Kia Sportage sport-ute stands out with matte finish

This review first appeared in the March 2026 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

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Sacramento, California -- Ever buy a motor vehicle just for the paint job?

Having never hit the lottery big time, I can assure you that I've never done such a thing.

But if I had the means, I might be tempted to put cash on the barrel head for the recently tested (deep breath now) 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige AWD sport-utility vehicle.

OK, it's a perfectly charming version of the popular compact crossover SUV that many buyers rave about for days on end.

But what stole the show with this ride was the "Shadow Matte Gray" exterior color.

No reflection. Intimidating appearance. Secret agent cool.

Neighbors, friends, family and perfect strangers couldn't get enough of it, begging me for details and history.

I think they half expected me to hit a button on the key fob, triggering a Transformers-like conversion into a lethal, giant robot.

Yeah, I wish.

But frankly, most everything about the vehicle appealed to me.  Some quick research found agreement from other auto reviewers, who labeled the vehicle "thoughtful," "functional" and "comfortable."

I have to hand it to Kia ... The automaker keeps coming up with vehicles that please the masses.  The matte color scheme only added an air of exotic stylishness to an already solid machine.

My tester being the PHEV version, it boasted a gaudy electricity/gasoline rating equivalent of 83 miles per gallon.  Gasoline-only nets you a still-impressive 36 mpg.

The guts of this power source is a 1.6-liter turbocharged plug-in hybrid powertrain.  Very impressive piece of engineering, that.

And fun to drive.  Remarkable road manners for this segment.

Loaded to boot.  Perks included remote smart parking assist, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, Harman/Kardon premium sound, a surround-view monitor, power folding exterior mirrors and ventilated front seats.

The feature-stuffed package was an absolute bargain for the sticker price of $49,730.

Throw in terrain modes, strong crash test scores and Kia's usual top-tier warranties, and the prospective buyer has to be tempted.

The Sportage exists in a hugely competitive segment, but it has so many advantages -- including head-turning value in its standard and HEV models -- that discriminating shoppers should have it on their test-drive lists.

Fair enough. As for me, driving enjoyment in a vehicle with Stealth bomber skin made for a memorable week.