2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid Review: The Efficient Option

Design | Consolation | Know-how | Efficiency | Security | Gasoline Financial system | Pricing | FAQ

Electrical autos are steadily kicking conventional old-school fuel automobiles to the curb. Crossovers, too, with current arrivals just like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 additional bolstering the booming market. However don’t overlook about hybrids. The gas-and-battery combo nonetheless has a number of advantage, particularly with robust choices from automakers like Kia.

The Sorento Hybrid, then, makes a number of sense for a big section of customers. It’s every little thing we love concerning the conventional Sorento – a Motor1.com Star Award winner – now with batteries included. The Sorento Hybrid is trendy, snug, and comes with an ordinary third row, to not point out it has a really cheap beginning worth of simply $35,345.

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22 Photographs

• Exterior Coloration: Runway Purple 
• Inside Coloration: Black
• Wheel Measurement: 17 Inches

The Kia Sorento is a classy SUV in any kind, and the Hybrid isn’t any totally different. The daring entrance fascia combines triple-beam headlights with a tapered “Tiger Nostril” grille, whereas a big black vent on the base of the bumper hides quad LED fog lights. And the fake skid plate does not truly defend the underbelly, however its brilliant silver end appears neat. The one options clearly distinguishing the hybrid Sorento from the fuel mannequin are the upturned “vents” at every nook of the bumper.

The Runway Purple paint – a $445 possibility – is a good-looking option to pair with that edgy exterior, however the small (by right now’s requirements) 17-inch wheels do not give the Hybrid nearly as good a stance because the fuel Sorento on 20- or 21-inch sneakers. These tiny wheels serve a goal: effectivity. And Kia wraps these rims in low-resistance rubber tires to additional hammer dwelling the purpose.

The inside of the Hybrid appears like another Sorento, with the identical easy however cohesive cabin structure carrying over. Faux black leather-based covers the seats, mushy plastic coats the sprint and door panels, and glossy aluminum accents dot the air con surrounds and heart console. On the passenger-side sprint, that silvery trim will get a geometrical design that makes it look extra premium.

However not like the fuel Sorento, which has a standard shifter, the hybrid mannequin opts for a rotary dial that feels much less premium. Genesis makes use of an analogous rotary design, however that dial has important heft and weight. In hand, the Sorento’s shifter feels less expensive by comparability.

• Seating Capability: 8 
• Seating Configuration: 2 / 2 / 3
• Cargo Capability: 12.6 / 45.0 / 75.5 Cubic Ft

The Kia Sorento Hybrid is snug round city, composed on the freeway, and quiet – actually quiet. The well-mannered suspension absorbs even essentially the most aggressive blows. Sound deadening is elegant, too, with barely any outdoors noise making its method into the cabin.

Leather-based chairs aren’t an possibility on the Sorento Hybrid, however the leatherette entrance thrones really feel almost as good as the true factor. They provide ample bolstering and again assist with energy adjustability on the driving force’s aspect and heating for each. And the second-row bench can also be a pleasant place to be, with ample headroom and legroom.

The third row is a distinct story. Accessing the rear-most seating space is not the difficulty; a single button on the base of the second row flings the bench ahead, giving average-sized adults sufficient house to squeeze in. However as soon as seated, the high-mounted ground makes for a clumsy seating place, and the shortage of a third-row A/C vent means it will probably get sizzling again there. And with that third row upright, cargo house is a matter. The Sorento has a middling 12.6 cubic toes behind the final row.

After all, not one of the Sorento’s key rivals even provide a 3rd row, and if you really want house, there’s all the time the well-regarded Kia Telluride. For what it’s, the mid-size Kia Sorento is greater than as much as the duty of hauling a household (and possibly a number of of the neighbor’s children) round city.

• Heart Show: 10.3-Inch Touchscreen 
• Instrument Cluster Show: 4.2 Inches
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: No

The Sorento Hybrid is well-equipped from the soar. Even the bottom S mannequin will get a ten.3-inch touchscreen interface, {a partially} digital instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch productiveness display, eight USB ports, and satellite tv for pc radio. The EX provides a wi-fi telephone charger, and that is about it. And nonetheless, even on the EX mannequin, Kia doesn’t provide wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Each connections are wired.

However Kia’s Uvo infotainment interface and the ten.3-inch touchscreen is a pleasure to make use of, per common. The graphics are crisp and clear, and each possibility lives neatly on the house display. There are some enjoyable options baked into the touchscreen, as effectively, just like the nixie-tube radio show and Sounds Of Nature; you possibly can be on the seaside or within the forest with the clicking of an icon.

