2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid Review: The Efficient Option
Source: 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid Review: The Efficient Option
Draft | Comfort | Technology | performance | Security | fuel consumption | Prices | FAQ
Verdict
Electric vehicles are gradually stepping out of the way of traditional old-school gasoline cars. Crossovers, too, with new arrivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Volkswagen ID.4 continue to bolster the booming market. But don’t forget about the hybrids. The gas-and-battery combo still has plenty of advantages, especially with strong options from automakers like Kia.
So the Sorento Hybrid makes a lot of sense for a large segment of buyers. It’s everything we love about traditional Sorento—a Motor1.com Star Award winner – now with batteries included. The Sorento Hybrid is stylish, comfortable, and comes with a standard third row, not to mention it has a very affordable starting price of just $35,345.
A vehicle’s ratings relate only to its own segment and not to the new car market as a whole. Click here to learn more about how Motor1.com rates cars.
| Fast statistics | 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX |
| engine | 1.6-liter turbocharged I4 hybrid |
| output | 227 horsepower / 258 pound-feet |
| Touch screen | 10.3 inches |
| fuel consumption | 39 City / 35 Highway / 37 Combined |
| As-Tested price | $37,820 |
22 photos
draft
- Exterior color: Runway Red
- Interior color: black
- Wheel size: 17 inches
The Kia Sorento is a stylish SUV in every form, and the hybrid is no different. The bold front fascia combines triple-beam headlights with a tapered “tiger nose” grille, while a large black opening at the base of the bumper hides quad-LED fog lights. And the faux skid plate doesn’t really protect the underbelly, but its shiny silver finish looks decent. The only features that clearly differentiate the hybrid Sorento from the gas model are the inverted “ports” at each corner of the bumper.
The Runway Red color — a $445 option — is a nice choice to pair with that angular exterior, but the small (by today’s standards) 17-inch wheels don’t give the hybrid as much poise as the gas-powered Sorento on 20 or 21 inch shoes. These tiny wheels serve one purpose: efficiency. And Kia wraps those rims in low-drag rubber tires to keep pounding the point home.
The Hybrid’s interior looks like any other Sorento, with the same simple but cohesive cabin layout. Black leatherette covers the seats, soft plastic covers the dashboard and door panels, and shiny aluminum accents adorn the air conditioning and center console. On the passenger side dashboard, this silver trim strip is given a geometric design that makes it look more premium.
But unlike the Gas Sorento, which has a regular shifter, the hybrid model opts for a dial that feels less premium. Genesis uses a similar rotary design, but there is significant weight and weight to this dial. In the hand, the Sorento’s shifter feels a lot cheaper by comparison.
comfort
- Seating capacity: 8
- Seat configuration: 2 / 2 / 3
- Cargo capacity: 12.6 / 45.0 / 75.5 cubic feet
The Kia Sorento Hybrid is comfortable in the city, composed on the highway and quiet – Yes, really calm. The forgiving suspension absorbs even the most aggressive hits. The soundproofing is also great, with hardly any outside noise entering the cabin.
Leather seating isn’t an option on the Sorento Hybrid, but the faux leather front thrones feel almost as good as the original. They offer ample padding and back support with electric adjustability on the driver’s side and heating for both. And the bench seat in the second row is also a nice place to linger, with plenty of headroom and legroom.
The third row is a different story. Access to the rearmost seating area isn’t the issue; A single button at the base of the second row propels the bench forward, giving average-sized adults enough room to squeeze into it. But once seated, the high-mounted floor makes for an awkward seating position, and the lack of a third row of climate vents means it can get hot back there. And with that upright third row, cargo space is an issue. The Sorento has a mediocre 12.6 cubic feet behind the last row.
Of course, none of the Sorento’s main competitors offer even a third row, and if you really need space there’s always the respected Kia Telluride. For what it is, the mid-size Kia Sorento is more than up to the task of hauling a family (and maybe a few neighbor’s kids) around town.
| headroom | legroom | hold | |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid | 40.3 / 39.1 / 36.8 | 41.4 / 40.7 / 29.6 | 12.6 / 45.0 / 75.5 |
| Ford Edge | 40.2 / 40.3 | 42.6 / 40.6 | 39.2 / 73.4 |
| Honda passport | 39.5 / 40.0 | 40.9 / 39.6 | 41.2 / 77.7 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid | 41.2 / 39.0 | 44.1 / 40.8 | 36.4 / 72.1 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 39.9 / 39.4 | 41.3 / 38.2 | 37.7 / 70.8 |
| Nissan Murano | 39.9 / 39.8 | 40.5 / 38.7 | 32.1 / 67.0 |
Technology & Connectivity
- Center display: 10.3 inch touch screen
- Instrument cluster display: 4.2 inches
- Wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: No
The Sorento Hybrid is well equipped from the jump. Even the basic S model gets a 10.3-inch touchscreen interface, a partially digital instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch productivity screen, eight USB ports and satellite radio. The EX adds a wireless phone charger, and that’s about it. And yet, even on the EX model, Kia doesn’t offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both connections are wired.
