Lexus NX vs Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2026 Lexus NX, despite being a few years into its second generation, maintained a fresh appearance with its well-integrated styling elements. The design featured chunky fenders, integrated LED daytime running lights, and a thin strip connecting the taillights, all centered around the distinctive Lexus spindle grille. While it wasn't as classically handsome as the Genesis GV70 or Volvo XC60, it avoided the awkwardness seen in the Audi Q5 or BMW X3. The design team at Lexus refined the existing recipe, ensuring that elements like the big grille and LED DRLs appeared intentional rather than added for visual impact. The oversized grille, though still controversial, was balanced by the placement of the headlights and side air intakes.

For 2026, the Lexus NX was available in non-hybrid NX 350, hybrid NX 350h, and plug-in hybrid NX 450h+ variants, with trim levels including base, Premium, Luxury, and F Sport Handling. The F Sport Handling trim added features like adaptive dampers and black 20-inch wheels. Despite the brand's extroverted styling, Lexus maintained customer loyalty, although the base NX 350 didn't fully meet luxury expectations. The F Sport Handling's interior, with its sport seats and aluminum pedals, felt similar to high-end Toyota RAV4 versions. The NX 350 Luxury grade offered leather upholstery and standard heated and ventilated front seats, providing a more luxurious experience.

The 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid was available in LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX Prestige trims, with new FWD models for the S and EX, and AWD as an option. The X-Line and SX Prestige included AWD as standard. Prices ranged from $32,085 to $42,185, with the SX Prestige test vehicle priced at $42,385. This was more affordable than competitors like the Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid or Toyota RAV4 Limited. The Sportage's styling was updated in 2026, with the Heritage Blue paint being a popular choice for its ability to hide dust and dirt.

Inside, the SX Prestige featured premium SynTex artificial leather upholstery with simulated suede on the upper seatbacks. The Misty Gray interior option provided a bright, upscale look, complemented by a panoramic glass sunroof. The Misty Gray color on the dashboard and door panels reduced gloss, enhancing cabin quality. The controls were intuitive, except for a dual-function touch-sensing panel that could cause confusion. The SX Prestige's technology, including a head-up display and Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, added to its appeal, making it feel a class above.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered various powertrain options, but the standard hardware in the NX 350 F Sport test car was underwhelming. It featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The engine, related to the Toyota Tacoma's, felt more suited for a pickup truck than a luxury SUV, with a coarse exhaust note and a lack of urgency in revving. Despite a quoted 6.6-second zero to 60 mph time, the sluggish transmission made achieving this difficult. The NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid models appeared more promising on paper, with the NX 350h generating 240 hp and the NX 450h+ producing 304 hp.

The F Sport Handling upgrade included adaptive dampers and 20-inch wheels, but the ride quality was uncomfortable, and the steering felt lifeless. Lexus struggled with performance models compared to Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and the NX's poor ride quality detracted from its comfort and refinement. While sound deadening was effective, wind noise at highway speeds disrupted cabin serenity.

The 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid's powertrain was satisfying for daily driving, featuring a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, a starter-generator motor, and a 1.49-kWh battery pack, producing 232 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. A traditional six-speed automatic transmission eliminated turbo lag and CVT laziness, providing quick acceleration and a pleasant driving experience. The Sportage Hybrid offered various driving modes, including Eco, Sport, and My Drive settings, with AWD models featuring a Terrain menu for different conditions.

FWD models were EPA-rated at 41 mpg combined, while AWD models had a 35 mpg combined rating. During testing, the SX Prestige achieved 32.6 mpg, outperforming the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Mazda CX-50 Hybrid. The Sportage Hybrid's suspension emphasized ride quality, but it felt firm and busy on smaller pavement imperfections. The Hankook Dynapro tires contributed to a quiet highway ride but struggled on winding roads.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered competitive passenger space among compact luxury SUVs but had some compromises. Rear-seat headroom was comparable to rivals like the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but legroom was slightly less. Front-seat legroom was similar to the Audi and Mercedes, while the Acura offered more. The front seats felt constrained, with limited headroom and hindered visibility due to the deep dashboard and large mirrors. The F Sport Handling spec included sport seats with extra bolstering, which were comfortable but unnecessary given the NX's performance limitations.

Cargo space measured 22.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 56.3 cubic feet with them folded, trailing most competitors. The 2,000-pound towing capacity was also below class-leading figures. The center console featured large cupholders, thanks to a small shifter positioned at the console's upper-left corner.

The 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige offered numerous comfort and convenience features, including dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The driver's seat was more comfortable than the one in a previously tested Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige. The second-row seat provided excellent leg support and legroom, with a proper backrest angle.

The Sportage Hybrid's interior was spacious and well-designed, with ample storage space. The center console storage tray featured deployable cupholders, and the wireless smartphone charger was hidden inside a covered bin. The second-row seating area included grocery bag hooks, jacket hangers, and a storage bin for smartphones. The "smart" power liftgate revealed up to 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space, with a maximum of 73.7 cubic feet, surpassing some midsize SUVs.

The 2026 Lexus NX came standard with a 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen on base and Premium trims, with a 14-inch display optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. All models featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and six USB ports. Wireless device charging, a head-up display, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system were available. Data connectivity packages required subscriptions after free trials, offering features like cloud-based navigation, digital key functionality, and emergency assistance.

The 14-inch touchscreen was well-placed but had room for improvement. Temperature control knobs were large, but fan speed adjustment required an awkward touch slider. The voice recognition system responded to "Hey Lexus" but couldn't switch SiriusXM stations. The instrument cluster presented information efficiently, with a modern digital look reminiscent of 1990s analog displays.

The 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid featured a panoramic display with digital instrumentation. Most trims had static gauges with a 4.2-inch driver display, while the SX Prestige upgraded to a fully configurable 12.3-inch panel. All trims included a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SX Prestige test vehicle had Kia Connect services with a three-year complimentary trial, offering voice recognition, over-the-air updates, and more.

The tech was user-friendly, with a responsive voice recognition system and seamless wireless Apple CarPlay integration. The SX Prestige's Harman Kardon audio system delivered excellent sound quality. A head-up display showed blind spot information and other data, while Leading Vehicle Departure Alert notified drivers when traffic resumed. The new X-Line Technology Package added features like digital instrumentation and a Harman Kardon audio system to the X-Line trim.

The 2026 Lexus NX included the standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, featuring forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and traffic-sign recognition. Electronic door handles were linked to a Safe Exit Assist feature. Additional driver-assist features included park assist, front cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The NX received a 2025 Top Safety Pick from the IIHS but missed the Top Safety Pick+ award due to an "Acceptable" score in the moderate overlap front crash test. NHTSA ratings were not available.

The 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid offered standard driver-assistance features like high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Upgrading to the S trim added blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert. The X-Line Technology Package included a surround-view camera system, Highway Driving Assist, and reverse automatic braking. The SX Prestige featured additional safety technologies, including steering assist for blind-spot monitors and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

Highway Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist for highway automation, with a hands-on-detection steering wheel. Remote Smart Parking Assist allowed drivers to park the SUV remotely using the key fob. The Sportage Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.