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2024 Kia Sorento PHEV: Release Date, Spy Shots & Price – 2024’s Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is an absolute unicorn. It’s a rechargeable three-row hybrid SUV, which costs about $50,000. That’s a lot cheaper than other options such as those the BMW X5, Volvo XC90, or Lincoln Aviator. It’s also it’s the “budget” option in this smaller segment it’s the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid offers good value for money. The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is an upgrade of the Sorento Hybrid, the plug-in version comes with a stronger electric motor as well as a larger battery to complement the turbocharged engine. This combination produces 261 horsepower, which is 34 hp over its predecessor, the Sorento Hybrid, and enough power to give you 32 miles of electric drive distance. The Kia is also very efficient with an estimated EPA rating of 34 mpg of combined fuel consumption when driving using the regular hybrid gas/electric mode.
Reduced to one size for 2023 The Sorento is a PHEV (plug-in hybrid vehicle) that provides plenty of luxury and technological features that enhance its effectiveness and performance. The highlights include heated and ventilated seats in the front, heated second-row seating, leather seat navigation, a high-end Bose audio system, and numerous options for driver assistance.
Review
Its Sorento Plug-in Hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, which pulls off the 13.8-kWh batteries. The system generates 261 horsepower and 258 pounds of torque. With a speed of 7.9 seconds during the 0-60mph speed test and the Sorento does not feel sluggish, at all, however, it is slower than the RAV4 Prime and Jeep Wrangler 4xe when it comes to speeds. The lack of speed aside from the fact that the engine is more smooth than the competition, there are smooth shifts that don’t jerk the transmission, and there’s no hesitation when the Sorento’s motor comes to life.
If you want to slow down it is the Sorento is solid and stable. The Regenerative Braking and Friction braking are perfect, and the pedal doesn’t give any indication of the switch between the two. The best stop for panic between 60 and 0 mph was 123 feet. This is quite impressive for a PHEV that size. It also beats out the Wrangler and RAV4 Prime 4xe effortlessly. The handling is remarkable even for a PHEV SUV. The Sorento is able to easily be driven in the city or on an off-road.
Three rows of seating offer more comfort than you would expect in a compact SUV. The front seats of the top-of-the-line test car offered cooling, heat, and plenty of adjustability. The captain’s chairs in the second row (standard for the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid) were solid, yet more accommodating and comfy than benches found in other vehicles. The seats in the third row are tiny and even lower than the ground yet provide sufficient support to adults. The dual-zone climate control system is user-friendly and efficient regardless of the fact that the touch-sensitive buttons don’t have the same responsiveness as conventional buttons.
The ride’s comfort may not be as impressive as a constant stream of shaking swells into the cabin even at low speed on roads that aren’t perfect. Even with 19-inch wheels that have plenty of shock-absorbing sides and a wide rim, the ride was able to be more crowded than we had hoped for. However, the Sorento’s ride has a good balance it gives confidence and confidence at freeway speed.
If you put the third-row seats in it’s 12.6 cubic inches of capacity for cargo equivalent to about 5 grocery bags. The closest rival is it’s the Volkswagen Tiguan, which offers only 12 cubic feet, while the bigger Subaru Ascent offers up to 17.8 cubes. If you drop the third row the Sorento has the range of 38.5 to 45 cubic feet of space, based upon how far it is that you can slide the second row seats. This is more spacious than the Toyota RAV4 (up to 37.6 cubic feet) and also the more spacious Honda Passport (41.2 cubic feet). With the entire seating area in place, it’s a Sorento that has 75.5 cubic feet. This is comparable to that of the Honda CR-V.
The interior storage option is another Sorento strength. While it’s not as clever similar to Honda’s CR-V and Passport, however, it has plenty of thought-through storage options across every row. The towing capacity of the Sorento PHEV is only 1,654 pounds. The normal Sorento is able to tow as much as 3500 pounds.
Interior
Although it’s a small-sized SUV however, the Sorento provides plenty of space for adults to stretch out in the three rows. It also has more legroom within the third row compared to the two rows of specialized SUVs like The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. For taller people, there’s plenty of room. In fact, the third row is suitable for adult passengers although it’s a bit difficult to squeeze to the third row. Getting into the Sorento is a relatively easy process.
The Sorento incorporates some of Kia’s most user-friendly features as well as buyers who aren’t familiar with Kia’s brand should not have a problem getting an understanding of the inside. The visibility is excellent because of the ample windows as well as good lines of sight across the interior. Surround-view cameras are an option that provides high-definition pictures and is useful in tight spaces.
Our high-end test vehicle was outfitted with the 10.25-inch touchscreen that includes navigation as well as new Bose audio system, as well as the 12.3-inch touchscreen that functions as a digital instrument. The design is crisp and innovative, however, there were some buttons that appeared on the screen slightly smaller and a bit small. However, the Bose audio system is slightly more mediocre but we haven’t could find a perfect sound for an array of songs. Voice command is one of the weakest technologies within the Sorento. It isn’t equipped with natural language recognition and has mediocre.
With 8 USB ports and the wireless charger, travelers aren’t left without power for their gadgets. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphones are compatible however wireless connectivity isn’t available. The advanced features of the Sorento’s assistance for drivers are dazzling not just in terms of scope, but also when it comes to application. We did not encounter false alarms and, with only one exception, an extremely prudent rear cross-traffic alert system, we did not have any issues. 2024 Kia Sorento PHEV
Engine
The turbocharged, plug-in hybrid motor comes that comes with AWD (AWD). What you will get back on your fuel costs is dependent on how frequently your battery’s charge is complete. In the event that your battery is exhausted then it is the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid gets the same fuel efficiency rating similar to the traditional hybrid that comes equipped with AWD.
Based on EPA estimates as of when this article was written according to EPA estimates, the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid has a monthly expense for fuel that is about $95 for electricity and gas together. To compare it is estimated that the Sorento Hybrid with AWD costs $129 per month to fuel. Meanwhile, the most effective AWD-equipped non-hybrid Sorento comes with a monthly fuel bill of $183.
Although the actual economics of plug-in hybrids varies depending on the volume and frequency of use, in addition to electric and gas prices however, we can safely say for the vast majority of drivers, this model Sorento Plug-in Hybrid costs more to purchase and maintain over the cheaper Sorento Hybrid. It’s a common occurrence for hybrids and plug-in hybrids. The larger batteries cost a lot however they only help save energy in one day. However, fewer journeys to the station, fewer tailpipe emissions, and the smoothness of EV driving are but some of the benefits that consumers are willing to pay for.
Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is backed by a 10-year/10 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is protected by a five-year/60,000-mile base warranty as well as a 10-year/100,000-mile engine warranty that covers battery damage.
The EPA declares that it is expected that the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid should get 32 miles of range that is purely electric and will achieve 34 mpg using the gasoline engine on its own. In our 115-mile test route, we allowed the vehicle to switch between EV-only or hybrid modes, as is the likely way people will be using the Sorento PHEV. And the average was 41 miles to the gallon. This is similar to the results we experienced with the RAV4 Prime and far exceeds our findings on the Wrangler 4xe along similar routes.
Release Date and Price
It’s not surprising that Kia hasn’t announced the date of release for the 2024 Sorento at this time, but we’re hoping to see it in the coming summer. The Sorento’s pricing remains unknown, however, we anticipate an increase from the model of 2023, which is priced between $31,415 and $51,315.