters
Year
Sort By

Jordan Douglas

Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2026 Kia Sportage
September 10, 2026
4.0
stars
•
Owned
•
2026
Kia
Sportage

Second row is spacious with good leg room. Over 6 foot tall husband comfortable in driver seat, passenger seat, and back seat. Fits 2 car seats comfortably both rear facing and forward facing.

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

cacallahan1116

Community Voice
Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2024 Hyundai Palisade
September 10, 2026
4.0
stars
•
Owned
•
2015
Kia
Sportage

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Nicole Kretzman

Community Voice
Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2024 Honda Passport
September 8, 2026
4.7
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

My husband bought this car brand new in 2023 and has driven it for 45k miles so far with no issues. He has the hybrid model so it’s very quiet and gets great gas mileage. It drives really smooth and still feels like new, the trunk is a great size, and it comfortably fits 2 rear-facing car seats (Clek Liing and Britax One4Life), though I think it would be uncomfortable to try to sit between them.

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
5.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Rachel Richards

Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2022 Volkswagen Atlas
September 3, 2026
3.9
stars
•
Rented
•
2026
Kia
Sportage

We rented this on vacation with one RF car seat. It wasn’t THE most spacious but decent passenger legroom with a RF car seat behind. The trunk did not fit 3 suitcases and a carry on, we had to put the seats down. Interior was nice except for the volume/climate control- they are the same buttons and you have to toggle back and forth.

Exterior Styling
4.5
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
3.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

melissaosterg

Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage
July 9, 2026
4.7
stars
•
Owned
•
2026
Kia
Sportage

We bought this car after having our second child. We preferred having a larger trunk than a third row so chose sportage over sorrento. I am a serial overpacker on road trips so we also added a roof rack. Between the trunk and the roof storage we have never run out of space. We have been really pleased with this car in general. Nice tech, easy car seat install, heated and cooling seats in the front and hybrid so gas mileage is great. We did have one issue where the car randomly slowed down and when I turned it off to restart it was dead and wouldn’t restart. The dealership said it was an electrical issue specific to the 2023 model year. Overall, I would recommend!

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
4.5
Second Row Comfort
5.0
show more less

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Overall Rating
4.0
Exterior Styling
3.2
Performance
3.2
Technology
3.2
Interior Design
3.2
Second Row Comfort
3.2
Third Row Comfort
3.2
Kids
=
2 Kids
filters
Year
Sort By

Lizbeth

Mom of
3
3
•
drives a
2025 Kia Sportage
October 15, 2026
4.8
stars
•
Owned
•
2025
Kia
Sportage

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
5.0
Second Row Comfort
5.0
show more less

Jenny Lloyd

Mom of
1
1
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage
October 1, 2026
5.0
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

I love the safety features, especially the blind spot cameras. I also like using the drive mode and typically use the eco mode unless I know I’ll need to accelerate quickly to enter a busy highway or pass a slower vehicle. The car drives smoothly and the seats are comfortable. I do wish there were ceiling vents for the backseat. The only negative is the matte exterior paint. Since you are encouraged not to take it through a car wash, I have to hand wash only. The brushes or hanging cloths in a car wash may scratch the paint and I was also warned that the detergent they use may damage the paint too. I buy all my cleaning products from Chemical Guys and have been impressed by their quality. Now for the real downfall of the matte paint, I have a long scrape along the driver’s side and was told by the detail technician at my dealership, that trying to repaint and match the paint on sections may not match the rest of the car, causing me to need to repaint the entire car. He tested one of his products to see if it would help, but it didn’t seem to change anything. Since it would be very expensive to repaint the entire car, I’ll have to live with the damage. I get tons of compliments on this paint, but I give everyone fair warning that it’s a pain to keep up. Overall this is has been my most favorite car I’ve ever owned, but I’d never recommend getting the matte paint.

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
5.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
5.0
Second Row Comfort
5.0
show more less

Nikole Ineck

Mom of
1
1
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage
September 22, 2026
4.0
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

We were in the market for a new car after my son was born. We decided to go with the car that fit our life right now and landed on the Sportage. It is a good size for us since it’s typically my son and I in the car. He is the evenflo revolve slim car seat and it fits well behind the passengers seat. I’m 5’ 7” and can sit comfortably in the passengers seat but if I was any taller it would be a tighter squeeze. We travel full time for my husband’s job so we do lots of long road trips. I like that I can easily reach my son from the drivers seat on these long trips. We have also loaded down the car full of all our stuff for a beach trip, 2 dogs, and all 3 of us in the car multiple times. The spacious trunk allows for plenty of room for our stuff and plenty of space up front for everyone to sit. I have driven this car in all types of weather all around the country and still think we made the right decision. I do think if we decide to have another child, we would eventually need a larger car, but could be comfortable with two car seats on the backseat once my son is forward facing. Also love the fuel mileage I get on long road trips with these high prices (30-40 mpg).

