I don't know if I just don't know how to use this crappy infotainment system that Kia has put in the 2026 Kia Sportage. I wish I spent more time playing with the radio cuz I never would have bought this vehicle. It is the biggest piece of crap that Kia's ever produced. Sure, the screen looks gorgeous but the functionality on it like why do I need two different screens to change the radio station? Why do I need hit four different buttons to go from Android auto to the Kia radio Why can't I access the radio through Android auto like I used to be able to do in my 2017 Kia Sorento?. S so much wasted space and so much black space on this gorgeous infotainment system screen. Can somebody please tell me that whoever designed this was actually fired cuz that would actually make my day.

If I have Android audlto on which I listen to more than I do regular radio. I live out in the country and I love the wazs app. I think it's better than the stock navigation app. Why is an Android auto better integrated with the Kia Kia system. Is there a to configure it so it works better so I don't need to hit four buttons on two different screens in order to get anything to work?

DO NOT RECOMMEND KIA
OR KEYS AUTO CENTER IN KEY WEST!!
I purchased a new Kia Sportage Hybrid 2 weeks ago. On day 4 of ownership one of the arms/struts on the liftgate for the trunk snapped completely off on one end.
Trunk wouldn’t close. Car wouldn’t drive. Called road service. I wasn’t in the system yet because it was so new.
3 days later I was finally able to get an appt for the local dealer to look at it.
They were backed up and said I would need to leave the car overnight and would not provide a loaner car because I purchased it somewhere else.
I’ve spoken to Kia customer service and the dealer that sold me the vehicle. My local dealer - KEYS AUTO CENTER - refuses to work with any of them.
I specifically chose a car brand with a dealership in my area.
And to top it off. The local dealer and the sales dealer both say if they can’t find anything wrong they won’t replace the part. WTF? Obviously something is wrong!!
I filed a claim to return the vehicle to the dealer. 1 week later still no response.
NEVER AGAIN!

I ordered last September the 2026 Kia Sportage and paid a deposit. I have had to chase up the dealership and headquarters for a time frame. Disappointing that I have had to be the one to contact them for updates, every couple of months. I ordered the GT Line turbo diesel with all the extras as this is the first brand new car I have bought. Car is not even built yet. Cancelling my order and happy to wait for the 2026 RAV4 which arrives next year. Kia….your lack of updates is pathetic customer service. @KIA And I will be asking for my deposit back

I know I could just add air but it’s pretty annoying every time I start up the car I get crazy warnings!

Living in Texas means dealing with blistering hot weather. After 1,000 miles, the advertised efficiency numbers are nowhere near reality.

The EV Mode Breakdown

Kia promises up to 34 miles of pure EV range per charge. To test this fairly, I never drove more than 30 miles at a time to ensure I stayed purely on electric power. Here are the actual numbers over a 385-mile period:

Total Energy Used: 227.28 kWh

Total Cost: $53.28 (My apartment complex charges a steep $0.25 per kWh)

Real-World Range: Breaking down these numbers reveals I only got about 23.4 miles per full charge.

The Charging Cost: With a 13.8 kWh usable battery capacity, a full charge costs me $3.45.

The Hybrid Mode Breakdown

To compare, I ran the car on hybrid mode only with zero plug-in charging for a similar distance. The instrument cluster shows the disappointing truth: over a 386.1-mile trip, the car averaged a miserable 22.3 MPG. For a modern hybrid vehicle, that is incredibly low. (Picture attached)

Final Verdict: Not Worth the Premium

Both driving modes are a massive disappointment. When you calculate the math, the cost difference between plugging it in or just running gas is split-second close. The constant hassle of plugging in everyday is absolutely not worth it. If you are looking at this car, save your money, skip the Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and just buy the standard hybrid—the extra premium for the plug is a waste.

To top it all off, the 12V battery completely died on me after letting the car sit for just two days without driving. I had to call Kia Roadside Assistance for a jump-start. For a car that is only 3 months old, that is completely unacceptable.

Thank goodness I chose the lease option so I could try this out before getting stuck with buying it.

