The 2026 Kia Sportage gets 24 to 42 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD at 42 mpg; the best regular gas version is the 2026 Sportage FWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) at 28 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, the Sportage ranks 9th (tied with 2 others) of 66 for combined mileage (36 mpg), 9th (tied with 1 other) of 66 for yearly fuel cost ($1,800 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 1st of 66 for tailpipe CO2 (97 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 329 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 12 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Sportage's best version, 1 other model gets the same and 221 get less. The 2026 Sportage's cheapest version costs $1,500 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 11 cost less, 2 the same and 212 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2026 Mazda CX-50 | 2026 CX-50 4WD (Hybrid, Automatic (variable gear ratios)) #2 | 38 | $1,650 | 233 |
| 7 | 2026 Honda CR-V | 2026 CR-V AWD (Hybrid) | 37 | $1,700 | 237 |
| 7 | 2026 Jeep Cherokee | 2026 Cherokee AWD | 37 | $1,700 | 241 |
| 9 | 2026 Kia SportageThis car | 2026 Sportage Plug-in Hybrid | 36 | $1,800 | 97 |
| 9 | 2026 Lexus RX | 2026 RX 350h AWD | 36 | $2,150 | 244 |
| 9 | 2026 Subaru Crosstrek | 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid AWD | 36 | $1,750 | 246 |
| 12 | 2026 Subaru Forester | 2026 Forester Hybrid AWD | 35 | $1,800 | 255 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Sportage FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L: 25 mpg city, 33 highway, 28 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Sportage version is $2,200 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The RX costs $55 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the RX costs $275 less to fuel than the Sportage (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Sportage (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Sportage | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Lexus RX | 2026 RX 350h AWD | 36 mpg | $2,150 | 6 lower | $650 more a year | - |
| 2026 Subaru Crosstrek | 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid AWD | 36 mpg | $1,750 | 6 lower | $250 more a year | Compare |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 2026 CR-V AWD (Hybrid) | 37 mpg | $1,700 | 5 lower | $200 more a year | Compare |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version. For plug-in hybrids the miles per gallon and the yearly figure are for driving on gasoline only; the file gives no blended cost, because it depends on how often the car is charged (range is gasoline plus electric; the electric-only range has its own column).
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Range mi | Electric range mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWDHybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-wheel | 41 | 44 | 42 | $1,500 | 209 | - | - | cheapest |
| 2026 Sportage Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-wheel | 35 | 36 | 36 | $1,750 on gasoline only | 97 | 470 | 33 | - |
| 2026 Sportage Hybrid AWDHybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-wheel | 35 | 36 | 35 | $1,800 | 251 | - | - | +$300 |
| 2026 Sportage FWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,200 | 317 | - | - | +$700 |
| 2026 Sportage AWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 24 | 30 | 26 | $2,400 | 339 | - | - | +$900 |
| 2026 Sportage X-pro | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 23 | 26 | 24 | $2,600 | 374 | - | - | +$1,100 |
The cheapest-to-run hybrid, the 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD (42 mpg, $1,500 a year), costs $700 a year less in fuel than the cheapest-to-run gas version, the 2026 Sportage FWD (28 mpg, $2,200 a year).
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Sportage; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD puts out 209 grams per mile; across the 6 tested versions the figure runs from 97 to 374.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD: fuel economy score 7 (5 to 8 across versions), greenhouse gas score 7 (5 to 9 across versions).
Cost per 100 miles uses electricity at $0.15 per kWh (as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA). Plug-in hybrid range counts gasoline too.
| Version | Range mi | Charge at 240 V | MPGe | kWh per 100 mi | Cost per 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sportage Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid | 470 | 2 h | 83 | 43 | $6.45 |
2026 Sportage Plug-in Hybrid: on gasoline alone the agency's file gives $1,750 a year (15,000 miles); on electricity, 43 kWh per 100 miles at $0.15 per kWh comes to about $968 a year if all 15,000 miles were driven that way. The real cost depends on how often the car is charged, so no single yearly cost is shown for it.
Best combined figure of the Sportage gas version and hybrid each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 23 mpg | none | 4 | 19 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 26 mpg | none | 6 | 16 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 26 mpg | none | 6 | 16 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 25 mpg | none | 6 | 17 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 26 mpg | none | 4 | 16 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 26 mpg | none | 4 | 16 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 26 mpg | none | 4 | 16 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 28 mpg | 43 mpg | 5 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 28 mpg | 43 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 28 mpg | 43 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 28 mpg | 42 mpg | 6 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 6 versions were tested then and 6 now; the best figure went from 43 to 42 mpg (down 1).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 42 mpg | 43 mpg | -1 mpg |
| 2026 Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 36 mpg | 35 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Sportage Hybrid AWD, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 35 mpg | 38 mpg | -3 mpg |
| 2026 Sportage FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Sportage AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 26 mpg | 25 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Sportage X-pro, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 24 mpg | 26 mpg | -2 mpg |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 KIA SPORTAGE SUV N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 KIA SPORTAGE PHEV SUV PHEV AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
The agency lists 5 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 32 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: SPORTAGE, SPORTAGE HYBRID, SPORTAGE PHEV.
45 complaints for the 2026 Kia Sportage are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 12 | |
| Electrical System | 10 | |
| Service Brakes | 9 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 8 | |
| Engine | 6 |
6 of the 45 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 3 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: SPORTAGE, SPORTAGE HYBRID, SPORTAGE PHEV.
1 recall is on file for the 2026 Kia Sportage at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: SPORTAGE, SPORTAGE HYBRID, SPORTAGE PHEV.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles.
Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Sportage itself is at 36 mpg.
More Kia models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD with 42 mpg combined (41 city, 44 highway). Among the regular gas versions it is the 2026 Sportage FWD at 28 mpg.
The 2026 Kia Sportage costs between $1,500 and $2,600 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD at $1,500; the dearest is the 2026 Sportage X-pro at $2,600. For the plug-in hybrid versions the table and the calculator above give the cost of driving on gasoline only ($1,750 a year at 15,000 miles); no blended yearly cost is shown, because it depends on how often the car is charged. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2026 Sportage Plug-in Hybrid: 36 mpg combined (35 city, 36 highway); 2026 Sportage Hybrid AWD: 35 mpg combined (35 city, 36 highway); 2026 Sportage AWD: 26 mpg combined (24 city, 30 highway); 2026 Sportage X-pro: 24 mpg combined (23 city, 26 highway).
In the agency's tests the best hybrid, the 2026 Sportage Hybrid FWD, gets 42 mpg combined and the best non-hybrid, the 2026 Sportage FWD, gets 28 mpg: 14 mpg more for the hybrid.
The 2026 Kia Sportage is 9th of 66 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross at 42 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Jeep Cherokee at 37 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Lexus RX at 36 mpg.
The 2025 model had 6 tested versions and the 2026 model has 6. The best figure went from 43 to 42 mpg (down 1).
The 2026 Sportage Plug-in Hybrid takes 2 hours for a full charge at 240 volts and uses 43 kWh per 100 miles, about $6.45 per 100 miles at $0.15 per kWh.
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 KIA SPORTAGE SUV N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 KIA SPORTAGE PHEV SUV PHEV AWD: not rated. The agency lists 5 variants; the first 2 are shown.
45 complaints for the 2026 Kia Sportage are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Unknown Or Other (12 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 1 recall for the 2026 Kia Sportage (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Kia Sportage: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Kia Sportage: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Kia Sportage: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Kia Sportage: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Kia Sportage: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.