2026 Kia Sportage Safety Rating
Small SUVs Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS source checked 2026-09-16
The 2026 Kia Sportage scores 91.7/100, ranking #9 of 28 current small SUVs and #56 of 136 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award in the 2026 award cycle.
Results below Good: Headlights rated Acceptable. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Acceptable; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
Which build and equipment does this score describe?
Latest applicable build; standard AEB and lowest current-trim headlight rating. Headlights use the lowest rating among applicable current trims; this is a conservative equipment baseline, not a claim that every trim has identical results. Confirm the production date and equipment of the car you are buying.
IIHS award restriction: Award applies only to vehicles built after May 2025
- Rating applies to 2026 models built after May 2025
Headlights: baseline Acceptable; best reported Good
- Good β (1) Trim level(s): SX Prestige trim, X-Pro Prestige trim
- Acceptable β (2) Trim level(s): LX trim, EX trim, X-Line trim, SX trim
Pedestrian crash prevention: baseline Good
- Good β standard Auto Emergency Braking with Junction Turning. Rating applies to all 2026 models
Vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention 2.0: baseline Good
- Good β standard Auto Emergency Braking with Junction Turning Detection. Rating applies to all 2026 models
Optional-system results are shown separately. Combining the best rating from different packages does not establish that one purchasable configuration earns them all. Check IIHS equipment details.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (54 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2023-26 models
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2023-26 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2026 models built after May 2025
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2024-26 models
Whiplash prevention
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Headlights
Β· (1) Trim level(s): SX Prestige trim, X-Pro Prestige trim
Headlights
Β· (2) Trim level(s): LX trim, EX trim, X-Line trim, SX trim
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Rating applies to all 2026 models Β· standard Auto Emergency Braking with Junction Turning Detection
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Rating applies to all 2026 models Β· standard Auto Emergency Braking with Junction Turning
Seat belt reminders
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2023-26 models
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
See our full scoring methodology and rules β
NHTSA 5-star rating
2026 KIA SPORTAGE SUV N/A AWD
NHTSA stars are shown for reference and carry no weight in the score. NHTSA source. Why the two programs disagree β
IIHS crash-test videos
These videos are embedded on IIHSβs ratings page for this model. The tested vehicle may be an earlier model year or a related version whose results IIHS applies to this vehicle. Check the test description and source for the exact coverage.
Load a player to watch on this page, or use the YouTube link. Video footage helps explain the test; the published injury measurements and ratings are the basis for comparison.
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2026 Kia Sportage LX 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2026 models built after May 2025
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 42 per million registered vehicle-years | Small SUVs as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
Compared with other small SUVs
Closest-scoring current small SUVs with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every small SUVs ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Subaru Forester | #1 of 28 | TSP+ | $29,995 | 94.3 | |
| 2027 Honda HR V | #7 of 28 | TSP+ | $26,200 | 91.7 | |
| 2026 Mazda CX 50 | #7 of 28 | TSP+ | $29,900 | 91.7 | |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | #9 of 28 | TSP+ | $29,450 | 91.7 | |
| 2026 Kia Sportage (this page) | #9 of 28 | TSP+ | $28,690 | 91.7 |
Our analysis
The 2026 Kia Sportage belongs to the Small SUVs class. This class has a driver death rate near the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Kia Sportage earned Top Safety Pick+ in the 2026 award cycle. That award requires Good results in the updated tests plus qualifying headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention on the relevant trims; the linked IIHS report shows the exact trims.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Kia Sportage earned 4 Good ratings. Results below Good deserve attention, especially the updated frontal and side tests that IIHS toughened in 2022 and 2023. Our updated crash test analysis explains what changed.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Kia or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
International crash-test results
Euro NCAP and ANCAP results are provided for reference. Because market versions can differ in structure and equipment, they are not factored into the US score.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Kia Sportage
We do not have a verified NHTSA recall lookup for this model and year. An unmatched or unavailable lookup is not evidence of a clean recall record.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A recall applies to a range of build dates, not necessarily every car of this model year, so confirm against your own VIN. Recalls do not affect the safety score on this page.
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Questions about the 2026 Kia Sportage
Is the 2026 Kia Sportage a safe car?
The 2026 Kia Sportage scores 91.7/100 in our published formula and ranks #9 of 28 current small SUVs with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. Award applies only to vehicles built after May 2025
What is the 2026 Kia Sportage IIHS rating?
IIHS reports: small overlap front = Good; moderate overlap front: updated test = Good; side: updated test = Good; headlights = Acceptable; seat belt reminders = Good; latch ease of use = Acceptable.
Is the 2026 Kia Sportage an IIHS Top Safety Pick?
Yes. The 2026 Kia Sportage is a IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for the 2026 award cycle.
What is the 2026 Kia Sportage NHTSA rating?
NHTSA gives the 2026 KIA SPORTAGE SUV N/A AWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5, side 5, rollover 4). NHTSA stars are shown for reference and are not part of our score.
How does the 2026 Kia Sportage compare with other small SUVs?
The class leader is the 2026 Subaru Forester at 94.3/100. The comparison table on this page lists the closest-scoring current small SUVs with complete records.
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.