2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid Review: Still At The Top With A Facelift Looming

Many people have to balance their budget carefully when buying a family car, and when you need a lot of space, you often have to accept some compromises in performance and efficiency. Luckily, the 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid doesn't ask you to give up much. It gets excellent mileage, so long as you don't mind its middling 227-horsepower hybrid four-cylinder engine. It also offers third-row seating in a pinch and comes with loads of standard safety features. This doesn't really set it apart from the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Highlander hybrids, which are similarly efficient all-rounders. However, the regular Sorento just received a complete redesign, and one is in the cards for the Sorento hybrid, so is now the right time to buy one?

New for 2024

Despite a complete overhaul for the gas model Sorento, the new Kia Sorento Hybrid crossover is running a year behind and still wears the old face. We expect to see it get a makeover next year, but for now, it only sports some new exterior and interior colors. These include Navy upholstery and a gray headliner.

2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid Price: Which One to Buy

The price of the 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid starts at $36,990 since the base-level EX is already a mid-range trim. The SX Prestige will cost you $42,790. There is also a plug-in hybrid version of the SX Prestige, with the more potent and efficient powertrain pushing the price up to $50,290 MSRP. This doesn't include the $1,375 destination charge or any tax and registration fees.

While it may be the most expensive model, the PHEV SX Prestige gives you the most value in the long run. It also comes extensively outfitted with features. However, even the base-level SX is already halfway up the Sorento lineup, meaning that it comes with a nice list of features like power-adjustable front seats, rear cross-traffic alert, remote start, and a 10.25-inch infotainment suite. Sticking with the FWD model lets you keep the smaller wheels, which improve ride quality and fuel economy.

Interior and Features

While there are some sturdy materials around the cabin, nothing looks cheap, and the plentiful features are laid out in an ergonomic manner.

The interior of the Sorento is all about spaciousness and comfort, allowing you to set up the seating for up to seven passengers. Sadly, as is the norm in this segment, this practicality only looks good on paper, seeing as the rear-most bench is extremely tight - it handily beats out competitors in terms of legroom back there, albeit by just about two inches. In the front, you not only get plenty of space but also a futuristic-looking dashboard, with large vertical air vents surrounding the few remaining physical controls. Most of the features are accessed through the touchscreen mounted just above this. Even the gauge cluster is digital. Standard on the upper trims, but available even to the EX, is a panoramic sunroof that makes the cabin seem even more inviting than it already is.

Space

As we've said, the layout is configurable, and you can opt for a six- or seven-seater setup. While the captain's chairs make accessing the back row easier, cars in this segment don't offer spacous third rows, regardless of how they're set up. Still, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid has less space than the Sorento does.

On the plus side, the front two rows have plenty of head and legroom, making the SUV ideal for midsize families. The high roof makes it easy to get inside, and overall visibility is quite good. Standard power-adjustable front seats also help in this regard, letting the driver find the most comfortable position with the most commanding view.

Cargo

Cargo space is a primary concern for buyers of SUVs, and the Sorento doesn't disappoint in this regard. That is, so long as you treat it like a regular five-seater. If you leave the final row upright, you'll only have 12.6 cubic feet, which is barely enough for some daily errands. Folding these cramped seats down gives you a far more impressive 45 cubic feet to work with, and this should be more than enough for the whole family's luggage. If you still need more room, the middle seats can be folded down, too, for a total of 75.5 cubes. The Highlander has it beat in this regard.

Around the cabin, there are numerous places to store smaller items. Each door has a well-sized pocket, a spacious glove compartment, and a moderately sized center armrest cubby. The two front seats have back pockets, and there are two cupholders in the front. You'll only get cupholders in the second row if you opt for the bench, which has a fold-down middle seat.

Materials and Colors

You don't have to settle for anything less than SynTex leatherette when you buy the Kia Sorento Hybrid, as even the base EX comes upholstered with this comfortable material. Colors include Gray or Black for this trim, while both SX Prestige trims switch the Black for Navy and upgrade the upholstery to genuine perforated leather. The steering wheel is coated in leather no matter the trim, and the hard plastics are generally kept away from high-traffic areas, where possible. The door panel armrests, for example, are wrapped in the same upholstery as the seats. But even where plastic is unavoidable, it doesn't look cheap or unpleasant.

Features and Infotainment

The Sorento is well-equipped as standard, but the hybrid models start off with more than their gas-powered siblings at the entry point to the range. This includes power-adjustable front seats with heating, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, remote start, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a 4.3-inch instrument cluster, and a 12.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system comprises Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, a wireless phone charger, and a six-speaker sound system. This can be upgraded to a 12-speaker Bose sound system in the SX Prestige trims, which also get the larger 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, driver-seat memory, and heated second-row seats.