Exterior Styling
4.5
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
5.0
Second Row Comfort
2.5
show more less

Waleska Morse

Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage
September 21, 2026
4.3
stars
•
Test-Drove
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

Great car for my 2 kids in front facing car seats. Our labradoole can fit comfortably in the trunk

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
5.0
Technology
3.5
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
5.0
show more less

Mia Wicke

Mom of
0
0
September 19, 2026
4.5
stars
•
Passenger
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

Very comfortable inside for all. Charging ports in back are amazing for passengers. Screens pretty

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.5
Interior Design
5.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Andrea Taylor

Community Voice
Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2017 Kia Sportage
September 19, 2026
3.1
stars
•
Owned
•
2017
Kia
Sportage

My 2017 Kia Sportage has been a reliable car for our family, and before we had children, it worked really well for us. It had plenty of trunk space for our needs and felt comfortable for both my husband and me. However, once we had children, it instantly started to feel way too small. We currently have two Evenflo Revolve360 car seats installed in the backseat, and both of our children are still rear-facing. When all four of us are in the car, it honestly feels like a clown car! My husband is 5’8” and I’m 5’10”, and neither of us can sit comfortably in the front with the rear-facing car seats behind us. We have to sit extremely close to the steering wheel and dashboard—my knees are practically in the dash and I feel like I’m only a few inches from the steering wheel. The cargo space is surprisingly decent considering the size of the vehicle. We can fit our WonderFold four-seater wagon and/or our double stroller in the trunk, but it takes some work. We have to remove the handlebar from the wagon and take the wheels off the stroller to make everything fit. As far as reliability issues, the tailgate has started sticking, and the rear passenger door handle actually fell off before we even had children. Overall, the Sportage was a great size for us as a couple and has been a reliable vehicle, but I would not choose this size vehicle again for our family with two young children in rear-facing car seats. If you’re taller or planning to have multiple children close in age, I would definitely consider something with more second-row space.

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
3.5
Technology
3.0
Interior Design
3.0
Second Row Comfort
2.0
show more less

Amanda Khosla

Mom of
1
1
•
drives a
2025 Kia Sportage
September 18, 2026
4.0
stars
•
Owned
•
2025
Kia
Sportage

Decent car for one kid, you could make it work for two kids but your family of 4 would take up the whole car. Trunk space is great. I’m am going to upgrade to a larger vehicle for two kids and give this to my husband as our secondary vehicle.

Exterior Styling
4.5
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
3.5
show more less

Lexus Walters

Community Voice
Mom of
1
1
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage
September 18, 2026
4.1
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

I have the highest trim. X-pro prestige. Great car if you’re looking for a smaller suv. It’s been reliable, good in all weather, rides fairly comfortably and I’ve had no issues after 4 years and 65k miles. I do feel like some of the safety features are almost too safe. I always say that one of them is going to cause an accident. A few personal nitpicks: I will never own a car that doesn’t have ceiling vents again, esp with a child rear facing but that was an error on my part and just something I didn't think of prior to purchasing. I also feel like there is a lot cabin noise which I don’t love. Overall a great small sized suv.

Exterior Styling
3.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Carl Tirella

parent of
1
1
•
drives a
2026 Kia Sportage
September 18, 2026
4.6
stars
•
Owned
•
2026
Kia
Sportage

I’ve had my 26’ Sportage Hybrid for about 5 months now, but as a full-time Uber driver, I’ve already racked over 20k miles on it! So far, the car has been dead reliable and the tech (even for a lower trim S model) is fantastic. I have the full suite of driver aids (blind spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, backup camera, pre-collision braking, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control), heated front seats with a power drivers seat, and wireless Apple CarPlay on a giant 12” screen. Things I wish I bumped up to an EX over an S for are just a power tailgate, leatherette seating, and the option for the panoramic sunroof. Overall, the hybrid has great power, has returned the promised fuel economy (37mpg combined), and I even hit a deer with it and post-repair, it still runs great. The Heritage Blue color and the amber running lights get me compliments on a nearly daily basis! I haven’t loaded a car seat into it yet (my wife and I are expecting in Feb ‘27), but I have on numerous occasions had the car loaded with all 5 seats and it’s still comfortable (just a bit cramped but doable for a middle passenger in the back). The trunk is HUGE, with plenty of room for strollers, luggage, groceries, or a combo of all three and more. I’m weary of Kia’s reliability, but this car has been solid and I just opted when I bought it for an extended 150k bumper-to-bumper warranty which I’d recommend anyone buying a Kia get (I used to sell them myself so I’ve seen my fair share of horror stories, but they do make a great car!). Regardless, I love the car and highly recommend it to anyone needing a more fuel efficient AWD two-row SUV!

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
4.5
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.5
show more less

Stephanie Sporko

Community Voice
Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage
September 17, 2026
3.8
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

Great for a midsize suv. I have one child with one on the way. Had it for over three years and have had minimal issues. Spacious second row and trunk space. Although it is big enough for day to day, we are looking for a three row suv with another on the way.

