2026 Kia Sportage revealed with fresh look, mechanical updates

Kia has revealed its updated Sportage in Korea, with the popular mid-sized SUV wearing the new corporate face but also packing changes under the skin.

The refreshed Sportage is due in Australia during the second quarter of 2025.

There’s a new transmission for models with the turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

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An eight-speed automatic replaces the seven-speed dual-clutch auto, with the 1.6T still producing 132kW of power and 265Nm of torque.

In Korea, it’s available with either front- or all-wheel drive, while in Australia the 1.6T has always been all-wheel drive-only.

The 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder powertrain has received a slight (3.7kW) boost in power for its electric motor and an ‘infant’ driving mode that brings smoother acceleration so as not to upset your little ones in the back.

Kia has installed a two-way damper on the front strut and sound-absorbing material to the B-pillar to reduce road noise, and has added more sound-absorbing material to the door trims.

Korean buyers can still get a 2.0-litre petrol four, although there it’s only offered in LPG guise.

There’s no diesel option available in Korea. It remains to be seen whether it’ll survive in Australia, given the Sportage’s Hyundai Tucson cousin lost the engine with its recent mid-life update.

Exterior changes are focused primarily on the front end, where there are new, more vertically oriented headlights with lengthy daytime running lights, as well as a new bumper and a revised grille.

Down back, there are tweaks to the tail light internals and bumper.

There are bold new wheel designs, ranging from 17 to 19 inches in diameter, as well as new paint finishes.

Inside the updated Sportage, there’s a curved assembly incorporating a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen running Kia’s new-generation ccNC operating system.

This sits next to either a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster or a mixed-screen display with a 4.2-inch information screen in the centre. A head-up display is available.

The satellite navigation features an available augmented reality view, while the adaptive cruise control can use navigation data to manage the vehicle’s speed.

The Sportage supports over-the-air updates, while there’s also a fingerprint authentication system.

Other interior changes include revised air vents and ambient lighting and a new steering wheel.

The Korean-market Sportage will be offered with either black, two-tone white and blue, or two-tone black and tan interior colourways. It remains to be seen whether these more colourful options will join the local lineup.

Other tech features include Kia Digital Key 2, allowing you to unlock and start the car with your iPhone, Apple Watch or Android smartphone; and Highway Driving Assist 2, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane centring and can even negotiate lane changes automatically.

Safety features include active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assist, as well as reverse parking collision avoidance assist that will stop you from backing into, for example, a pedestrian walking behind your vehicle.

The steering wheel also now features grip detection, to make sure you keep your hands on it, as well as a vibration warning to alert drivers of danger.

The launch of the refreshed Sportage follows that of its updated Tucson cousin earlier this year, which received much subtler exterior tweaks but a comprehensively revised interior.

MORE: Everything Kia Sportage