2026 Kia Sportage, new in stock.

Kia engineers were spotted testing a prototype of the revamped Sportage, which is expected to hit showrooms next year as a 2026 model.

The current Sportage, on sale since the 2023 model year, is Kia's best-selling model, with U.S. buyers purchasing 140,780 units last year alone. In other words, Kia doesn't want to rock the boat with a mid-cycle refresh of this compact crossover.

The prototype is heavily camouflaged, but a new front end with vertical headlights, similar to those seen on the Kia Sorento, which will be updated in 2024, is clearly visible. The front mask and grille design are also new.

The rear design has also been tweaked, as evidenced by new graphics on the taillights.

There are no clear shots of the interior, but we can expect a cleaner dash with a digital meter cluster and a floating display for the infotainment screen, similar to those found on new Kias like the Sorento and the recently unveiled EV3 electric subcompact crossover. and a floating display for the infotainment screen, as seen in the new Kia EV3 electric subcompact crossover.

Given the recent surge in demand for hybrid powertrains, we can expect the powertrain lineup for the revamped Sportage to be as diverse as those currently offered: for the 2025 Sportage, a 187-hp inline-4, 227-hp hybrid, and a 261-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Expect a debut in early 2025. Sales in the U.S. will begin later that year.