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
3.5
Technology
3.5
Interior Design
3.5
Second Row Comfort
3.5
show more less

Gabriella Breton

Mom of
1
1
•
drives a
2026 Kia Sorento
September 17, 2026
3.4
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

We loved our Kia Sportage with one toddler but with the knowledge we want at least one more child, we upgraded to a Sorento for more space. The Sportage is VERY spacious for its size however!

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
3.0
Technology
3.0
Interior Design
3.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Kaitlin Ellsworth

Community Voice
Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage hybrid
September 17, 2026
4.6
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

I have owned the Sportage Hybrid since 2023 and loved it! It fits my 2 kids comfortably, although if we decide to have a third, we would have to upgrade. The car rides smoothly, gets great gas mileage for road trips, and has held up well! The trunk is fairly large and fits my 100 pound Labrador comfortably.

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
5.0
Second Row Comfort
5.0
show more less

Allison Oliver

Mom of
0
0
•
drives a
2025 Kia Sportage
September 17, 2026
3.8
stars
•
Owned
•
2026
Kia
Sportage

I really like my car! It’s a great 2-row SUV with good space in the 2nd row and trunk. No kids but we road trip multiple times a year with a large dog and a lot of stuff! I think it looks sporty and drives nicely, but other SUVs still catch my eye on the road. Technology is awesome. My biggest complaint is the volume & air conditioner knob being the same and no 2nd row ceiling vents. There are vents on the back of the center console though. Overall love it and would recommend for a small family.

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
3.5
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
3.5
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Kirsten Wilde

Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage
September 13, 2026
4.6
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
5.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
5.0
Second Row Comfort
3.0
show more less

Courtney Zywicki

Mom of
3
3
•
drives a
2018 Volvo Xc90
September 11, 2026
3.8
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

Kia sportage is a great option if you have 1 or 2 kids. It was a little tight for my family of 5. It had great trunk space, a smooth ride and good technology. Affordability is probably the best thing about the sportage if it works for your family.

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
3.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Rachel Kraft

Mom of
0
0
•
drives a
2017 Kia Sportage
September 10, 2026
4.2
stars
•
Owned
•
2017
Kia
Sportage

I love the roominess of the interior of the car while still being able to fit just about anywhere I need. The trunk space is perfect for a fury friend, a huge Costco haul, or can even fit an 8’ Christmas tree box with the second row down. My biggest complaint is the leather seat design, the tiny holes in the seats collect all sorts of dirt and grime, and haven’t held up very well over time. Our lab mix has unfortunately gotten her nails stuck in the leather multiple times and have since ripped the seats in several spots.

Exterior Styling
3.5
Performance
4.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
3.5
Second Row Comfort
5.0
show more less

Jordan Douglas

Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2026 Kia Sportage
September 10, 2026
4.0
stars
•
Owned
•
2026
Kia
Sportage

Second row is spacious with good leg room. Over 6 foot tall husband comfortable in driver seat, passenger seat, and back seat. Fits 2 car seats comfortably both rear facing and forward facing.

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

cacallahan1116

Community Voice
Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2024 Hyundai Palisade
September 10, 2026
4.0
stars
•
Owned
•
2015
Kia
Sportage

Exterior Styling
4.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Nicole Kretzman

Community Voice
Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2024 Honda Passport
September 8, 2026
4.7
stars
•
Owned
•
2023
Kia
Sportage

My husband bought this car brand new in 2023 and has driven it for 45k miles so far with no issues. He has the hybrid model so it’s very quiet and gets great gas mileage. It drives really smooth and still feels like new, the trunk is a great size, and it comfortably fits 2 rear-facing car seats (Clek Liing and Britax One4Life), though I think it would be uncomfortable to try to sit between them.

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
5.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
4.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

Rachel Richards

Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2022 Volkswagen Atlas
September 3, 2026
3.9
stars
•
Rented
•
2026
Kia
Sportage

We rented this on vacation with one RF car seat. It wasn’t THE most spacious but decent passenger legroom with a RF car seat behind. The trunk did not fit 3 suitcases and a carry on, we had to put the seats down. Interior was nice except for the volume/climate control- they are the same buttons and you have to toggle back and forth.

Exterior Styling
4.5
Performance
4.0
Technology
4.0
Interior Design
3.0
Second Row Comfort
4.0
show more less

melissaosterg

Mom of
2
2
•
drives a
2023 Kia Sportage
July 9, 2026
4.7
stars
•
Owned
•
2026
Kia
Sportage

We bought this car after having our second child. We preferred having a larger trunk than a third row so chose sportage over sorrento. I am a serial overpacker on road trips so we also added a roof rack. Between the trunk and the roof storage we have never run out of space. We have been really pleased with this car in general. Nice tech, easy car seat install, heated and cooling seats in the front and hybrid so gas mileage is great. We did have one issue where the car randomly slowed down and when I turned it off to restart it was dead and wouldn’t restart. The dealership said it was an electrical issue specific to the 2023 model year. Overall, I would recommend!

Exterior Styling
5.0
Performance
4.0
Technology
5.0
Interior Design
4.5
Second Row Comfort
5.0
show more less

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