Kia SUV Models: The Full 2026–2027 Lineup, Compared by Size, Price and Powertrain
Compare every Kia SUV, from the Seltos to the EV9. See current prices, fuel economy, space and towing, and find out which one fits your budget and family.
The new Kia Telluride Hybrid makes 329 horsepower, more than the V6 it replaces, and it still returns up to 35 mpg. That would have sounded like a stretch for a Kia not long ago.
Today, Kia sells an SUV for almost every budget and family size, from a subcompact that starts near $25,000 to a three-row electric flagship that costs more than twice that. The lineup is also changing fast. The Soul is gone, and both the Seltos and the Telluride were redesigned for 2027.
This guide to Kia SUV models covers all seven nameplates Kia sells in the U.S., with real prices, fuel economy and space figures, plus a straight answer on which one fits which driver.
Kia SUV Models at a Glance
Kia sells seven SUV nameplates: the Seltos, Niro, Sportage, Sorento, Telluride, EV6 and EV9. The Seltos is the smallest and cheapest. The Telluride and EV9 are the biggest. Most of the rest come in gas, hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions.
Model | Size | Seats | Powertrains | Starting MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seltos | Subcompact | 5 | Gas (hybrid due soon) | About $24,990 |
Niro | Compact crossover | 5 | Hybrid, electric | Hybrid from about $27,000 |
Sportage | Compact | 5 | Gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid | Hybrid from $30,490 |
Sorento | Midsize | Up to 7 | Gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid | Hybrid from $38,890 |
Telluride | Midsize, 3-row | Up to 7 | Gas, hybrid | Gas from $39,190 |
EV6 | Compact electric | 5 | Electric | Varies by trim |
EV9 | Full-size electric, 3-row | 6–7 | Electric | Mid-$50,000s |
Prices are base MSRP before the destination charge and change often, so confirm them on Kia's website before you shop. Sportage and Sorento hybrid figures are for the 2026 model year.
Subcompact and Compact: Seltos, Niro and Sportage
Kia Seltos
With the Soul gone, the Seltos is Kia's smallest and cheapest SUV. The 2027 redesign made it bigger and boxier, with styling borrowed from the Telluride. The base LX with front-wheel drive starts around $24,990. Most trims use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a CVT, rated at about 30 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 28 with all-wheel drive. The top X-Line SX adds a turbocharged engine.
Cargo space is 27.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 64.2 with them folded. Reviewers call the base engine slow, and a hybrid is due around the turn of the year. Best for: city drivers, first-time buyers and small households.
Kia Niro
The Niro is Kia's efficiency specialist. It comes as a hybrid or a fully electric crossover, both in the same compact body, and it carries over into 2026. The hybrid is rated at 49 to 53 mpg combined and starts around $27,000. Best for: commuters who want low running costs without committing to a full EV.
Kia Sportage
The Sportage is Kia's core compact SUV, offered with gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid power. The hybrid is rated around 42 mpg combined and starts at $30,490, with 39.5 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats. The plug-in hybrid starts at $40,490 and is rated at 36 MPGe combined. All-wheel drive is available. Best for: couples and small families who want space and fuel economy in one package.
Midsize Three-Row: Sorento and Telluride
If you are unsure whether you need this much room, our comparison of a compact SUV vs. a midsize SUV breaks down the trade-offs.
Kia Sorento
The Sorento sits between the Sportage and the Telluride and offers an optional third row. Gas versions start in the $30,000s. The hybrid starts at $38,890 and is rated at 37 mpg combined. The plug-in hybrid starts at $48,290 and has roughly 30 miles of electric range.
Cargo space behind the third row is a modest 12.6 cubic feet, growing to 75.5 with the rear seats folded, so it suits occasional seven-seat use rather than daily. Best for: families who need extra seats now and then.
