Over the weekend, Kia Philippines officially announced that the all-new Sportage Turbo Hybrid will make its debut on July 24, 2026. The brand also opened a pre-registration form to give eager buyers special notifications and early access.
Previous reports suggested that the compact crossover may debut in two variants—the base EX trim and the fully loaded SX configuration. We can expect the Sportage Turbo Hybrid EX to come with a standard set of safety features and sensible finishes, while the SX will likely get a full suite of advanced driving aids and more premium materials.
However, power output and performance should remain similar between the two variants, with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and a single electric motor as standard. Overall, its powertrain should be comparable to the 4x2 models of the larger Sorento, which is rated for 232hp and 367Nm of torque.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Yamaha has launched the fully electric Aerox E in India with 117km of range
Gallery: Cars with weird manual transmissions, part 2
With that, speculation will be put to rest in less than two weeks as the Sportage nears its local return. Interestingly, the fifth-generation model from the teasers was launched in South Korea in 2021, right around the time it was discontinued in the Philippines.
Ideally, Kia and the Sportage can pick up right where it left off, as it will be entering a rather stacked arena. Just this year, the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, and the Nissan X-Trail all received refreshes, while Chinese carmakers have remained relentless in launching new offerings.
If you want to learn more about this latest version of the Sportage, you can click on these blue words to read Top Gear Philippines executive editor Sharleen Banzon’s first drive experience. You can also watch this space for the latest updates.
