just that: a mid-cycle refresh.The refresh this year includes a revised front-end design that features Kia’s star map lighting and the now ubiquitous amber daytime running lights. It’s the latest evolution of Kia’s “Opposites United” design philosophy. Aside from updated front and rear bumpers as well as new exterior color choices, the interior has been updated and can include new technology.
In for testing is a 2026 Kia Sportage X-Line Limited. That is the highest trim level for gas-only Sportage models, and it comes from Canada. There is no real equivalent in the United States. Even the 2026 Sportage X-Line with all available option packages is still missing a few features. With the X-Line exterior, our tester looks more like a SX-Prestige. The Sportage feels a little rounder because of the changes to the exterior, and in X-Line trim, it looks subtlety sophisticated. It has the trim level’s high profile roof rails, and 19-inch alloy wheels painted black. The latter are a bulky design with four spokes that we think looks good on the Sportage, but not everyone might like it. With this just being a refresh, dimensionally, not much changes with the 2026 Sportage. It has a length of 184.4 inches (4,660 mm). It is thus slightly shorter than a Honda CR-V, but slightly longer than the Toyota RAV-4.
