Verified against primary sources
| Cost category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| 5-year depreciation | $14,280 |
| Insurance (annual) | $2,113 |
| Fuel or charging (annual) | $1,875 |
| Maintenance (annual) | $383 |
| Tires (annual) | $350 |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined) | 28 MPG |
| Fuel economy (city / highway) | 25 / 32 MPG |
| Engine | 2.5L GDI 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 187 hp |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft |
| Seating capacity | 5 passengers |
| Cargo space | 39.6 cu ft |
| Pillar | Score (0–100) | Class median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of ownership | 78 | 73 | +5 |
| Powertrain | 64 | 63 | +1 |
| Safety | 97 | 94 | +3 |
| Driver assistance | 38 | 43 | -5 |
| Livability | 57 | 49 | +8 |
The 2026 Kia Sportage scores 78/100 on cost of ownership — 5 points above the compact suvs median. The Compact SUV class median 5-year ownership cost is $49,048 (15,000 mi/yr, national average rates). Largest annual recurring expense: insurance.
The 2026 Kia Sportage scores 38/100 on driver assistance — 5 points below the compact suvs median. All scores reflect standard equipment at base MSRP; optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
The 2026 Kia Sportage scores 64/100 on powertrain. Key figures: 28 MPG combined, 187 hp.
Verdict
The 2026 Sportage hybrid earns a perfect safety score with a five-star NHTSA rating and delivers generous cargo space with reasonable ownership costs. The cabin is well-designed and practical, and the hybrid powertrain provides solid efficiency. The driver-assistance suite is functional but not advanced, and fuel economy — while good — could be better for a hybrid. For families who want a safe, spacious, and value-packed compact SUV, the Sportage is a strong contender.
Good fit for: Family hauler
Best for
- Perfect safety score with 5-star NHTSA rating
- Generous cargo space — among the best in the segment
- Well-designed cabin with reasonable ownership costs
Watch out for
- Driver-assistance suite is functional but not advanced
- Hybrid fuel economy could be better
2026 Kia Sportage
Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.
Cost, Powertrain, Driver Assistance, Livability, and Safety — each scored against its class, then combined into a single MotiveGrid Score. Built by our engineering team and benchmarked against independent sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and CarEdge. How it’s calculated →
Verdict
Based on median-price trimThe 2026 Sportage hybrid earns a perfect safety score with a five-star NHTSA rating and delivers generous cargo space with reasonable ownership costs. The cabin is well-designed and practical, and the hybrid powertrain provides solid efficiency. The driver-assistance suite is functional but not advanced, and fuel economy — while good — could be better for a hybrid. For families who want a safe, spacious, and value-packed compact SUV, the Sportage is a strong contender.
Good fit for: Family hauler
Families who prioritize passenger space, cargo room, and safety ratings
Cost of Ownership
Five-year cost is driven mostly by depreciation; tires is a minor share.
Adjust for your situation
State
Ownership Cost
Powertrain
Fuel efficiency weighed with long-term ownership confidence.
Reliability from NHTSA complaint records, adjusted for how many were sold. How we measure it
Combines real-world energy efficiency (EPA-verified MPG or MPG-equivalent vs. class) with long-term ownership confidence (warranty coverage, platform maturity, and reliability data). Methodology →
Driver Assistance
Strongest in highway driving support, but parking convenience and hands-free automation are limited.
💡 Tracks where the car can drive itself (highways vs. local roads) and how much driver supervision is needed (up to fully driverless).
PoorStandard driver assist — no hands-free operation
Combines highway support, parking convenience, and hands-free automation capability into one score. Methodology →
Livability
Passenger space and everyday maneuverability, scored within its class.
Combines how comfortably this vehicle fits passengers and cargo with how easily it maneuvers in real-world conditions — normalized within its Compact SUV segment for fair comparison. Methodology →
Safety
Top crash-test results paired with a full crash-avoidance suite.
Combines crash-test protection — NHTSA frontal, side, and rollover ratings plus the IIHS crashworthiness sub-tests (small- and moderate-overlap front, side, headlights) — with standard crash-avoidance technology. New model years without published crash tests are scored on crash-avoidance features alone and capped until tested. Methodology →
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MotiveGrid Score for the 2026 Kia Sportage?
- The 2026 Kia Sportage earns a MotiveGrid Score of 81 out of 100. The score combines five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, safety, driver assistance, and livability — into one number, so you can weigh a vehicle's all-round strength at a glance.
- Is the 2026 Kia Sportage safe?
- The Kia Sportage carries an NHTSA overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars. MotiveGrid's safety pillar pairs federal crash-test results with the standard active-safety equipment fitted at base price.
- What is the 2026 Kia Sportage safety score?
- The 2026 Kia Sportage earns a MotiveGrid safety score of 97/100. The score combines NHTSA and IIHS crash-test results with the standard active safety equipment included at base price.
- What driver assistance features does the 2026 Kia Sportage include?
- The 2026 Kia Sportage scores 38/100 on driver assistance. MotiveGrid evaluates only standard equipment — features included at base MSRP — across four areas: highway automation, parking support, collision avoidance, and visibility aids. Optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
- Is the 2026 Kia Sportage reliable?
- The 2026 Kia Sportage has an average reliability profile for its class, based on NHTSA complaint data. MotiveGrid calculates a reliability proxy score of 54/100 from complaint rates per 1,000 vehicles sold over a trailing multi-year window.
- What is the 2026 Kia Sportage fuel economy?
- The 2026 Kia Sportage is EPA-rated at 28 MPG combined. MotiveGrid uses this figure as the basis for its annual fuel or charging cost estimate.
- How does the 2026 Kia Sportage rank among compact suvs?
- The 2026 Kia Sportage is in the top 25% of compact suvs on the MotiveGrid composite score. All vehicles in the same segment are scored on an identical five-pillar framework, making the percentile a direct comparison.
- How does the 2026 Kia Sportage compare to the Hyundai Tucson?
- See the MotiveGrid side-by-side comparison page for a full breakdown across cost of ownership, safety, powertrain, driver assistance, and livability. Both vehicles are top-scored options in the compact suvs segment.
- Is the 2026 Kia Sportage spacious and practical?
- The 2026 Kia Sportage scores 57/100 on livability, which covers interior passenger space, cargo capacity, and maneuverability. This score is compared directly against other compact suvs in the same segment.
Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · MotiveGrid Score last computed 2026-07-03