• Engine: Turbocharged 1.6-Liter I4 Hybrid 
• Output: 227 Horsepower / 258 Pound-Ft
• Transmission: Six-Velocity Automated

A wholesome 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque come from the turbocharged 1.6-liter hybrid setup. That is not precisely blistering for a three-row SUV, however then once more, anticipating spectacular straight-line pace out of your Sorento Hybrid is simply foolish. This powertrain is completely plucky round city, with simply sufficient torque for simple overtaking and attacking freeway onramps. There is no such thing as a devoted EV mode, although – that characteristic is reserved for the plug-in.

In contrast to the fuel Sorento, – which is far nicer to drive – the hybrid feels extra like an equipment. It rides softer than the usual mannequin so it does not deal with corners fairly as effectively. In actual fact, cornering is kind of poor. Physique roll is critical, the tires are too squishy, and turn-inis obscure. The steering continues to be as light-weight right here as it’s within the fuel mannequin, which makes for simple maneuverability in tight parking heaps, at the very least, but it surely lacks any suggestions in any other case.

• Driver Help Stage: SAE Stage 2 
• NHTSA Ranking: 4 Stars General
• IIHS Ranking: High Security Decide

As with know-how, Kia provides an abundance of energetic security options out of the field. The S mannequin comes with computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keep help with lane centering. The EX mannequin makes do with all those self same options plus navigation-based adaptive cruise management.

Kia has among the best Stage 2, hands-on security suites in the marketplace. A easy tick of the adaptive cruise management button with the lane-centering possibility energetic, and the Sorento Hybrid cruises confidently with minimal driver interference. The car applies braking and throttle inputs easily and routinely, whereas the lane-centering know-how delivers delicate steering inputs to maintain the Sorento centered within the lane.

So far as crash-testing goes, the Sorento earns High Security Decide honors from the IIHS and a four-star security ranking from the NHTSA.

• Metropolis: 39 
• Freeway: 35
• Mixed: 37

Amongst all mid-size SUVs with a 3rd row, the Kia Sorento Hybrid is essentially the most environment friendly of the group. Its fuel-sipping four-cylinder returns 39 miles per gallon metropolis, 35 freeway, and 37 mixed. Solely the two-row Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid comes shut with 34 mixed.

And in addition to the Sorento and Santa Fe, there are not any different conventional hybrids on this mid-size SUV house. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4Xe is the one different partially battery-powered different, however because it plugs in, the Jeep doesn’t compete instantly with this hybrid Sorento.

Of the traditional gas-powered alternate options, nothing can contact the effectivity of the Sorento Hybrid:

• Base Value: $35,345 + $1,195 Vacation spot 
• Trim Base Value: $37,345
• As-Examined Value: $37,820

The bottom Sorento Hybrid S begins at $35,345 with the $1,255 vacation spot price included, whereas the EX examined right here begins at $37,345. The Sorento Hybrid isn’t essentially the most inexpensive possibility within the class admittedly; almost the entire non-hybrid choices ask much less to begin, and even the Santa Fe Hybrid is cheaper. However Kia does provide mainly every little thing commonplace.

In order for you Snow White Pearl paint or the Runway Purple pictured right here, they are going to value you $445 every. All-wheel drive is one other $2,300 possibility, and the panoramic sunroof is one other $1,300. However that’s it so far as choices go. This tester skips these final two add-ons, which brings the ultimate asking worth to $37,820 with the purple paint and carpeted ground mats ($210) added.

The Sorento Hybrid is difficult to beat at this worth – particularly with this a lot commonplace tools. The massive touchscreen, commonplace third-row, and superior energetic security options gained’t value you something further. And if effectivity is your objective, you gained’t discover something higher on this class (and not using a plug).

Does The Kia Sorento Hybrid Want To Be Plugged In?

No, the normal Sorento Hybrid doesn’t have to be plugged in. The 1.6-liter fuel engine is aided by a small battery pack that improves effectivity and torque. There’s a Sorento plug-in hybrid mannequin, although, that does have to be plugged in.

How Many Miles Per Gallon Does The Kia Sorento Hybrid Get?

The Sorento Hybrid achieves a gasoline financial system ranking of 39 miles per gallon metropolis, 35 freeway, and 37 mixed. It’s essentially the most environment friendly SUV in its respective class.

Does The Kia Sorento Hybrid Come In All-Wheel Drive?

Sure, the Kia Sorento is offered in each front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. Including all-wheel drive on the bottom S mannequin is an $1,800 possibility, and including it on the EX trim is $2,300 with the inclusion of latest 19-inch wheels.