2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid vs 2026 Jeep Cherokee

The Sportage is big enough for family use, but not so large that it's unwieldy or difficult to park in the city or in an owner's garage. It's packed with useful technology, and boasts bold styling that stands out in a sea of similarly shaped crossovers. In its hybrid-powered form, it’s also efficient, though its mileage ratings drop dramatically with all-wheel drive (AWD).

Verdict: The 2026 Kia Sportage is sized right in between smaller subcompact and larger compact crossover SUVs, and it strikes an intriguing balance of roominess, comfort and efficiency that ought to win over plenty of American buyers.

The Jeep Cherokee returns for the 2026 model year after a two-year hiatus. It’s once again a compact crossover SUV aimed at popular models such as the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4, but features more traditional styling than its predecessor. That’s not the only thing about the Cherokee that got a major rethink, because this is also the first Cherokee—and the only current North American-market Jeep—with a hybrid powertrain.

Verdict: The redesigned Cherokee successfully merges traditional Jeep styling with the winning template for mainstream crossover SUVs.