Car of the Year Awards 2026: Family SUV of the Year

Kia has been rolling out new electric models so rapidly that you’d be forgiven for thinking it might be neglecting its traditional offerings, but that’s definitely not the case. The Sportage received an update in 2025 that introduced a redesigned front end (to bring it into line with other recent models) and an updated interior while, perhaps counterintuitively, reintroducing a regular petrol engine in place of the previous mild hybrid.

Okay, they’re not the sort of changes that are going to make or break the car (unless you miss the previous ‘boomerang’ daytime running lights), but the Kia Sportage was already so strong in so many ways that it barely needed the attention.

Although the latest petrol engine does a commendable job, we favour the 1.6-litre hybrid (HEV). In the earlier Sportage, this option was offered only in partnership with the higher trim levels, making it a little too pricey to recommend. However, you can now have it with entry-level Pure trim, closing the price gap to the regular petrol version significantly. With a healthy 235bhp and an automatic gearbox, the HEV is quicker and smoother than the regular petrol version (which would come with a manual ’box in Pure trim). You’ll save money on fuel, too, thanks to its ability to run on electric power alone at times. 

Unless you’re prepared to spend far more money on a BMW X3, you won’t find another family SUV that’s notably better to drive than the Sportage. It strikes a pleasing balance between comfort and agility, having a supple ride at all speeds and good cornering poise. 

That impressive comfort continues inside, where there’s loads of space for a family of five, reclining rear seats and an elevated driving position. The interior looks smart and modern, with more good-quality materials than before, and unlike many of its rivals, the Sportage still has a user-friendly dashboard layout with physical knobs for adjusting things like the air temperature and audio volume. 

The rear seatbacks feature a handy 40/20/40 split if you need to expand the already large boot. True, a few rivals’ load bays can hold even more cargo, but the Sportage’s is well shaped and has a handy height-adjustable floor. 

Our favourite Sportage undercuts the equivalent Ford Kuga, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson on price. You’d need to look at a Dacia Bigster or MG HS to find a significantly cheaper hybrid family SUV, but they’re far less polished than the Sportage. 

Pure trim represents the best value in the line-up, coming with all of the kit you really need. However, we’d understand if you stepped up to GT-Line trim to get extra goodies such as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. 

While Kia’s enthusiasm for electric models is admirable, we’re glad it hasn’t taken its eye off the ball elsewhere. The Sportage’s latest tweaks have simply reinforced what was already a particularly well-rounded and temptingly priced package 

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