Ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, driver-seat memory and a power liftgate make the 2026 Kia Sportage EX Premium a comfort-focused choice in the Canadian gas-powered lineup. It sits below X-Line Limited, so its generous seating equipment should not be confused with having every available camera and display feature.
This guide covers the Canadian 2026 EX Premium specification, including its engine, cabin, fuel economy, towing limit and pricing relative to the other gasoline trims.
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Models available
The Canadian gas-powered Sportage range consists of LX FWD, LX AWD, X-Line AWD, EX AWD, EX Premium AWD and X-Line Limited AWD. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are separate powertrain choices; their output, consumption and prices should not be applied to this 2.5-litre gasoline model.
Canadian trim comparison
The table uses Kia Canada’s Ontario MSRP data for the 2026 gasoline Sportage, checked October 28, 2026. These are model-year MSRPs before delivery/destination, dealer administration charges, applicable fees, taxes and extra-cost choices. No incentive has been deducted. They are not documented launch-day prices or a quote for the vehicle in the video.
| 2026 gasoline trim | MSRP (CAD) | Difference vs EX Premium | Standard equipment and gains |
|---|---|---|---|
| LX FWD | $32,295 | $9,900 less | FWD, 17-inch alloys, cloth seats and 12.3-inch multimedia screen. |
| LX AWD | $34,395 | $7,800 less | Adds all-wheel drive to the LX specification. |
| X-Line AWD | $38,195 | $4,000 less | 19-inch wheels, X-Line styling, synthetic leather and heated steering wheel. |
| EX AWD | $40,195 | $2,000 less | 18-inch wheels, panoramic roof, navigation, dual-zone climate and Highway Driving Assist 1. |
| EX Premium AWD | $42,195 | Reference | 19-inch wheels, power-folding mirrors/liftgate, ventilated fronts, heated rear seats and driver memory. |
| X-Line Limited AWD | $45,695 | $3,500 more | Surround/blind-view cameras, head-up display, 12.3-inch instruments, Harman Kardon audio and Highway Driving Assist 2. |
The $2,000 step from EX to EX Premium is mainly about seating comfort and convenience. The next $3,500 to X-Line Limited adds the more extensive display, camera and assistance package, along with X-Line exterior details. EX does not retain the X-Line’s 19-inch wheels or ladder-type roof rails, so the range should not be read as a simple accumulation of every feature below it. Sources: Kia Canada’s 2026 specifications and pricing data and Canadian brochure.
Engine and transmission
EX Premium uses a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder producing 187 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 178 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard on this trim. Kia specifies regular unleaded gasoline.
The higher price of EX Premium does not buy a different engine from the lower gasoline trims. Its equipment changes are in the cabin and exterior. Buyers considering electrification should compare a separately specified Sportage HEV or PHEV rather than expecting the EX Premium name itself to identify a hybrid.
Fuel economy
Kia lists 9.9 L/100 km city, 7.8 highway and 8.9 combined for the AWD gasoline model. The LX FWD is rated at 9.3 city, 7.0 highway and 8.3 combined. These are standardized figures, not fuel use measured during this review.
The AWD/FWD combined difference is 0.6 L/100 km, although LX FWD also has a different equipment level. At an illustrative 20,000 km annually, that difference represents 120 litres. It is useful for budgeting, but it does not isolate drivetrain cost from the rest of the trim comparison.
Exterior and dimensions
EX Premium has 19-inch alloy wheels, matte-chrome and dark-satin details, power-folding side mirrors and a smart power liftgate. It inherits the EX’s panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers and heated windshield. X-Line body treatments and ladder-type rails belong to the X-Line branches rather than this trim.
Kia’s Canadian specifications list a length of 4,685 mm, wheelbase of 2,755 mm and 210 mm of minimum ground clearance. Source: Kia Canada’s trim specifications.
Interior, seating and cargo
The Sportage seats five in two rows. EX Premium uses synthetic leather upholstery and adds driver-seat memory, power adjustment for the front passenger, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Heated front seats are already standard lower in the range; the ventilation and rear heating are the more meaningful upgrades from EX.
Dual-zone automatic climate control and a heated steering wheel are included through the underlying equipment specification. The rear seat splits 60/40. There is no third row, so the Sportage’s passenger capacity remains five regardless of trim.
Cargo capacity depends on the cargo-floor position. Behind the second row, Kia lists 1,036 litres with the floor high and 1,121 litres with it low. Behind the front row, the corresponding figures are 1,962 and 2,098 litres. Keeping the floor position consistent matters when comparing these numbers; the largest figure also requires folding the rear seats.
Infotainment and connectivity
EX Premium inherits the EX’s 12.3-inch navigation multimedia screen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, wireless phone charging, Kia Connect and over-the-air-update capability. It also includes the auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink.
The centre screen should not be confused with the instrument cluster. The 12.3-inch Supervision instrument display, head-up display and Harman Kardon audio are listed as X-Line Limited upgrades. EX Premium’s seating equipment is extensive, but those particular display and audio features are reasons to consider the higher trim. Connected services and phone-dependent functions have compatibility and service-plan conditions. Source: the 2026 Canadian brochure’s equipment breakdown.
Safety and driver assistance
The EX Premium specification includes forward collision-avoidance assistance, lane-keeping and lane-following assistance, adaptive cruise with stop-and-go, blind-spot collision-avoidance assistance and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assistance. Highway Driving Assist 1 comes through the EX equipment level.
X-Line Limited is the step up for Highway Driving Assist 2, the Blind View Monitor and Surround View Monitor, among other changes. The driver remains responsible for safe operation; the assistance systems are not autonomous driving and have operating limits.
Towing
Kia Canada lists a maximum 2,500-lb towing capacity when properly equipped for EX Premium. Trailer lighting prewiring is listed, but that does not by itself establish a complete installed hitch setup. Apply the owner’s-manual requirements and the individual vehicle’s load limits, including passengers, luggage and trailer tongue weight.
Pricing and buying decision
At the checked $42,195 MSRP, EX Premium concentrates its $2,000 premium over EX on features that occupants use directly: seat ventilation, rear-seat heating, driver memory and a power passenger seat, plus the liftgate and folding mirrors. That is a clear equipment argument without needing to imply more engine power.
X-Line Limited costs $3,500 more on the same price basis. Its camera coverage, larger instruments, head-up display, audio and assistance upgrades are the reasons to pay that difference. If those features are not priorities, EX Premium retains the panoramic roof and many of the cabin conveniences without reaching the top gasoline trim’s price.
Related reviews
Our 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid EX Premium review explores the electrified version of this familiar trim. It is a different model year and powertrain, so its output, fuel ratings and prices are separate from the 2026 gasoline comparison above.
Frequently asked questions
Is EX Premium a hybrid?
The gasoline EX Premium covered here has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder. Sportage hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are separate configurations.
Does EX Premium include the surround-view cameras?
Kia’s Canadian brochure lists Surround View and Blind View monitors as X-Line Limited upgrades, not standard EX Premium equipment.
What does EX Premium add over EX?
The main gains include 19-inch wheels, power-folding mirrors, a power liftgate, driver memory, power passenger-seat adjustment, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.