2026 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid

If you like the idea of an electric vehicle but still want the flexibility that comes with a traditional gas-powered SUV, a plug-in hybrid brings the best of both worlds. And one of the best options among PHEVs is the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid. On the EV side of the equation, it enables you to drive up to 34 miles on battery power alone — easily enough for errands and shorter commutes. After that, you can travel as far as you’d like, thanks to the turbocharged engine that allows spur-of-the-moment road trips. Beyond the innovative powertrain, the 2026 Sportage Plug-in Hybrid packs the other traits we love about the Sportage lineup in general: Stylish looks, excellent tech and safety features, a roomy interior, and excellent warranties.

We review the gasoline-only 2026 Sportage and non-plug-in 2026 Sportage Hybrid separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of PHEV SUVs, including the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid.

The 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid gains 7 horsepower, for a total of 268. A new function called Stop Assist Control allows you to slow and stop the vehicle by holding the left paddle shifter, and there is now an auto mode for active regenerative braking based on road conditions and navigation.

The 2026 Kia Sportage starts at $41,885, including the $1,395 destination fee.

The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is available in two well-equipped trims: X-Line and X-Line Prestige. The X-Line sells a bit better than the X-Line Prestige, but if you have the budget, the Prestige adds especially desirable features. They include dual panoramic 12.3-inch screens, memory driver’s seat with two settings, power-adjustable passenger seat, heated steering wheel and heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, Harman Kardon premium audio, enhanced forward collision avoidance system, Kia’s Blind-Spot View Monitor, and even a system that enables you to remotely park the car while standing outside of it.

As for competition, there’s less of it in 2026 with plug-in hybrid versions of the Dodge Hornet and Ford Escape out of the picture. Kia’s closest rival is also its kin, Hyundai, with the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, whose two trims are similar in price. The big question mark at the time of this writing is the all-new 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, for which pricing has yet to be announced. For some context, the 2025 version of the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid begins a bit higher at just over $46,000.

Before buying a new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid compact SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s resale value is above average. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

As the top dog and most expensive variant in Kia’s broad lineup of Sportage models, the plug-in hybrid model has the most power and the most flexibility. For 2026, it brings 268 hp to the table, which is seven more than last year and 36 more than the non-plug-in Kia Sportage Hybrid. We’ve found this potency serves well for both getting up freeway on-ramps quickly and when passing at higher speeds. It’s also assuring to have all-wheel drive standard — power going to all four wheels provides better grip than just two.

But the real x-factor of a plug-in hybrid is its ability to drive on battery power alone, akin to an all-electric vehicle. For the Sportage PHEV, that means up to 34 miles of electric-only range. After that, the onboard turbocharged engine kicks in, enabling you to drive this Kia plug-in hybrid just as you would any other combustion vehicle.

In our miles and miles of testing, we’ve found the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid’s chassis comfortable yet controlled, smooth, and settled. We also appreciate that, unlike many gas-electric vehicles that use a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that can drone, here you get a 6-speed automatic transmission. There are even steering wheel-mounted paddles that grant full control of shifts when in Sport mode. For 2026, when the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is in Eco or Smart mode, those paddles adjust the level of brake regeneration — even with the ability to bring the vehicle to a stop when the left one is held. We like this feature on Kia’s all-electric vehicles, and applaud its inclusion here.

One other little detail that registers with us: The audio system reduces volume automatically when the reverse gear is selected, so the driver’s concentration isn’t affected. It’s the little touches like this that make living with a car more enjoyable over the years.

Fuel Economy

Factoring in the 34 miles traveled using just the battery, the Sportage Plug-In Hybrid is capable of 84 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined city/highway driving. When operating as a regular hybrid, it achieves 35 mpg combined; all-wheel-drive versions of the Sportage Hybrid (not plug-in) run to 38 mpg combined. Total range for the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is 430 miles, according to the EPA. An all-wheel-drive Kia Sportage Hybrid (non-plug-in) is good for up to 521.

The all-new 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid promises up to 50 miles of all-electric range and a powertrain that makes up to 320 hp.

The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is part of the compact SUV pack, but it’s roomier than you might think, boasting one of the most spacious interiors of the bunch. This Kia’s 2-row/5-passenger cabin is also seriously impressive, deftly blending amenities and innovation.

For example, when not being used to hold drinks, the center console’s cup holder area can transform into a storage place for larger items. Then there’s the one control that can adjust either the audio volume or the cabin temperature, depending on which mode is selected. We like the idea and the intention of keeping things as tidy as possible, but we’d gladly accept dedicated controls for each function because we don’t want to think about those modes when we’re driving.

We have nothing but praise, though, for the expansive unit that houses dual instrument cluster/infotainment displays, the 39.5 inches of rear legroom, and the 34.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats. The other Sportage variants have more rear legroom and cargo space, admittedly, but they don’t have this PHEV’s larger battery.

It seems we’re in a golden age of compact SUV design. All that designed-by-committee stuff seems behind us, now that we have striking lookers like the current Kia Sportage lineup. In our imagination, that little euphoric buzz whenever we walk up to the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid and press the fob’s Unlock button would always be there.

Some of the most visually striking elements of the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid are the boomerang-like lights around the headlight housing, the sloping roof that meets a pinched C-pillar, and the wide taillight treatments. To our eyes, it’s all a cohesive and stylish package.

Plug-in hybrid drivetrain
It isn’t just the fuel economy and lower emissions that makes a plug-in hybrid so interesting; it’s also the extra thrust from the electric side. And Kia covers it with a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Dual displays
These 12.3-inch screens (one for the driver, one for the infotainment system) are set into a single panoramic unit and contribute to the cabin’s contemporary feel. The instrument cluster in the less expensive X-Line model houses a 4.2-inch TFT cluster, while the top-line X-Line Prestige gets a full 12.3-inch TFT.

Drive Wise
This is the name of Kia’s set of driver aids. We’ve noticed how well things like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance work in the Sportage PHEV, as they do across the company’s portfolio.

Powered tailgate
This standard item comes with programmable heights and can open automatically when it detects the key nearby.

Blind-Spot View Monitor
Standard in the X-Line Prestige, this adds real-time video down either side of the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (depending on which direction the turn signal is going), giving drivers a greater awareness of traffic when chasing lanes or turning. This is one of those features we really miss when it’s not around.

Harman Kardon audio
We’re always happy to see — and hear — a Harman Kardon system. They’re often found in BMW vehicles, so that’s how posh Kia can be. It’s standard in the top X-Line Prestige model.

A turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine joins two electric motors to create a total output of 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, making this plug-in hybrid the most powerful Sportage. Energy goes to a standard all-wheel-drive system through a 6-speed automatic transmission. The power increase this year comes thanks to the electric motor output increasing from 66.9 kW to 72 kW.

As for recharging, it takes two hours to give the battery a full recharge using a 240-volt supply.

The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Kia offers unbeatable warranties. New-car coverage is five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first (a typical warranty here is three years or 36,000 miles). The powertrain warranty lasts 10 years or 100,000 miles, much better than most competitors. The hybrid battery is also covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

This generation of Sportage (regardless of drivetrain) has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the institute’s second-highest accolade. In crash-testing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Sportage earns the top 5-Star rating. Standard safety features in the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid SUV include forward collision warning with pedestrian/cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance.