The current Sportage was redesigned for the 2023 model year, and the 2027 model is mostly a carryover. Kia's August 26, 2026 announcement lists two changes on the gas side: the X-Line now comes standard with a panoramic sunroof and a smart power liftgate, which were part of a Premium Package on the 2026 X-Line, and there is a new Road Rider Brown paint with a two-tone roof. On the hybrid side, Kia added front-wheel-drive versions of the S and EX trims and a Technology Package for the X-Line hybrid. The plug-in hybrid returns unchanged.
Prices start at $28,990 for a front-drive LX and run to $47,390 for the Plug-in Hybrid X-Line Prestige, before a $1,495 destination fee. Kia says gas and hybrid Sportages are assembled in the United States, and the 2027 hybrid will also be built at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant in Savannah, Georgia.
Powertrain & Efficiency
Three powertrains are offered. The gas Sportage uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed automatic. The hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged four with an electric motor and a six-speed automatic for 232 hp and 271 lb-ft combined. The plug-in hybrid adds a 13.8-kWh battery and makes 268 hp and 271 lb-ft.
The EPA rates the gas model at 25 mpg city, 33 highway and 28 combined with front-wheel drive and 24/30/26 with AWD; the off-road-oriented X-Pro drops to 23/26/24. The front-drive hybrid is rated 40/42/41 and the AWD hybrid 35/36/35. The plug-in is rated at 83 MPGe, 36 mpg combined on gasoline and 33 miles of electric range.
The hybrid premium is small for what it returns. A Sportage Hybrid LX FWD costs $30,590, $1,600 more than the gas LX FWD, and is rated 13 mpg higher on the EPA combined cycle. At 15,000 miles a year that is roughly 536 gallons for the gas car against 366 for the hybrid, a saving of about 170 gallons. Gas models are rated to tow 2,500 pounds with trailer brakes; the plug-in is rated for 2,000.
Interior & Technology
Every Sportage gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The LX, EX and X-Line pair it with a 4.2-inch screen in the instrument cluster; the SX, SX Prestige and X-Pro get a 12.3-inch digital cluster in a curved panoramic housing, plus navigation with Kia Connect and over-the-air map updates. In gas models the X-Line can add the larger cluster as an option.
Cargo space is a strength. Kia lists 36.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.3 cubic feet behind the first in gas models, measured with the dual-level cargo floor in its high position, and 34.5 and 65.4 cubic feet in the hybrid. Heated front seats are optional on the gas LX and standard on other gas trims, and the Hybrid S and above get them as standard. Ventilated front seats come on the SX Prestige and X-Pro, and a Harman Kardon audio system is standard on the SX trims and the X-Pro.
Safety
NHTSA gives the 2027 Sportage five stars overall in both gas and hybrid form, with five stars for frontal and side crash and four stars for rollover resistance; the plug-in hybrid has not been rated. IIHS has not published a 2027 listing, but the 2026 Sportage is a 2026 Top Safety Pick+ for vehicles built after May 2025, with Good results in the small overlap, updated moderate overlap and updated side tests and Good ratings for both standard front crash prevention systems. Whiplash protection and LATCH ease of use were rated Acceptable.
Forward collision avoidance with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction-turning detection is standard, along with Smart Cruise Control with stop and go, lane keeping and lane following assist, and driver attention warning. Blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance are optional on the gas LX and standard on other gas trims; Highway Driving Assist is standard on the SX trims and X-Pro.
Pricing & Trims
2027 Kia Sportage prices
| Trim | Powertrain | FWD MSRP | AWD MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| LX | Gas | $28,990 | $30,790 |
| EX | Gas | $30,790 | $32,590 |
| X-Line | Gas | — | $34,790 |
| SX | Gas | $34,590 | — |
| SX-Prestige | Gas | $36,590 | $38,390 |
| X-Pro | Gas | — | $39,890 |
| LX | Hybrid | $30,590 | — |
| S | Hybrid | $31,290 | $32,890 |
| EX | Hybrid | $32,290 | $33,890 |
| X-Line | Hybrid | — | $35,790 |
| SX-Prestige | Hybrid | — | $40,690 |
| X-Line | Plug-in hybrid | — | $40,590 |
| X-Line Prestige | Plug-in hybrid | — | $47,390 |
MSRP excludes $1,495 destination. Source: Kia America, Aug. 26 and July 20, 2026.
Our pick is the EX Hybrid with front-wheel drive at $32,290. It carries the 41-mpg EPA rating and, per Kia's hybrid feature list, adds heated front seats, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, a smart power liftgate and wireless phone charging over the Hybrid LX. Buyers who need AWD can have the same trim for $33,890, at 35 mpg combined. The plug-in only makes sense for drivers who can charge at home: at $40,590 it costs $8,300 more than our pick for 33 miles of electric range.
Rivals
The redesigned 2026 Toyota RAV4 is the main competition. Its front-drive hybrid starts at $31,900 and is EPA-rated at 43 mpg combined, 2 mpg better than the Sportage Hybrid, and every RAV4 is a hybrid or plug-in. But NHTSA and IIHS have not yet rated the new RAV4, while the Sportage has completed results from both. The Hyundai Tucson, which shares test results with the Sportage in IIHS's small overlap evaluation, is also a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
How we rated it: this review is based on Kia's specifications and 2027 pricing, EPA estimates and NHTSA/IIHS results available in October 2026. Drive Edition has not road-tested this vehicle.