Kia Telluride
The all-new 2027 Telluride is Kia's biggest change in years. Gas versions run from $39,190 to $56,790 and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. The first-ever Telluride Hybrid starts at $46,490 and pairs a 2.5-liter turbo engine with electric motors for 329 horsepower. It is rated at 35 mpg combined in front-wheel-drive EX form and 31 mpg with all-wheel drive, and it tows up to 4,500 pounds.
Cargo space is 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row (21.3 in the hybrid) and 86.9 with the second and third rows folded. Best for: larger families and anyone who tows.
Electric: EV6 and EV9
Kia EV6
The EV6 is the smaller of Kia's two dedicated electric SUVs, with five seats and a more compact footprint. Best for: drivers who want an EV without the size of a three-row.
Kia EV9
The EV9 is Kia's electric three-row flagship, with seating for six or seven. For 2026 it gained a performance-focused GT trim and a blacked-out Nightfall edition. It starts in the mid-$50,000s, and EPA range runs from about 230 to 305 miles depending on the trim. Best for: families ready to go electric.
Whatever Happened to the Kia Soul?
Kia dropped the Soul for 2026, and the electric Soul is gone too. If you wanted a small, affordable Kia crossover, the Seltos is the closest replacement.
Which Kia SUV Should You Buy?
Lowest price: the Seltos, from about $24,990.
Best fuel economy without plugging in: the Niro hybrid leads at 49 to 53 mpg combined. Among bigger SUVs, the Sportage Hybrid (about 42 mpg) beats the Sorento Hybrid (37) and Telluride Hybrid (up to 35).
Seven seats: the Sorento costs less, and the Telluride gives you more room.
Towing: the gas Telluride, at up to 5,000 pounds.
Fully electric: the EV6 for five seats, the EV9 for three rows.
Snow and bad weather: pick all-wheel drive for winter driving.
Hybrid, Plug-In or Electric: Which Powertrain Fits?
Most Kia SUV models now offer more than one way to power them. A regular hybrid never needs plugging in. A plug-in hybrid, such as the Sorento PHEV, runs on electricity for short trips and switches to gas for long ones. A full EV needs home charging.
Hybrids cost more up front, so do the math. The Telluride Hybrid starts at $46,490, about $7,300 above the cheapest gas Telluride, which is rated around 22 mpg combined. At 12,000 miles a year and $3.50 a gallon, the hybrid's 35 mpg saves roughly $700 in fuel annually. That means about a decade to earn back the premium, and because the trims are not identical, treat it as a rough guide. The hybrid also tows 500 pounds less than the gas version. Our look at whether hybrid cars are worth it goes deeper on the numbers.
Before You Shortlist: Four Quick Checks
Before you shortlist Kia SUV models, run through these:
Reliability: read our straight answer on whether Kia cars are reliable before you commit.
Drivetrain: all-wheel drive costs more and uses more fuel, so see FWD vs. AWD to decide whether you need it.
Timing: the Seltos hybrid is close, so if you want one, it may be worth waiting.
Exact specs: compare dimensions and engine data in the AutoSpecsHub car database, and verify current prices with a dealer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Kia SUV models are there?
Kia sells seven SUV nameplates in the U.S.: Seltos, Niro, Sportage, Sorento, Telluride, EV6 and EV9. Most come in more than one powertrain.
What is the cheapest Kia SUV?
The Seltos, with a starting MSRP of about $24,990 before destination.
What is Kia's biggest SUV?
The EV9 is classed as full-size, and the Telluride is the biggest with a gas or hybrid engine.
Does Kia still make the Soul?
No. Kia dropped it for 2026, and the Seltos now fills the entry-level slot.
Which Kia SUV has the best gas mileage?
The Niro hybrid leads, at up to 53 mpg combined. Among larger models, the Sportage Hybrid is rated around 42 mpg combined.
Final Thoughts
The smart way to read the Kia lineup is by size first, then powertrain. Pick the Seltos for budget, the Sportage for balance, the Sorento or Telluride for space, and the EV9 if you are ready to plug in. With so many Kia SUV models changing year to year, check current specs and prices before you buy. Do that, and the right one should be easy to spot.
