Kia kept the 2027 Sportage gas lineup mostly intact but made one meaningful equipment call: the X-Line trim now comes standard with a panoramic sunroof and Smart Power Liftgate, features previously bundled into an optional X-Line Premium Package. Pricing for the ICE Sportage starts at $28,990, excluding the $1,495 destination charge.
The move aligns the X-Line gas model with what Sportage Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid buyers already receive as standard, simplifying the comparison across the three powertrains for anyone standing in a Kia showroom trying to figure out which version makes sense for their commute. Beyond that equipment change, Kia is adding Road Rider Brown as a new exterior color on the X-Line, available with a contrasting two-tone roof.
The full nine-trim gas lineup ladders from the entry LX to the off-road-flavored X-Pro. The Sportage LX FWD opens at $28,990; the LX AWD adds traction for $30,790. The EX FWD matches the LX AWD at $30,790, with the EX AWD stepping up to $32,590. The X-Line AWD, now with the panoramic sunroof and liftgate bundled in, sits at $34,790. Performance-oriented SX buyers can get the FWD version at $34,590, while the SX-Prestige runs $36,590 in FWD and $38,390 with AWD. The X-Pro AWD tops the ICE range at $39,890, all figures before the $1,495 destination charge.
The Sportage has earned its place as a volume driver for Kia in the U.S., accounting for 19.7% of the brand’s domestic sales in 2024 and holding the position as Kia’s top-selling non-EV model even as the EV6 and EV9 posted 74% year-over-year growth that year. Compact crossover buyers have no shortage of alternatives, with the Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V among the closest competitors, but Kia’s willingness to offer multiple powertrain options under the same roof gives the Sportage family a breadth that few rivals can match at comparable price points.
On the hybrid side, a separate development worth noting: the Sportage HEV is expanding availability of front-wheel drive to S and EX trims, broadening its reach among buyers who prioritize fuel efficiency over all-weather capability. That move, combined with standardizing the X-Line ICE equipment, signals that Kia is working to remove friction across the entire Sportage lineup rather than just adding features at the top.
Kia notes that the Sportage, with the exception of the PHEV variant, is assembled in the United States from domestic and globally sourced parts, which may carry added weight for buyers paying attention to where their vehicle is built.
On-sale timing for the 2027 Sportage ICE has not been announced beyond the model year designation. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid pricing for 2027 has not been disclosed alongside this ICE release.
At $28,990 to start, the 2027 Sportage ICE holds its ground in the compact crossover segment without asking for anything extra. The real news is that X-Line buyers no longer have to ask.
2027 Kia Sportage Photo Gallery
Source: Kia. Images courtesy of Kia.
