Reviews
2026 Kia Sportage Diesel
Price
Starting at $43,000 (excl. on road costs)
3 Things We Love
* Turbo-Diesel Engine Choice * Clever Design Detail: Pop-Up Handle * Sportage: Balanced & Engaging
3 Things We Hate
* The Strange Steering Wheel Design * The Digital Control Panel * The Blanked-Out Buttons Everywhere
Intro
The 2026 Kia Sportage S 2.0L Turbo Diesel AWD enters a mid-size SUV segment increasingly dominated by turbo petrol engines and hybrids. That makes this diesel Sportage feel a bit different, and maybe even a little old-school in the best way. Priced at just over $43,000 drive-away, this base-model Sportage makes a strong value argument. It pairs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, delivering 137 kW and 416 Nm. The big question is whether diesel still has a place in this segment, and whether this Sportage setup still makes sense for family buyers.
Exterior
The Sportage S may be the base model, but Kia has done a good job making it look more premium than expected. It avoids feeling like a basic fleet-spec SUV, even with the usual black cladding around the body. Up front, it has LED headlights, a blacked-out grille, and silver detailing to break up the design. Along the side, Kia adds silver window trim and roof rails, helping it feel more polished than a typical entry-level SUV. It also comes with 17-inch alloy wheels rather than steel wheels or hubcaps, which is a nice touch for the base model. At the rear, the Sportage continues with LED tail-lights, Kia and Sportage badging, and more black cladding. Overall, the design feels sporty, sophisticated, and distinctive enough to stand out in a crowded mid-size SUV segment.
Salvatore Gerace
MotorMarvel Journalist
Interior
Inside, the Sportage S reminds you that it is the base model, but not in a completely bad way. There are some cheaper materials, some scratchy plastics, and obvious blanked-out buttons that remind you higher grades exist. The centre console armrest also feels a little less solid than ideal. That said, the overall cabin layout is good. The dashboard has a soft, squidgy material, the design is modern, and most of the cabin feels well put together for the price. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen is clear and crisp, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included even on the base model, which is a strong win. Kia’s official Sportage page also confirms the 12.3-inch infotainment screen and wireless smartphone mirroring for the S grade. Practicality is strong. Door bins fit bottles easily, the cup holders can adjust for different bottle sizes, the centre console has useful storage, and there is a phone storage nook with USB-C charging. The glovebox is also decently sized, and the cloth seats are comfortable even though they are manually adjustable. The main cabin annoyance is the haptic climate/audio control panel. It looks modern, but switching between climate and media controls while driving is more annoying than using proper physical buttons. It also feels like one of those future repair gremlins waiting patiently in the dashboard shadows. The second row is very practical. There is plenty of knee room, good headroom, room to stretch your feet under the front seats, ISOFIX points on the outboard seats, three top tether points, USB-C charging, directional air vents, door bins that fit bottles, and a centre armrest with cup holders. Boot space is excellent, with 543 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,829 litres with them folded. You also get a 12-volt socket, tie-down points, a full-size alloy spare wheel on the S grade, and a cargo cover, though the parcel shelf sounds a bit cheap.
Specifications
Engine
2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power
137 kW
Torque
416 Nm
0 - 100 kph
N/A
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drive Type
All-wheel drive
Fuel Economy (Claimed)
6.3 L/100 km
Fuel Economy (As Tested)
7 L/100 km
CO2 Emissions (Claimed)
163 g/km
Fuel Tank
54 L
Weight
Just over 1,600 kg
Vehicle Dimensions
Length
4,685 mm
Width
1,865 mm
Height
1,665 mm
Wheelbase
2,755 mm
On the Road
On the road, the Sportage S diesel is a very easy mid-size SUV to live with. Road noise is minimal, the diesel engine is subtle rather than intrusive, visibility is strong, and the overall driving experience is comfortable enough for daily use. The ride can feel a little unsettled over rougher surfaces, but on normal roads it is comfortable and composed. The steering feels good, the brakes feel natural, and the diesel engine provides useful torque down low. Fuel economy is one of the diesel’s strongest arguments. Kia claims 6.3 L/100 km, while the review saw roughly 6.7 to 8 L/100 km, with around 7 L/100 km during testing. On a full tank, the transcript says to expect just over 800 km of range. The 8-speed automatic is another highlight. In a segment full of CVTs, the Sportage diesel’s traditional automatic makes the car feel more natural and responsive. It works best left in automatic mode, though, because manual mode has a noticeable delay when changing gears. When pushed, the Sportage is not an enthusiast SUV, but it has more character than expected. The diesel feels responsive, the steering and brakes feel good, and the chassis has enough personality to make it feel more interesting than many boring mid-size SUVs. That is why it earns a 6/10 Motor Marvel rating.
Safety Tech
The Sportage S comes well equipped for a base model. The transcript lists smart cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection plus junction assist, blind spot assist, eCall with SOS button, front and rear parking sensors, intelligent speed limit assist, lane centering, lane keep assist, multi-collision brake, rear cross-traffic assist, reversing camera, and tyre pressure monitoring. Kia’s official spec sheet confirms the S grade includes features such as AEB with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction assist, intelligent speed limit assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, multi-collision brake, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, front and rear parking sensors, and rear-view camera. Some of the safety systems can be annoying in practice, especially lane keep assist and speed sign recognition. Thankfully, there is no driver attention monitoring system in this version, which the review treats as a small mercy from the dashboard gods.
Our Verdict
The 2026 Kia Sportage S 2.0L Turbo Diesel AWD makes a surprisingly strong case for diesel in the mid-size SUV segment. It may not be the sportiest engine choice on paper, but in this package it works well. The diesel engine delivers strong low-down torque, useful fuel efficiency, and a strong 1,900 kg braked towing capacity. The 8-speed automatic is a big advantage over many rivals with CVTs, and the AWD system adds extra confidence. As a base model, the Sportage S still has some clear cost-saving touches. The cabin plastics are basic in places, the blanked-out buttons are a little sad, and the haptic climate/audio panel is frustrating. But the core package is strong: good looks, excellent practicality, useful tech, strong safety equipment, and a diesel engine that still feels relevant. For buyers wanting a mid-size SUV that is practical, efficient, comfortable, and just a bit sportier than expected, the Sportage diesel still makes a lot of sense.
Overall Rating
