Updated Sportage PHEV Gets A Tiny Price Increase
The Kia Sportage was updated last year, gaining new styling that brings it more in line with other Kia SUVs like the Sorento. Unlike the gas-only Sportage with six trims and the mild hybrid with five, the Sportage PHEV is only available in two trims: X-Line and X-Line Prestige, both of which feature a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder GDI engine and a 72 kWh motor. Pricing for those two trims has now been announced by Kia America, and the good news is that, even with a fresh face, the 2026 Sportage PHEV is only $600 more expensive than the 2025 model. However, that minor increase becomes a major one if you don’t pick the base variant.
2026 Sportage PHEV Starts Over $40k
The X-Line trim now starts at $40,490 while the X-Line Prestige carries a base MSRP of $47,190. For the lesser trim, that’s only a few hundred bucks more, but on the range-topper, buyers will be forking out $2,800 more than before. Fortunately, the destination charge remains unchanged at $1,395.
| Kia Sportage Trim | MY2025 | MY2026 | Difference |
| PHEV X-Line AWD | $39,890 | $40,490 | +$600 |
| PHEV X-Line Prestige AWD | $44,390 | $47,190 | +$2,800 |
The extra outlay buys the X-Line Prestige a 12.3-inch driver display, a 12.3-inch navigation display, ambient lighting, and leather upholstery, but both trims get 268 horsepower, an increase of seven ponies over the 2025 model, which had a less powerful 66.9 kW motor.
Kia Pricing Is Competitive, But Not The Best
While the top-tier Sportage PHEV has received a considerable price increase, we’ve seen loftier adjustments elsewhere, and with the introduction of a more affordable Seltos for 2026, Kia hasn’t lost sight of the struggles facing buyers in today’s market. That being said, the Sportage PHEV’s chief rivals – the Ford Escape PHEV, the Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid, and the Dodge Hornet R/T PHEV – could prove more attractive for those on a tighter budget. For 2025, the Escape PHEV starts at $37,400, the Outlander PHEV starts at $40,445, and the Hornet R/T PHEV carries a base MSRP of $39,440. However, buyers should bear in mind that only the Kia and the Mitsubishi are backed by 10-year/100,000-mile warranties, while the two American brands only offer coverage for three years/36,000 miles.
About the author
Sebastian Cenizo
Senior Editor, Autoblog