2026 Kia Sportage Gets A Small Price Hike For Big Changes

The Kia Sportage got an update last year, with the automaker giving it a major design revamp and other tech updates – so substantial it can probably pass as a new-generation update. Arriving as a 2026 model year, the Korean compact crossover’s facelifted version is simply better in more ways than one than its predecessor, but those enhancements come with a price.

According to dealer bulletins obtained by CarsDirect, the base 2026 Kia Sportage LX will be $1,300 pricier than before. Specifically, it will reportedly start at $28,690 – a notable jump from the current $27,390 starting price. The all-wheel-drive LX will be priced at $30,490. The prices mentioned here don’t include Kia’s mandatory $1,395 destination and handling charges.

Price Increase For Hybrids Unclear

It’s important to remember that the prices in the dealer bulletin are for the pure combustion LX trims. It’s still unclear whether the price increase will be uniform across the Sportage range, which includes the higher hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. To recall, the electrified Sportage models received a few more ponies, particularly with their electric motors, increasing the overall output.

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Of course, the upgrades to the 2026 model year aren’t limited to power. Apart from the obvious design changes, which paved the way for the more contemporary Star Map LED lighting to enter the Sportage lineup, there are enhancements inside, too. Some of the new stuff includes dual 12.3-inch panoramic screens, a 10-inch head-up display, an upgraded Digital Key that works with smartphones and NFC cards, an improved Forward Collision Avoidance system, and a more advanced ADAS system.

Still More Affordable Than Most Of Its Rivals

Regardless of the upcoming substantial increase in the price of admission, the 2026 Kia Sportage will remain competitively priced within the compact crossover segment. In fact, only two models will undercut the Kia nameplate, and those will be the Nissan Rogue and the Chevrolet Equinox. Other compact crossovers will be marginally pricier, including the Sportage’s platform twin, the Hyundai Tucson.

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Kia remains mum about the availability of the 2026 Sportage, but we expect a rollout towards the latter half of this year. That said, we’ll know more about the updated pricing of the whole Sportage lineup before then, shedding light on whether the few horsepower added warrant a much heftier sticker price.

Source: CarsDirect