Kia Sportage vs Lexus TX

The 2026 Kia Sportage showcased a refreshed styling that gave it a more rugged, truck-like appearance, ensuring it stood out in the compact crossover segment. The wide grille design, which pushed the headlights to the corners, was retained but became more rectangular, with vertical headlights and daytime running lights. This design aligned the Sportage with the larger Sorento and Telluride models, enhancing its rugged appeal. Despite these changes, the rear end remained curvaceous, creating a slight mismatch with the restyled front. The Sportage's 108.5-inch wheelbase was longer than its competitors, adding visual interest with crisp body lines.

The 2026 Sportage X-Pro model benefited the most from the refresh, with styling that matched its off-road aspirations. The X-Pro featured all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels, while the X-Line had all-seasons on 19-inch wheels. Inside, the Sportage received a new steering wheel design reminiscent of early airbag-equipped wheels, adding a distinctive touch to the straightforward interior. The dashboard's large air vents were removed, highlighting the curved screen. Materials in the X-Pro test car were of good quality, suitable for an active lifestyle.

The 2026 Lexus TX offered a variety of trim levels, with the TX 350 available in Base, Premium, Luxury, and F Sport Handling specs, while the 500h hybrid came in F Sport Performance Premium and F Sport Performance Luxury trims. The 550h+ plug-in hybrid was exclusive to the top Luxury trim. The 550h+ featured a standard panoramic glass roof and Matador Red Mica paint, making it stand out. Most models had 20-inch wheels, but the 550h+ boasted 22-inch wheels. The grille retained its large spindle shape, complemented by sharp bi-LED headlights and rear LED lighting.

Inside, the TX offered standard luxury features like multi-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and heated second-row seats. The third row was spacious, with a recline function and ample headroom. A one-touch button facilitated entry to the third row, though folding the second row flat was more complex. The front seats were roomy but lacked thigh support. The climate controls were mostly on the screen, with physical dials for temperature. The TX provided excellent cargo space, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 97 cubic feet with the second row folded. All TX models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2026 Kia Sportage offered a range of powertrains, including conventional gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The base and hybrid models were available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the plug-in hybrid was AWD-only. The non-hybrid models featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering 232 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque for hybrids, and 268 hp for plug-in hybrids.

The Sportage X-Pro, designed for off-road use, featured all-terrain tires and different drive-mode tuning, including a Terrain Mode with snow, mud, and sand settings. Despite its off-road capabilities, the X-Pro's all-terrain tires were noisy and affected the driving experience. The Sportage's ground clearance was 8.3 inches across all models, similar to competitors like the Hyundai Tucson XRT and Honda CR-V TrailSport Hybrid. While the X-Pro could handle off-road conditions, it wasn't a sporty vehicle, and the tires limited its fun factor.

The 2026 Lexus TX offered impressive performance, with the base model generating 317 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The plug-in hybrid test car delivered 404 horsepower from its 3.5-liter V6 and hybrid system. The seven-kilowatt charger allowed for a full battery charge in under three hours. The TX provided various drive options, including electric-only, hybrid, and gasoline-only modes, making it versatile for different driving scenarios.

The TX featured Normal, Eco, Sport, and Custom drive modes, with Sport mode enhancing throttle sensitivity. The 550h+ offered a quiet and smooth ride, with seamless transitions between gas and electric power. The suspension absorbed bumps effectively, and the brakes were firm and linear. The AWD system could distribute power between the front and rear wheels, with a Trail Mode for slippery surfaces. The TX was well-suited for long road trips, offering a comfortable and refined driving experience.

The 2026 Kia Sportage's exterior changes didn't impact interior space, which remained competitive in the segment. Headroom in both rows was comparable to rivals, though the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester offered slightly more in the first row without a sunroof. Rear-seat legroom was among the best in the segment, surpassing the Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota RAV4. Cargo space was 36.6 cubic feet with the rear bench in place, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Sportage's towing capacity was 2,500 pounds for non-hybrid models and 2,000 pounds for hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

The center console provided ample storage, with a wireless charging pad, adjustable cupholders, and a large storage bin. The Sportage's interior design made efficient use of space, accommodating various storage needs.

The 2026 Lexus TX offered standard luxury features, including multi-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and heated second-row seats. The third row was spacious, with a recline function and ample headroom. Each seat had its own cupholder and USB-C port. The second row featured a one-touch button for easy entry to the third row, though folding the second row flat was more complex.

The front seats were roomy but lacked thigh support. The climate controls were mostly on the screen, with physical dials for temperature. The TX provided excellent cargo space, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 97 cubic feet with the second row folded. All TX models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2026 Kia Sportage came standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with SiriusXM satellite radio. Wireless phone charging was standard on all but the base LX trim. The Sportage featured a Harman Kardon premium audio system on SX and higher grades, with digital key functionality on X-Line and X-Pro models. The horizontal display blended the instrument cluster and touchscreen, providing sharp graphics and large icons.

However, the screen-centric interface had usability issues, with limited home screen space and complicated navigation. The Sportage's climate control and audio functions shared a control panel, requiring users to check the settings before making adjustments.

The 2026 Lexus TX featured a 14-inch color touchscreen, though some features lacked polish. The steering wheel buttons controlled various functions but were unlabeled, with their current function displayed on the 12.3-inch gauge cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though connectivity issues occasionally arose. The TX required a subscription for in-dash navigation and other features, which were not available for testing.

The back-up camera provided a clear view, with an available bird’s-eye view for parking assistance. The Advanced Park system could handle parking duties, and the rear-camera mirror offered an unobstructed view. The TX included seven USB ports and wireless charging, with a 120-volt/1500-watt outlet in the second row for larger devices.

The 2026 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and parking sensors. Higher trims featured adaptive cruise control synced with navigation and the Highway Driving Assist system for automated lane centering. The Sportage received the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2026 Lexus TX came standard with Safety System+ 3.0, including forward collision warning, Lane Tracing Assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and Proactive Driving Assist. The adaptive cruise control worked well once set up, though the steering wheel controls were confusing. The NHTSA hadn't released safety ratings for the 550h+, but the TX 350 and 500h earned five stars. The IIHS gave the TX an "Acceptable" rating for the small overlap front crash test on the driver’s side and a "Good" rating for the passenger’s side.