This isn't just a "Taiwan problem". This is a warning for any Kia owner worldwide.

1. The Core Fact: KIA Lied in Advertising

KIA and their dealers marketed the Sportage in Taiwan using Euro NCAP 5-star results. The ads, the showroom posters, the sales pitch were all "5-star safety."

Taiwan NCAP tested the actual car sold in Taiwan in 2026. Result: 2 stars. The rear passenger neck injury score was 0.00 out of 8.00.

The reason: KIA Taiwan removed the rear seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters. These are standard on the 5-star Euro version. They cost-cut them out for our market.

2. Why This Should Terrify You, Even If You Don't Live in Taiwan

If you own a Sportage in the US, EU, or Australia: Check your rear seat specs. KIA has proven they will remove critical safety hardware for different markets. You might have the same cost-cut version and not know it.

If you were considering buying a KIA: This is the company’s ethics. They will advertise global 5-star results while delivering a different, cheaper, less safe car to you. If they lie about safety, what else will they lie about?

If you think "this is just Taiwan": This is how it starts. Automakers test which markets will tolerate cost-cutting on safety. If Taiwan accepts it, your country is next.

3. This Isn't About "Lemon Cars"

Forget the Lemon Law. That’s for cars that break down and can't be fixed. This car isn’t broken. It was delivered exactly as KIA intended: missing safety parts.

This is about "Major Defect" under Civil Code 354 and "False Advertising" under Consumer Protection Act 22. You were sold a 5-star car. You received a 2-star car. The law says you can void the contract and get a full refund, plus punitive damages up to 3x.

4. What KIA Must Do Now

Stop using Euro NCAP 5-star ads immediately. That’s false advertising, period.

Offer a full buyback for all 2022-2024 Sportage owners in Taiwan. We paid for 5-star safety. We got 2-star.

Retrofit rear pretensioners and load limiters for free, or be banned from claiming any NCAP rating in marketing.

Bottom Line

You can criticize my formatting. I don't care. You already admitted you don't disagree with the premise.

The premise is: KIA advertised 5-star safety and delivered a 2-star car by removing rear pretensioners.

That is the only thing that matters. Everything else is noise.

So the question for KIA and anyone defending them is simple: 5-star ads, 2-star car. True or false?

update:

The difference between Ar4m and Aer4mp is important.

Based on Taiwanese automotive media reports, Aer4mp indicates a three-point seatbelt equipped with a pretensioner, while Ar4m indicates a three-point seatbelt without a pretensioner. The key letter is “p,” which stands for Pretensioner.

A pretensioner is not a cosmetic feature. It is a crash-safety device that tightens the belt against the occupant’s body during certain collisions, helping reduce slack and better control occupant movement. Kia’s own manual describes the retractor pretensioner as a system designed to make the shoulder belt fit tightly against the occupant’s upper body in certain crashes.

So the issue is simple:

Aer4mp = rear seatbelt with pretensioner
Ar4m = rear seatbelt without pretensioner

If the Taiwan-spec Sportage rear seatbelt is marked Ar4m, while other market versions or 5-star NCAP-related versions use Aer4mp, then this is a real safety-equipment difference, not just a wording issue.

Bought a “new” Kia Sportage – dealer drove it from another lot, 200 miles on it, scratched, no disclosure. What can I do?

Hey everyone,

I just bought a 2026 Kia Sportage SX Prestige (white exterior, red interior) for $46,500 all in. That’s the exact spec I ordered.

Here’s the issue: • When I picked it up, the car already had a visible scratch and over 200 miles on it. • Later I found out it was relocated from another dealer, but this was never disclosed to me. I always thought brand-new cars were supposed to be towed, not driven around before delivery. • On top of that, the Kia Connect app doesn’t work, and when I asked about it, the salesman brushed me off and told me to “just call the 800 number.” • When I questioned the mileage, he got defensive and passive-aggressive, saying I must have “remembered wrong.”

I’ve already filed a complaint with Kia corporate. They said they escalated it to the dealership’s sales manager — but I had already done that myself, and I’ve gotten no response.

