Kia has another home run with a plug-in-hybrid model that joins the Sorento lineup for the 2022 model year. The 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid is a small SUV with three rows of seating that can carry up to six passengers.
What’s New for 2022?
- All-wheel drive option with center-locking differential & Drive Mode Select w/ Snow Mode that includes 19-inch alloy wheels
- Standard 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and telematics
The 2022 Kia Sorento EX hybrid I drove was a front-wheel-drive with a runway red exterior and gray interior. The starting MSRP is $35,990 with only additional costs of the red paint, floor mats, and destination for a total price of a very reasonable $37,820.
A hybrid contains an internal combustion engine and a lithium-ion polymer battery. The EX comes with a 1.6L 4-cylinder turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Hybrid engine that makes 177.2 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm and 195.4 lb.-ft. @1,500-4,500 rpm. The 1.5 kWh, 270 Volt battery power is 64 kW (discharge) / 49 kW (charge) and makes 59.3 horsepower @ 1,600-2,000 rpm and 194.7 lb.-ft. @0-1,600 rpm. The total for the hybrid is 227 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque.
If you haven’t driven a PHEV and are wondering, there is no warp speed jolt in the transition between the electric propulsion and gas. The hybrid quickly from a stop, and power comes on strong when you merge or pass at higher speeds or go up a hill. Can we thank the instant torque from the lithium-ion battery? Yes, we can.
The Sorento is smoother than some well-known gasoline engines, even though it is a continuously variable automatic transmission that employs a traditional six-speed automatic. Combine that with the fuel efficiency that I got of 44 mpg combined, instead of 25 mpg for the gasoline version, and you can see the pros outweigh the cons.
The Kia Sorento has won many accolades for car of the year. It will continue to do so.
Standard Sorento Hybrid safety features:
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Driver attention monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Lane tracing assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear parking sensors
- Safe exit assist
- Speed limit recognition
- Electronic parking brake
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Rearview camera
- Rear-seat reminder
Kia Sorento hybrid versus competitors:
Volkswagen Tiguan
Ford Explorer
Hyundai Santa Fe
Lexus RX
Nissan Murano
Honda Pilot
Toyota Highlander
Nissan Pathfinder
Dodge Durango
Ford Explorer
Subaru Ascent
Volkswagen Atlas
Mazda CX-9
Kia Sorento Hybrid Trim Levels and Pricing :
Kia Sorento Hybrid (HEV) S FWD $33,990
Kia Sorento Hybrid (HEV) S AWD $35,790
Kia Sorento Hybrid (HEV) EX FWD $35,990
Kia Sorento Hybrid (HEV) EX AWD $38,290
(excludes $1,175 destination)
2.5-liter GDI 4-cylinder
Gasoline version:
191 hp and 181 lb.-ft. torque; 8-speed automatic transmission
2.5-liter GDI 4-cyl. Turbo
281 hp and 311 lb-ft torque; 8-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission
Hybrid version:
Engines:
1.6-liter GDI 4-cyl. Turbo Hybrid/44kW motor
227 hp; 6-speed automatic transmission
1.6-liter GDI-cyl. Turbo Plug-in Hybrid/66.9kW motor
261 hp; 6-speed automatic transmission
Fuel Economy – EPA-est. MPG
Gasoline version
2.5-liter GDI 4-cyl.
24 city/29 highway/26 combined (FWD)
23 city/25 highway/24 combined (AWD)
2.5-liter GDI 4-cyl. Turbo
22 city/29 highway/25 combined (FWD)
22 city/27 highway/24 combined (AWD)
Hybrid version:
1.6-liter GDI 4-cyl. Turbo Hybrid/44kW motor
39 city/35 highway/37 combined (FWD)
TBD (AWD)
1.6-liter GDI-cyl. Turbo Plug-in Hybrid/66.9kW motor
35 city/33highway/34 combined/79 MPGe3 (AWD)
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