Kia produces another winner with the Sportage SUV

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- You can get lost in the blizzard of compact crossover sport-utility vehicles available at dealerships across the United States.

If you get lost, it's good to know that you'll find contentment if you find yourself behind the wheel of the recently tested 2026 Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige AWD.

For the new model year, Kia is offering the latest version of the reliable Sportage with three powertrain choices, two of them hybrid.  For my purposes, I had the internal combustion engine version -- a 2.5-liter in-line 4 rated at 187 horsepower.

The power plant proved smooth and surprisingly gutsy.  I was a nimble warrior in dicey urban traffic, and the engine showed admirable muscle on equally dicey freeways.  It easily darted me in and out of open spaces ... and powered me out of harm's way multiple times when asked.

As a freeway cruiser, it was top-notch. Mileage was pretty fair as well, at 23 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Per usual with Kia, the $42,055 tester was absolutely stuffed with amenities -- enough to keep one's nose buried in the owner's manual for a solid week.

I particularly liked the advance-warning technologies (the kind you might find on Cadillac or Lincoln models at a higher price), the easy-to-master 12.3-inch panoramic display screen and the smart power liftgate.

Also per usual with Kia, top-of-the-line warranties are part of the deal.

Oh, it looked nice as well.  Smooth and tastefully sculpted and wearing handsome "Wolf Gray" paint.

I have become spoiled by Kia's ability to churn out quality motor vehicles, and the automaker has been rightfully awarded for its conversion from a maker of cheap autos to a producer of some of the best autos on the market.

Overall, this Sportage is another quality offering from Kia.