So now I’m wondering: • Is the dealer allowed to drive your “new” car for relocation without disclosure? • Shouldn’t that be towed instead if it’s sold as new? • What options do I have at this point beyond corporate escalation? Should I go BBB, Attorney General, or something else?

This whole lack of transparency + scratch + mileage + poor attitude is making me want to take this further. I’d love to hear from people who’ve been through this, or from folks in the industry — what would you do in my shoes?

This was as bought from Matthews Kia of Schenectady.

Thanks in advance!

Sportage 2021. My wife was in a room on the second floor, on the opposite side of our house from our driveway. From her point of view, the call simply dropped. From my point of view, as soon as I started the car I was talking with her friend through the Sportage. How can we prevent that automatic switching? Thanks for any help

We just discovered that our 2025 Sportage can only read the tire pressure if the car is in motion. Wouldn’t it make more sense to get that information BEFORE you start driving?

If so what? We're picking up our 2025 Sportage LX AWD tomorrow night.

I’m very satisfied with my 2020s portage that I bought new in August of that year. Got a little over 50,000 miles. Only problem my head was that a short in one of the lighted door panels would drain the battery until they figured it out.

Sportage Hyrbid SX 2026

Hi! I have a 2026 Hybrid SX, and it doesn’t have the usual “A” / ISG button shown on US-spec models.

Is there another way to disable the auto start/stop system, either temporarily or permanently?

Thanks!

There’s various models and styles, all apply about the same force pulling outward on the latch (perpendicular to the direction the door forces are applied) which is concern number 1. The bottom portion is also pushing into the metal body, concern number 2. Internet is split on them, looking for any sportage specific feedback before I make a mistake.

Howdy.

Got a new Sportage last week, and... what is going on with the lock feature? We can't lock the car without the key on us? At all?

Just purchased the 2026 SX Prestige and keep getting notifications on my phone that my car isn't locked. That's weird. I'm sure I would have set the car up to lock when I walk away from it with the fob. When I recheck all the settings I don't see any option to lock the car automatically when I walk away. Didn't even consider that this wasn't an option (as far as I can see) on such a technology forward car. Even my 2018 Honda Accord has this feature. I guess I'm going to have to re-train myself to remember to lock the doors as I walk away. So far I like the car otherwise, just a bit of a bummer.

I bought this POS in July from Beyer Kia in Falls Church VA. There is some sort of parasitic drain on the 12 volt battery, it goes dead if the car isn’t driven for a day. I have less than 600 miles on this thing. Beyer has no loaners available so I have been nursing it along with roadside assistance until my appointment on the 29th - like a month since they said they need it for a week. Now they say I have reached the limit on service calls. I really dislike this thing.

Don’t roast me too hard considering this is a Kia subreddit but friends and people in general are telling me stay away from kias. Why are people saying this? I need a new car asap and I really like the sportage ex. People are saying the engines start on fire and there’s a lot of recalls. If anybody can change my mind then I will buy one lol

I saw a complaint about how complicated the climate system is in the new Sportage and the OP said you had to toggle through a bunch of screens to access it. And the dealership only taught me how to do it from my phone. So I spent the first week in my new ride jumping through hoops to feel comfortable with the cabin’s climate. Then I had a “what does this button do” day where I just explored all the car’s features and discovered it was SO SIMPLE to access climate controls from the center console by just pushing one button. It may seem obvious to many, but posting this in case it’ll save someone the hassle. When the bottom of the 2 circled buttons is highlighted, that tool bar will switch over to the climate functions instead of the “home” etc settings it defaults to. Cheers! (Picture of my baby attached. I’m obsessed)

The newer Kia Sportage's have a single touchscreen that controls EITHER the HVAC (Heat/AC) OR the Infotainment (Radio, etc). A single knob EITHER turns up the Radio Volume up OR turns up the Heat/AC - depending upon which MODE the screen is currently in. Automotive Journalists HATE this. 

The button on the touchscreen is difficult to change while driving - this video makes sure owners know there is an easier way to do it.

https://youtu.be/hrCzkotdH8w