By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring
The Sorento has been a major part of the Kia playbook for two decades, with the fourth generation seeing the light of day in 2020 in petrol and diesel variants. Now the range has been topped up with petrol / electric hybrids.
Kia’s only seven-seat sports utility vehicle comes in the top GT-Line specification only, the straight hybrid version in front or all-wheel drive guise, while the hero model is a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle.
The common-or-garden hybrid Sorento kicks off the range with the front-wheel-drive variant selling for $66,750 before on-road costs. The all-wheel-drive version carries a $3000 premium, pushing the price up to $69,750. The plug-in hybrid Sorento is on sale from $80,330 before on-roads.
More spacious, more versatile with class-leading innovations wrapped in finely tailored style, says the maker, the new Sorento not only is the most high-tech Kia car ever made, but also leads the way in SUV design.
While retaining much of the Sorento family physical features, the Hybrid has evolved with a new interpretation of the trademark ‘tiger nose’ grille, with a wider shape wrapping around the integrated LED headlights on each side. This assertive nose is complemented by a wider lower air intake, incorporating wing-shaped air curtains to channel air around the car.
Quilted Nappa leather appointed seats (front heated and ventilated) set the theme for a cabin of quality materials and craftsmanship. Three-stage climate control air-conditioning means comfort all round for occupants, while a panoramic sunroof lets in light, while keeping heat at bay with a blind.
Finding a long journey on the boring side? Take time out to choose one of the 64 colours that bathes the cabin in ambient light, pick something from the Sounds of Nature soundscape, or just switch off entirely with the quiet of the passenger talk in-car intercom.
Connectivity is front and centre with a 10.25-inch colour multimedia touchscreen linked to
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 7-inch LCD instrument display carries range of system info.
The position of the touch screen on the centre dash of the test car had its problems, with air-con controls underneath easy to catch accidentally while resting the palm on working
Audio is handled by a six-speaker system, while dual-zone air-conditioning keeps
Customising is the name of the game with a 10.25-inch full colour touchscreen atop the centre console, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster directly in front of the driver who also has a colour head-up display, including speedo and speed limits on the windscreen.
The touchscreen comes up with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity, satellite navigation details, including a sharp map display, and access to the 12-speaker Bose audio.
The Sorento Hybrid is powered by Kia’s 132 kW / 265 Nm four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine combined with a 44 kW / 264 Nm electric motor, charging a 1kWh lithium-ion battery situated under the boot floor.
Power is put to ground via a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission and constant all-wheel drive.
The Sorento gained a five-star safety rating in 2020 and includes autonomous emergency braking with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction assist, lane-keep assist, lane follow assist (centring), blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, parking collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control with stop and / go, front and rear parking sensors, driver attention alert, multi-collision braking and safe exit assist
As well as 360-degree view of the vehicle when parking and blind-spot assist, on activation of a turn indicator, the wide-angle surround view monitors will display live footage of other vehicles in your blind spots on the instrument cluster. It also helps wheels keep their distance from scuffing the sidewalk.
Passive safety is taken care of with seven airbags, including front-centre side.
The Kia Sorento Hybrid may be a quiet achiever but it states a compelling case for being one of the best large seven-seat sports utility vehicles around.