2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid Review, Pricing, and Specs

Posted on August 13, 2026 in auto

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Sean Rice|Car and Driver

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a modern suv driving on a quiet street lined with palm trees and greenery.

Sean Rice|Car and Driver

MSRP

HIGHS

Quicker than its nonhybrid sibling, contemporary styling, spacious interior.

LOWS

Fuel efficiency trails rivals, driving fun is in short supply, exterior styling a bit outré for some buyers.

VERDICT

The Sportage Hybrid is a sensible and affordable choice, though competitors offer better efficiency and more driver engagement.

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EPA MPGe

35–41 Combined

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Seating

5 Seats

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Powertrain

Hybrid

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Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive

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Limited Warranty

5 Years/60,000 Miles

By Andrew Wendler

Overview

The 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid ramps up the standard Sportage's fuel efficiency and performance factors with a choice of two hybrid powertrains. The conventional hybrid model employs a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors for a combined output of 231 horsepower, while the plug-in hybrid version checks in with 268 horsepower and up to 34 miles of electric-only driving range. Both are quicker than the nonhybrid Sportage.

Otherwise, the Sportage Hybrids offer the same practical, compact SUV attributes as their all-gas brethren, including room for five, reasonable cargo capacity, and pleasant, if not class-leading, driving dynamics. Competitors like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid proved more thrifty in our real-world fuel economy test, but the Sportage remains a balanced if unexciting option.

Expert Tip: Though the EX Hybrid is a complete package, you can save some significant coin going with the nonhybrid Sportage.

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What's New for 2027?

After some cosmetic, infotainment, and mild powertrain updates for 2026, the Sportage Hybrid and Sportage plug-in hybrid carry over with minimal changes for 2027. The front-wheel drive powertrain that was previously limited to the base LX can now be had on S and EX trims. Elsewhere, the X-Line trim gains an optional Technology package that includes a 360-degree exterior camera, a digital gauge display, a Harmon/Kardon stereo, and adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

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Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Hybrid Powertrains: 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and two electric motors, 232 hp combined; 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and two electric motors, 268 hp combined (PHEV model)
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Drivetrain: front-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive

The Sportage Hybrid can be paired with front- or all-wheel drive. The Hybrid's extra power and low-end push from the electric motors make both versions feel much more responsive than the nonhybrid Sportage model.

On our recent test drive, we enjoyed the Sportage hybrid's off-the-line peppiness and agreeable ride, although it left much to be desired in terms of driving enjoyment. The introduction of rugged-looking trims such as the X-Line gives the compact ute an off-road vibe, but no additional off-road capability. For that, consider the X-Pro variants of the nonhybrid model, which have some additional equipment to help tackle the rough stuff.

0–60-MPH Times

C/D 60-mph Test: 6.9 seconds (PHEV AWD), 6.9 seconds (hybrid AWD)

In Comparison: The 2026 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid and 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid both hit 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

Towing and Payload Capacity

Max Towing: 2000 pounds

The 2000-pound max tow rating for both the hybrid and PHEV versions refers to trailers that are equipped with trailer brakes. Without trailer brakes, the max load decreases to 1653 pounds.

In Comparison: The Honda CR-V Hybrid is rated to tow only 1000 pounds, but the RAV4 Hybrid is rated to tug 1750 pounds.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

EPA EV Range: 34 miles

The Sportage Hybrid uses a similar setup as the one found in its plug-in hybrid Hyundai Tucson sibling, featuring a 13.8-kWh battery pack and 268 horsepower. A standard J1772 Level 2 port allows for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. According to the EPA, a fully depleted battery in the PHEV can be fully recharged in two hours when connected to a Level 2 charger.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Test: 31 mpg (Hybrid AWD)
EPA City Ratings: 35-41 mpg
EPA Highway Rating: 36-44 mpg

According to the EPA, the front-drive Sportage Hybrid offers the best fuel economy ratings at up to 42 mpg city, 44 mpg highway, and 42 mpg combined, while the AWD version trails it at 35 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined. An all-wheel-drive Sportage Hybrid achieved 31 mpg on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, falling 5 mpg short of its EPA rating.

The plug-in-hybrid Sportage earns EPA estimates of 35 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined. With a full battery, the Sportage PHEV is EPA rated for 84 MPGe. MPGe stands for miles per gallon of gas equivalent, an EPA metric that estimates PHEV and EV fuel efficiency. For more information about the Sportage's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

In Comparison: The 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV earns an EPA combined rating of 38 mpg and 94 MPGe, and it delivered 36 mpg during our highway fuel-economy test.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

First Row: The Sportage Hybrid features a snazzy design highlighted by a huge digital display on the dashboard angled to the driver. The LX has manual driver's seat adjustment, but S trim and above have a 10-way power seat with heating. Driver and passenger space is generous, but the seat padding is a bit firm and can be fatiguing on long trips. The center console boasts a rotary shift knob, a push-to-start button, and plenty of small-item storage.

Second Row: The second row provides room for three; a 60/40 folding seatback with recline setting helps optimize comfort and utility. Heated outboard rear seats are available on top trim levels. Second row air vents help provide balanced climate control.

Cargo Capacity: The Sportage has 40 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat. There's also a dual-level cargo floor for more versatility. The Sportage PHEV fit 12 carry-on bags behind the second row and 25 with it folded flat in C/D testing.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Infotainment: 12.3-inch touchscreen (standard)
Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Audio System: 6-speaker stereo (standard), 8-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo (optional)

Wireless phone charging is standard in the Hybrid EX and above and all PHEV models. Both feature a single USB-C media port in front with two USB-C ports in the rear, but the Hybrid X-Line and SX Prestige get four USB-C ports in the rear. Two 12-volt power ports (one console, one cargo area) are standard throughout the lineup, as is the 12.3-inch infotainment screen; navigation and a head-up display are available.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Sportage features a variety of standard and optional driver-assistance technology. The roster includes everything from navigation-based adaptive cruise control to a remote parking feature that's essentially the same as Hyundai's Smart Park system.

Standard Safety Features: forward collision warning and emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist
Optional Safety Features: adaptive cruise control with lane-centering

For more information about the Sportage's crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Kia boasts one of the best warranty plans out there, tied for the longest powertrain warranty in the industry with sister brand Hyundai. However, it lacks the complementary maintenance of competitors such as Toyota and even its corporate sibling, Hyundai.

Limited Warranty: five years or 60,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles
Complimentary Maintenance: none

C/D Test Results and Specs

Each year, we put hundreds of vehicles through our rigorous instrumented testing regimen. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that's because this vehicle hasn't changed from when we last tested it, and the test results remain accurate.

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Specifications

Specifications

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige AWD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $42,085/$42,305

POWERTRAIN
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 1.6-liter inline-4, 177 hp, 195 lb-ft + 2 AC motors, 17 and 64 hp, 32 and 195 lb-ft (combined output: 232 hp, 271 lb-ft; lithium-ion battery pack)
Transmission: 6-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.8-in vented disc/11.8-in disc
Tires: Hankook Dynapro HP2
235/55R-19 101H M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 108.5 in
Length: 184.4 in
Width: 73.4 in
Height: 66.3 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 52/50 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 74/40 ft3
Curb Weight: 3950 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.3 sec @ 92 mph
100 mph: 18.6 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 9.4 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.1 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 120 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.79 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 32 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 35/35/36 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs

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