2026 Honda Ridgeline vs 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

$40,595 · Crossover

$40,490 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant numerical divergence between the 2026 Honda Ridgeline and the 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid lies in fuel economy, with the Sportage achieving a 36 combined MPG compared to the Ridgeline's 21 combined MPG, a substantial 15 MPG advantage. The Sportage also offers 33 miles of electric-only range, appealing directly to urban drivers. However, the Ridgeline boasts superior power output, generating 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, surpassing the Sportage’s 268 hp and 271 lb-ft. Priced nearly identically at $40,595 (Ridgeline) versus $40,490 (Sportage), the value proposition shifts based on needs. Physically, the Ridgeline is longer at 210.2 inches compared to the Sportage’s 184.4 inches. Critically, the Sportage delivers significantly more utility with 34.5 cu ft of cargo capacity versus the Ridgeline's 7.3 cu ft.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

The 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid wins due to its 36 combined MPG rating and 33 miles of all-electric driving range.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

The Sportage provides substantially more storage with 34.5 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Ridgeline's 7.3 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Honda Ridgeline

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline has a slight edge in raw power with 280 horsepower.

💰 Best Value

2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

The Sportage PHEV delivers vastly superior fuel efficiency and electric range for nearly the same MSRP of $40,490.

Choose the Honda Ridgeline if...

You prioritize maximum horsepower with 280 hp available from the V6 engine.
You require the longer exterior length of 210.2 inches for specific utility needs.
You prefer the operational simplicity of a traditional, non-plug-in AWD system achieving 21 combined MPG.

Choose the Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid if...

You prioritize maximizing cargo volume, benefiting from 34.5 cu ft available.
You seek to maximize fuel savings with a 36 combined MPG rating.
You intend to utilize the 33 miles of electric range for daily zero-emission commuting.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Honda Ridgeline	Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid
Length	210.2"	184.4"
Width	78.6"	73.4"
Height	70.8"	66.9"
Wheelbase	125.2"	108.5"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Honda	Kia
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	—
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Honda	Kia
Base Engine Displacement	3.5 L	1.6 L
Number of Cylinders	V6	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	plug-in hybrid
Horsepower	280 hp @ 6000 rpm	268 hp
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm	271 lb-ft
Number of Valves	24	16
Camshaft Type	Single overhead cam (SOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Cylinder Deactivation	✓	—

Drive Train

Feature	Honda	Kia
Transmission Type	9-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	all wheel drive
[object Object]	✓	—
[object Object]	✓	—
Center Differential Type	—	Locking
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Honda	Kia
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	18/24 MPG	35/36 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	21 MPG	36 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	351.0/468.0 mi.	388.5/399.6 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	19.5 gal.	11.1 gal.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	—	87/78 MPGe
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	—	83 MPGe
EPA Electric Driving Range	—	33 mi.
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	—	43
Charging Time (240V)	—	2.0 hr.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	—	SAE J1772

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Honda	Kia
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	—
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Door Pockets	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Honda	Kia
Infotainment Display	9.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Stereo Power	215W	—
Speaker System	7	6
Subwoofer Count	1	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Honda	Kia
One-Touch Power Windows	2	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass Extended

Frontseats

Feature	Honda	Kia
Front Head Room	40.1 in.	39.6 in.
Front Leg Room	40.9 in.	41.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	62.0 in.	57.5 in.
Front Hip Room	59.1 in.	54.8 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	4-way
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Honda	Kia
Rear Head Room	38.8 in.	39.1 in.
Rear Leg Room	36.7 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.5 in.	55.6 in.
Rear Hip Room	56.6 in.	53.4 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Honda	Kia
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	18 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	245/60R	235/55R19
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	—
Wheel Size	—	19 x 7.5 in

Suspension

Feature	Honda	Kia
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Honda	Kia
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ 12000 mi.	—
EV Battery Warranty	—	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Hybrid Component Warranty	—	10 yr./ 100000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2026 Honda Ridgeline and 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid.

How much larger is the cargo area in the Kia Sportage PHEV compared to the Honda Ridgeline?

The 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid offers a significantly larger cargo capacity at 34.5 cu ft. In contrast, the 2026 Honda Ridgeline only provides 7.3 cu ft of enclosed storage space.

Which vehicle provides a better price point considering the listed MSRPs?

The pricing is nearly identical, with the Kia Sportage PHEV at $40,490 and the Honda Ridgeline at $40,595, a difference of only $105.

Does the torque output favor one vehicle over the other significantly?

The Kia Sportage PHEV technically has higher torque, producing 271 lb-ft compared to the Ridgeline's 262 lb-ft. However, the Ridgeline leads in horsepower, generating 280 hp versus the Sportage's 268 hp.

What is the real-world implication of the MPG difference for an average driver?

The 15 MPG difference in combined ratings (36 MPG for the Sportage vs. 21 MPG for the Ridgeline) means the Sportage will require substantially less frequent refueling and result in lower annual fuel expenditures.

How does the transmission system differ between these two AWD crossovers?

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline utilizes a more conventional 9-speed shiftable automatic transmission, whereas the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV employs a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission, indicative of its hybrid powertrain tuning.

Are both vehicles capable of handling varying terrain with their drive types?

Both vehicles are equipped with All-Wheel Drive (AWD) capability. The Ridgeline uses a standard AWD system paired with regular unleaded fuel, while the Sportage PHEV utilizes its AWD system in conjunction with its hybrid components.