Performance

Neither version fo the hybrid is particularly quick or playful, but the PHEV disappoints with its lethargic acceleration, despite having more power.

The regular hybrid engine for the Kia Sorento consists of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-pot paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. This setup develops a combined 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and makes use of a six-speed automatic transmission, which can send these outputs to a front- or all-wheel drivetrain. As for the plug-in hybrid, it comes with a stronger motor powered by a 12.8-kWh battery, boosting the combined figures to 261 hp, though torque remains the same.

It takes around 8.6 seconds for the Kia Sorento Hybrid to go from 0-60 mph, while the PHEV is just a tenth of a second slower due to its significantly increased weight. Still, every model can tow up to 2,000 pounds. Unfortunately, none of the Kia SUV models are particularly athletic, with steering feeling completely disconnected from the wheels. At least the car stays poised on the road thanks to its excellent grip and limited body roll. Ride comfort is good, for the most part, but repetitive bumps can unsettle it.

Fuel Efficiency

The primary reason to pick a hybrid car like the Kia Sorento is improved mpg figures. Naturally, the plug-in gets the best gas mileage, but the regular hybrid still manages 39/35/37 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles with FWD or 36/33/34 mpg with AWD. Despite its heavier weight, the PHEV manages to equal the regular AWD HEV when driving on gas alone. When you add electric power to the motor, it can achieve 79 MPGe. A full charge will see it cover 32 miles and then another 460 miles once it runs out, thanks to the 12.4-gallon fuel tank.

Due to their higher fuel capacity of 17.7 gallons, the mild hybrids have a better range of 602 - 655 miles. Recharging the plug-in takes around three hours and 25 minutes on a 240V outlet.

Safety

Both the IIHS and NHTSA think highly of the Sorento, but the latter does mark it down slightly in frontal and rollover crashes.

Every safety review of the Kia Sorento is favorable, with the NHTSA giving it four out of five stars for all tests and a full score for side crash tests. The IIHS scores it Good in each category tested. Like many tall crossovers, its rollover tests were less than perfect.

Passive safety features include ABS, EBD, stability and traction control, and seven airbags. Meanwhile, the driver-assistance suite comprises forward collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and driver attention warning. Only a few extras are reserved for the SX Prestige, such as rear parking collision avoidance, a blind-spot monitor, and a surround-view monitor.

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Reliability

As with most Kia cars, the Sorento has near-impeccable reliability. A consumer survey conducted by JD Power saw the SUV earn a score of 81 out of 100, both for quality and overall satisfaction. However, the car is not without its foibles, and 2023 saw it recalled twice for no image displayed on the rearview camera, and a tow hitch harness that could catch fire when parked or while driving.

Luckily, Kia offers one of the best warranties and the Sorento is covered for five years/60,000 miles where bumper-to-bumper problems are concerned, while the powertrain gets a ten-year/100,000-mile warranty. Hybrid components are covered for eight years.80,000 miles and roadside assistance is offered for five years/60,000 miles.

Warranty

Design

The Sorento has always been a good-looking car, but now that we have the new generation of the gas-powered model in the USA, the 2024 Sorento Hybrid definitely looks dated - we can't wait for the facelifted hybrids to hit the market. The front fascia on the older car is far less aggressive, but it still looks attractive. The grille is broad but tapered in the middle, and the headlights are shaped as rectangular extensions of the upper end of the grille. The Sorento is not quite as chunky as the larger Telluride, but the lower bumper still juts out boldly. However, the wheel arches are quite small, though they fit the standard 17-inch alloys just fine. These get bigger on the AWD EX or the SX Prestige trims, which get 19-inch wheels. At the back, the roof ends in a prominent spoiler, while the slim exhausts are integrated into the lower bumper. A panoramic sunroof is optional to the regular hybrids and standard on the PHEV.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid A Good SUV?

There are almost countless midsize SUVs on the road, so it takes a lot for one to stand out. In its hybrid form, the Sorento is a capable offering with modest engine outputs and adequate handling. However, fuel economy is where it really shines. Since it can be had in FWD configuration, it sips even more lightly than some of its direct competitors, and it can match them in terms of practicality and comfort. You do have to accept its lackluster driving dynamics, though, and the plug-in is a bit of a disappointment in this regard despite its more potent powertrain. If you really need a seven-seater on a regular basis, it's good for space - and you'll struggle to find a more dependable and versatile hybrid family SUV. With the updated hybrid looming, however, you may want to wait for the fresher, updated version - just be aware that it will come with a bit of a price increase.