Select Smart Recuperation under Eco Vehicle or hold the right paddle for more than one second; green AUTO indicates a detected lead vehicle.
Check that your vehicle has it.
Verified in the shared 2026 U.S.-market Sportage Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid digital owner's manual for equipped vehicles.
- Required equipment / service
- Sportage Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid equipped with Smart Regeneration
Does the documented scope match your car?
This check combines the verified year, any source-supported powertrain scope, source-named trim/package and required equipment. It does not read a VIN or factory build record.
Published availability and qualifications
Verified in the shared 2026 U.S.-market Sportage Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid digital owner's manual for equipped vehicles.
Know what kind of control to look for.
This original category diagram is an orientation aid, not a picture of your exact trim. Use the written labels and your vehicle manual to identify the real control.
Step by step.
- 01
With the vehicle on, select Setup → Vehicle → Eco Vehicle → Smart Recuperation, or hold the right paddle shifter for more than one second.
- 02
Confirm AUTO appears in place of the stepped regenerative-braking indicator.
- 03
Drive above about 3.1 mph (5 km/h) while continuing to control speed and following distance yourself.
- 04
Use white AUTO to identify no detected lead vehicle and green AUTO to identify a radar-detected vehicle ahead.
- 05
Repeat the menu action or long paddle hold to turn Smart Regeneration off.
Important limits
- The system is supplemental and cannot completely stop the vehicle in every situation or avoid collisions.
- It can cancel in Park, Reverse, Neutral, manual, Sport or Terrain mode, while Smart Cruise Control, ABS or ESC is active, or when the battery is very full or outside its normal temperature range.
- Radar recognition can be limited on curves, slopes and during abrupt lane changes.
Quick checks.
- ✓If AUTO disappears, check the gear, drive mode, cruise-control state and battery state of charge.
- ✓If AUTO remains white in traffic, gently clean dirt, snow or debris from the front radar cover.
- ✓If Check smart recuperation system remains after cleaning, have an authorized Kia dealer inspect the vehicle.
What happened on your vehicle?
Your response is stored on this device. If you separately allow analytics, a non-account-linked guide/result event may also be measured. No VIN or personal information is requested.
2026 Kia Sportage HEV/PHEV Digital Owner's Manual — Smart Regeneration System
Relevant section or page: Driving your vehicle — Paddle shifter — Smart regeneration system. We use the written official source to determine the steps and applicability shown above.
Reviewed with a visible trail.
Scope and steps were checked by Car Cheat Codes Editorial Review. A guide is narrowed or corrected when the source does not support a broader claim.
- Published
- Last modified
- Source checked
Guide change history
- Initial verified publication.