Review: 2022 KIA Sorento Hybrid EX FWD

The KIA Sorento SUV has come a long way from its humble beginnings back in 2002. It has gone from a true SUV on a truck chassis to not only one of KIA's top vehicles in its impressive award-winning vehicle lineup but also one of the top crossovers in the ever-growing SUV segment that currently captures 48% of vehicle sales worldwide. The one knock on the SUV segment for decades has been the low fuel economy numbers which were similar to trucks. The complaint was valid because, quite frankly, SUVs were not built for efficiency but for convenience like trucks. So most SUVs were boxy with plenty of cargo space and seating but also had the aerodynamics of a pig.

Today, many SUVs are getting far better fuel economy than even some sedans because they are now being built with a powerplant that combines the old heavy-duty inline-4 engine mated to an air-and-water-cooled turbo. This engine can now produce more than 30 mpgs which is more the norm than the exception. But the SUV mpg future has a new holy grail for compact SUV crossovers, and it is 500+ miles on an 18-gallon tank of gas. Enter the 2022 KIA hybrid (HEV) EX FWD SUV crossover. A visit to the KIA Sorento website will show that this three-row compact SUV has not only crossed over the 500+ mile barrier, but pushed to 665 miles when you add an electric motor to the powertrain. What does that really mean for the average consumer? It means that you can easily drive 500 miles on a single tank of gas (39/35/37 mpg) with a three-row compact SUV vehicle that has a stating MSRP of a little over $34,000. Now you see why KIA is winning top brand awards all over the world.

The term hybrid means mixed and signifies that a vehicle uses two separate power sources for maximum efficiency. Because of the type of hybrid technology KIA utilizes, it is able to provide up to an estimated 655 miles of combined gas and electric power on a single tank of gas. The highly technical Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi Hybrid system uses a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) and a turbocharger that has an intercooler that is water-cooled in conjunction with a secondary electric motor to produce 230 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. That energy is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that allows the Sorento to achieve a top speed of 120 mph. The Sorento EX's Smartstream power train technology produces an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in the city, 35 on the highway, and a 37 MPG combined allowing someone to drive from Plano, TX to Kansas City, MO (7 hrs, 42 mins) on one tank of gas.

The 2022 KIA Sorento EX trim line includes:

• 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation w/KIA connect
• rear view camera
• heated front seats
• dual zone automatic climate control
• panoramic sunroof w/power sunshade
• second row captain's chairs
• one-touch slide and fold second row seats
• USB chargers front, second and third row

When you sit down and do a cost analysis of the new breed of hybrids (HEV, PHEV) versus the new electric vehicles (EV), the cost gap is far closer than many people realize. In my mind, the financial difference is close enough that the little extra I would pay annually for the hybrid is well worth the convenience versus an EV. But the nice thing for KIA is that they don't have to play 'either/or' with where the vehicle market is going. When you observe their forward-looking energy platform, they are able to offer whatever the buying public wants. Do you want a traditional hybrid? (HEV) Check. Do yoou prefer your hybrid to have a plug-in option? (HPEV) Check. Do you prefer to go full 100% electric no gas whatsoever? (EV) Check. Oh, you want a traditional petro? Check. And finally, no matter what type of KIA vehicle you choose, you can feel confident all of the vehicles in the four different categories I listed above have won numerous awards for safety.

As the KIA brand makes a momentous shift toward electrification with our next generation of vehicles, passenger safety remains a top priority. These eight TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ accolades from IIHS are the direct results of our commitment to delivering the highest standards for crash readiness, structural integrity and available safety systems for our customers.

Sean Yoon, President and CEO of KIA America, KIA North America

In the News

Source: KIA | KIA's capable and premium Sorento SUV is one of the brand's longest standing nameplates. For model year 2022, the newly introduced Sorento PHEV joins the gas-powered and hybrid variants to round out the model range. Other news includes the addition of all-wheel drive for the Sorento Hybrid (with 19-inch wheels for the Hybrid EX). And the X-Line package has been expanded to Sorento EX and S trims due to the popularity of this rugged iteration. Sorento SX-P models get standard memory seats with more adjustability, adding 14-way power and a newly added thigh extender. The SX-P trim also gets standard rear heated captain's seats. Lastly, the 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and telematics is now standard on all models from the S trim and above.

Specifications

Engine: 227 horsepower 1.6L Turbocharged GDI Hybrid Powertrain
Torque: 195
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Wheels: 17" Alloy
Sound: 6-Speaker AM/FM/HD Radio Audio System
Color: Runway Red
Fuel: 39/35/37 (mpg city/highway/combined)
MSRP (starts): $34,090
MSRP (shown): $37,820

Learn More

For more information or to test drive this vehicle for yourself, stop by a local dealer or visit online at:
KIA

About KIA

Headquartered in Irvine, California, KIA America continues to top automotive quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. KIA serves as the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electrified vehicles sold through a network of nearly 750 dealers in the U.S. including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America.