But Kia’s Uvo infotainment interface and 10.3-inch touchscreen are, as usual, a joy to use. The graphics are crisp and clean, and each option lives neatly on the home screen. There are also some fun features built into the touchscreen like the nixie tube radio display and Sounds Of Nature; You could be at the beach or in the forest with a click of an icon.
Performance & Handling
- Engine: 1.6 liter turbocharged I4 hybrid
- Power: 227 hp / 258 pound-feet
- Transmission: six-speed automatic
A healthy 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque come from the turbocharged 1.6-liter hybrid setup. That’s not exactly overwhelming for a three-row SUV, but then again, expecting impressive straight-line speed from your Sorento Hybrid is just plain silly. This powertrain is perfectly brave around town, with just enough torque to easily overtake and attack freeway ramps. However, there is no dedicated EV mode – this function is reserved for the plug-in.
Unlike the gas Sorento, which is much more enjoyable to drive, the hybrid feels more like a device. It rides softer than the standard model, so it doesn’t handle corners as well. In fact, cornering is pretty bad. Body roll is significant, tires are too muddy and turn-ins are vague. The steering is still as light as with the petrol engine, which makes for easy maneuvering, at least in tight parking spaces, but otherwise lacks any feedback.
security
- Driver assistance level: SAE level 2
- NHTSA Rating: Four stars overall
- IIHS Rating: Top Safety Pick
As with technology, Kia offers a wealth of active safety features that are ready to go. The S model has automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure warning with lane centering. The EX model settles for all of these features plus navigation-based adaptive cruise control.
Kia has one of the best practical Level 2 security suites on the market. A simple tap of the adaptive cruise control button with the lane centering option active and the Sorento Hybrid drives confidently with minimal driver interference. The vehicle applies brake and throttle inputs smoothly and automatically, while Lane Centering Technology delivers subtle steering inputs to keep the Sorento on-lane.
In terms of crash testing, the Sorento earns a Top Safety Pick from IIHS and a four-star safety rating from NHTSA.
fuel consumption
- City: 39
- Highway: 35
- Combined: 37
Among all mid-size SUVs with a third row, the Kia Sorento Hybrid is the most efficient of the group. Its fuel-sipping four-cylinder returns 39 miles per gallon city, 35 highway and 37 combined. Only the two-row Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid comes close with 34 combined.
And other than the Sorento and the Santa Fe, there aren’t any other traditional hybrids in this mid-size SUV range. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4Xe is the only other partially battery-powered alternative, but since it’s plugged in, the Jeep doesn’t directly compete with this hybrid Sorento.
Of the normal gas-powered alternatives, nothing can touch the efficiency of the Sorento Hybrid:
| city | Freeway | combined | |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid | 39 | 35 | 37 |
| Ford Edge | 21 | 28 | 23 |
| Honda passport | 20 | 25 | 22 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid | 36 | 31 | 34 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 19 | 26 | 22 |
| Nissan Murano | 20 | 28 | 23 |
pricing
- Base price: $35,345 + $1,195 destination
- Base trim price: $37,345
- Tested Price: $37,820
The base Sorento Hybrid S starts at $35,345 with the target charge of $1,255, while the EX reviewed here starts at $37,345. Admittedly, the Sorento Hybrid isn’t the cheapest option in the class; Almost all non-hybrid options charge less to start, and even the Santa Fe Hybrid is cheaper. But Kia basically offers everything standard.
| basic price | target | |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid | $34,090 | $1,255 |
| Ford Edge | $37,410 | $1,495 |
| Honda passport | $38,370 | $1,295 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid | $34,300 | $1,245 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | $40,325 | $1,795 |
| Nissan Murano | $33,310 | $1,225 |
If you want the Snow White Pearl color or the Runway Red pictured here, they’re $445 each. All-wheel drive is another $2,300, and the panoramic sunroof is another $1,300. But that’s it as far as options go. This reviewer skips those last two add-ons, bringing the final price to $37,820 when the red paint and carpeted floor mats ($210) are added.
The Sorento Hybrid is hard to beat at this price – especially with so much standard equipment. The large touchscreen, standard third row and advanced active safety features don’t cost you anything extra. And if efficiency is your goal, you won’t find anything better in this (unplugged) class.
Does the Kia Sorento Hybrid need to be connected?
No, the traditional Sorento Hybrid does not need to be plugged into an outlet. The 1.6 liter petrol engine is supported by a small battery pack that improves efficiency and torque. However, there is a Sorento plug-in hybrid model that needs to be plugged in.
How many miles per gallon does the Kia Sorento Hybrid get?
The Sorento Hybrid achieves a fuel economy rating of 39 miles per gallon city, 35 highway and 37 combined. It is the most efficient SUV in its respective class.
Will the Kia Sorento Hybrid come with all-wheel drive?
Yes, the Kia Sorento is available with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Adding all-wheel drive to the base S model is $1,800, and adding it to the EX trim is $2,300, including new 19-inch wheels.
from toplistreviewstips.com https://ift.tt/WCStv8r
via Toplistreviewstips.com
Nhận xét
Đăng nhận xét