For more than three decades, the Kia Sportage has been parked in Kiwi driveways, carting kids to Saturday sport and hauling Bunnings runs like a loyal mate. It’s built its reputation on practicality, comfort, and sharp pricing. Now though, the facelifted 2026 model throws a hybrid powertrain and AWD into the mix. Efficiency meets capability, and wrapped in one of the sharpest-looking compact SUVs on sale.
Kia calls its design language Opposites United, and on the Sportage facelift it translates into a bolder, more confident stance. You can’t miss those vertical “star map” headlights, a wider grin up front, and Sorento-inspired tweaks out back. Even in our base Light spec (rolling on 17s), it looks sharp enough to park outside Ponsonby cafés without shame.
It’s modern, it’s a bit futuristic, and yet still rugged enough that you won’t feel like a poser when doing chores on a Sunday morning.
“With sharper lights and cleaner lines, the Sportage now looks like it’s been shopping in the premium aisle — but kept the receipts“
Step inside, and you’ll quickly forget this is Kia’s “entry-level” hybrid spec. The two-spoke wheel feels fresh, and the big, dual-screen layout dominates the dash, a proper wow moment when you fire it up. The 12.3-inch infotainment system plays nicely with a matching digital cluster, and thanks to Kia Connect plus OTA updates, it’ll keep its brains fresh long after your kids have trashed the back seat.
Practicality remains the name of the game: Cloth seats are durable and family-friendly. Dual-zone climate for keeping the peace. A huge 633 litres of boot space (swallowing scooters, strollers, or surfboards without fuss). Plenty of charging points for the family iPads.
Material quality is solid, with just enough polish to feel a step above the norm, even if it can’t quite outshine Mazda for sheer cabin plushness.
Kia’s safety and tech suite is now borderline overachieving. The list is long, but highlights include: Blind-spot cameras that pop up in the cluster (still a party trick we love). Forward Collision Avoidance with junction assist (handy for those busy roundabouts). Safe Exit Warning so kids don’t swing doors into passing scooters. Rear Seat Occupant Alert, because forgetting the dog after footy training isn’t a good look.
Seven airbags are standard, and Kia’s multi-collision braking is a neat bit of backup. Add in live traffic, weather updates, and remote functions via Kia Connect, and the Sportage almost feels like it’s co-parenting.
“From blind-spot cameras to safe-exit warnings, the Sportage feels like it’s keeping an extra set of eyes on your family.”
Under the bonnet, Kia’s 1.6-litre turbo hybrid pairs with a 44kW electric motor and a 1.49 kWh battery for a combined 169kW and 350Nm. Numbers aside, it feels exactly how a family SUV should: smooth, torquey down low, and confident enough when you need to get past a milk tanker on a rural highway.
Around town, the electric boost makes stop-start driving relaxed, while the AWD system and selectable Terrain Modes (snow, mud, sand) give a layer of confidence when the weather turns gnarly or you venture off the tarmac.
Kia reckons 5.9L/100km; we saw 6.4L on test. Not bad at all, though Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid still has the edge for sipping less fuel.
Ride comfort is spot-on: soft enough for school runs, settled enough for longer roadies. Steering is light but accurate, and refinement is high, making this feel every bit the all-rounder Kia wants it to be.
Kia hasn’t reinvented the Sportage with this facelift, in fairness it didn’t need to. Instead, it’s polished the design, stuffed the cabin with tech, and finally added a hybrid AWD setup that makes sense for Kiwi families.
It’s safe, stylish, and genuinely good to drive. Sure, fuel use isn’t quite as saintly as Toyota’s, and the hybrid battery is small, meaning you won’t be gliding silently through your neighbourhood for long. But overall, the Sportage now feels like the complete family package.
If you want space, safety, and smart hybrid punch (without forking out for a Euro badge) this Sportage deserves to be on your shortlist.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Hybrid adds punch + efficiency | Toyota RAV4 Hybrid still thriftier |
| Cabin tech + big screens impress | Hybrid battery limits EV-only range |
| AWD + Terrain Modes = versatility | Base Light misses some plush touches |
| Spacious, family-friendly interior | Price creeping towards premium rivals |
| Handsome new facelift design |
Fast Facts: 2026 Kia Sportage HEV Light AWD
- Engine: 1.6L Turbo Petrol Hybrid
- Motor: 44kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous
- Battery: 1.49 kWh
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic
- Output: 169kW / 350Nm
- Drivetrain: AWD with Terrain Modes
- Fuel Use (claimed): 5.9L/100km (tested 6.4L/100km)
- CO₂: 134 g/km
- Cargo: 633L (seats up) / 1,919L (seats down)
- Price (NZ): $54,990
- Warranty: 7 years (HEV) / 5 years roadside assist
