Kia Sportage vs Subaru Forester Hybrid

The 2026 Kia Sportage showcased a refreshed styling that gave it a more truck-like appearance, ensuring it stood out in the compact crossover segment. The wide grille design, which pushed the headlights to the corners, continued from the previous generation but evolved into a more rectangular shape 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 rest of the vehicle maintained its previous look, with a curvaceous rear end and taillights that didn't quite match the restyled front. The Sportage's 2,755-millimetre wheelbase was notably longer than that of the Subaru Forester and Nissan Rogue, adding visual interest with crisp body lines.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid debuted a new look for its sixth generation, presenting a more cohesive design than its predecessor. However, this came at the cost of some distinctiveness, as the Forester adopted a more conventional design with less body sculpting and a blockier shape. This gave it a visual heft reminiscent of a fun-sized Ford Explorer. The Forester Hybrid mirrored its conventionally powered sibling, with only subtle badges distinguishing it. Inside, the Forester retained some of its previous character with a beveled dashboard centre section, now dominated by a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The cabin featured a mix of hard plastics and soft-touch materials, with the front seats offering ample cushioning and support, enhanced by the hybrid's ventilation system.

The 2026 Kia Sportage offered a range of powertrains, including conventional gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The gas powertrain featured a 2.5-litre 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-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor, delivering 232 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque for hybrids, and 268 hp for plug-in hybrids. While the base engine was less powerful, it was competitive within its segment. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains offered more refinement, thanks to their turbos and electric motors, although the transmission could have been more responsive.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre horizontally opposed flat four-cylinder engine, adapted for hybrid start/stop cycles. Its parallel hybrid system, featuring two motor/generators and a 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery, produced 194 horsepower, surpassing the standard Forester's 180 hp. The Forester's AWD system combined hybrid components with a traditional driveshaft, offering better traction off-road. Acceleration was adequate, though the hybrid transmission made it feel slower than it was. The hybrid system functioned smoothly, with seamless transitions between electric and engine power. The ride quality was firm, but the Forester excelled off-road with its X-Mode drive programming and hill descent control, offering a balanced performance for both urban and adventurous drivers.

The 2026 Kia Sportage's exterior changes did not impact its interior space, which remained competitive. 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 1,036 litres with the rear seats up and 1,962 litres with them folded, expandable to 2,098 litres with the cargo floor lowered. The Sportage's towing capacity was 1,130 kilograms for non-hybrid models and 900 kilograms for hybrids. The centre console provided ample storage, with a wireless charging pad, adaptable cupholders, and a large storage bin.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid offered an unimpeded forward view from the driver's seat, thanks to thinner front roof pillars. The front seats provided ample space, and the cockpit felt open and airy. Rear seats offered generous legroom and headroom, enhanced by a standard panoramic sunroof. Storage included a wireless charging pad, cup holders, a centre armrest bin, and door pockets. The Forester Hybrid's cargo space was 779 litres, with a hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases for easy loading. The upright tail design allowed for bulkier items, and handy hooks kept groceries secure.

The 2026 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, with a digital instrument cluster on the X-Line Limited trim. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Wireless phone charging was available on all but the base trim. The X-Line Limited also offered a Harman Kardon audio system, head-up display, and digital key functionality. The horizontal display blended the instrument cluster and touchscreen, similar to luxury cars. However, the screen-centric interface required frequent swiping, and the dual-function control panel for climate and audio functions could be confusing.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen, featuring built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Starlink system was praised for its large buttons and intuitive menus. Physical buttons allowed for easy temperature adjustments, while the X-Mode off-road menu was accessible with a swipe. External camera views aided off-roading, and the Forester Hybrid included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2026 Kia Sportage boasted a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and lane departure warning. Higher trims offered Highway Driving Assist, a surround-view camera system, and a blind-spot view monitor. The Sportage received the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for rollover protection, which received four stars. The IIHS awarded the non-hybrid Forester a Top Safety Pick, with "Good" ratings in most categories. The Forester Hybrid included Subaru's EyeSight suite, with features like frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. Top trims added rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, and a surround-view monitor. The systems functioned smoothly, with the option to disable audible lane-keep assist warnings.