Lexus NX Hybrid vs Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid distinguished itself from its predecessor with a series of design updates, particularly at the front. It featured sharp, angular headlights and a blocky grille that seamlessly integrated into a modern fascia. The SUV's dramatic curves led to wide, aggressive haunches over the rear wheels, while upward-slanted lines framed the LED taillights. Kia's "Opposites United" design philosophy resulted in a distinctive crossover that stood out in its class. Inside, the Sportage Hybrid boasted a stylish interior with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display as part of Kia’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit. High-quality plastics and harmonious textures and colours enhanced the cabin's appeal. The SX trim offered unique interior finishes, including Saturn Black and Carmine Red options, with synthetic leather standard across the lineup.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, particularly the NX 350h F Sport 3, was characterized by its over-stylized design. The front featured a large, intricately patterned spindle grille, flanked by squinting LED headlights and blacked-out air intakes, creating an aggressive and complex face. The profile was sporty yet less extroverted, with rounded edges and body-coloured fender flares. F Sport elements included dark trim and 20-inch wheels, while the fastback roof shape echoed coupe-like crossovers. Inside, the NX combined a sporty look with modern technology, featuring a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen angled toward the driver. The F Sport 3 model stood out with dark graphite aluminum trim, metal pedals, and optional two-tone Circuit Red synthetic leather upholstery, offering a high-quality and upscale feel.

The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid was equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a 47.7-kilowatt electric motor, delivering a combined output of 232 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. This was an increase of five horsepower from the previous model year. In Canada, the power was channelled through a six-speed automatic transmission to standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The Sportage Hybrid had a towing capacity of 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds). It excelled in urban environments, thanks to the low-end torque from its electric motor, but its highway passing power was less impressive due to delayed transmission downshifts. The suspension was tuned for comfort, effectively absorbing bumps and minimizing road noise, while offering 21 centimetres of ground clearance and a new Terrain Mode for off-road settings.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, was not as sporty as its name suggested. It featured adaptive dampers with Normal and Sport settings and a firmer suspension, but it leaned in corners and lacked agility. The steering was weighty, especially in Sport S and Sport S+ modes, but offered little feedback. The ride was firm yet comfortable, even with 20-inch wheels. The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with three electric motors for standard AWD, producing 240 horsepower. Lexus quoted a 7.2-second 0 to 96 km/h time. Power delivery was adequate for traffic, but the drivetrain felt slushy, and the engine droned under hard acceleration. Steering wheel paddles allowed for simulated downshifts, but they didn't mimic regular automatic transmission gear ratios.

The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid, as a compact SUV, had a wheelbase over five centimetres longer than the Honda CR-V's, placing it in competition with the CR-V and Toyota RAV4. It offered ample space for four adults, with reasonable legroom in both rows. The SX test car's front seats were comfortable, and there were numerous storage cubbies, including spots for cell phones and cupholders. Cargo capacity reached 2,087 litres with the rear seats folded and the cargo floor in its lowest position, or 1,119 litres with the seats up. The Sportage Hybrid's interior featured touch-sensitive buttons for climate control and other functions, which some found unnecessarily complicated.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid's F Sport 3 model provided well-bolstered front seats with ample room for tall adults. Power seat and steering wheel adjustments ensured comfort, complemented by heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Heated rear seats were standard on the Executive and F Sport 3 packages. The rear seat accommodated two average-sized adults comfortably, with 950 millimetres of headroom and 917 millimetres of legroom. Cargo space was 643 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,328 litres with them folded. The NX's coupe-like roof limited cargo capacity compared to competitors like the Acura RDX and Volvo XC60.

The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SX trim included a 10-inch head-up display. All models featured Kia Connect, a subscription-based package offering remote entry and climate control via a smartwatch app, and a cloud-based mapping system. The SX trim upgraded to a Harman Kardon surround sound system with 400 watts and eight speakers, providing excellent audio quality.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid featured a 9.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility was included, while a head-up display and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system were optional. A three-year Remote Connect subscription offered remote starting, door lock/unlock, and vehicle status alerts. The touchscreen was angled toward the driver for easy access, with quick response times and embedded temperature controls. Navigation required a Remote Connect subscription.

The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid included standard driver assist features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The top SX trim added advanced features like Blind Spot View Monitor, Evasive Steering Assist, additional parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, and Highway Driving Assist 2. The 2026 model hadn't been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the previous version earned a Top Safety Pick designation and five stars, respectively.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and received four stars in the frontal crash test and five stars in the side crash test from NHTSA. The NX 350h came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Optional features included automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and a surround-view camera system. All systems performed well during testing, though the adaptive cruise control was somewhat complex to operate.