2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid

With the famous SUV now entering its fourth generation in the USA, the first-ever Kia Sorento Hybrid arrived last year. The normal hybrid is powered by the a 1.6L turbo inline 4-cylinder engine and electric motor combination for a combined total of 227 horsepower. This year, a plug-in derivative joins the lineup, offering over 30 miles of all-electric range and 261 hp. Kia's Sorento is now marketed as a luxury six-seater midsize SUV, which is another unique selling point in the segment. Traditional rivals like the Chevrolet Blazer, Nissan Murano, and Ford Edge only have two rows. Kia also claims best-in-class horsepower and combined gas mileage and offers the Sorento with impressive driver assistance features across the two-model hybrid range.

The current Sorento owes its existence to the superb Telluride, which offered large SUV shoppers more than they bargained for. A review of the new Kia Sorento Hybrid returns similar glowing recommendations, especially since it provides the added benefit of six seats on those odd occasions you need them. Sure, they're small, and there are better three-row options in the US, but none of the Sorento's direct rivals offer this feature. Kia also took great care to use only high-quality materials and the latest technology to keep passengers both safe and comfortable. We're also big fans of the car-like driving experience, and the compliant ride. From a powertrain point of view, it's hard to ignore the EPA-estimated consumption of 39/35/37 mpg city/highway/combined cycles for FWD models. The new plug-in hybrid is excellent, too, with its 32-mile all-electric range. The long list of standard features and driver assists deserves a mention too, as even the base model comes with forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver attention warning, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, to name just a few.

Between the Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, there are four total trims. The regular hybrid starts things off in S guise at $34,090, followed by the EX at $36,090. The S can be upgraded with AWD for an extra $1,800, an option that costs $2,300 on the EX but that automatically includes 19-inch alloys.

The PHEV lineup comes with AWD as standard, beginning with the SX at $45,190. The range is topped by the SX Prestige which carries an MSRP of $48,090. The price of the Kia Sorento Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid excludes a destination charge of $1,255. The PHEVs additionally qualify for a federal tax credit of $6,587.