2022 KIA Sorento Hybrid EX FWD

This three-row hybrid SUV is available with two trim levels of S and EX. Sorento Hybrid welcomes its occupants with a tech savvy interior and handles well with a frisky response.

This hybrid achieves a fuel consumption rating of 39 mpg city and 35 mpg highway for a combined 37 mpg average. Driving on gas-only mode brings the rating down to 24 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.

This power to motivate this vehicle is provided by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, producing 227 horsepower into a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Handling and safety are enhanced with driving mode select and electronic parking brake with auto hold. Sorento does a 0-60 mph sprint in 8.4 seconds.

Driving the Sorento Hybrid was a better than average experience. It had good body control, plus excellent stamina and a confident braking performance.

The seats are comfortable, but offers less leg room in the second row — and certainly even tighter in the third-row bench. The second-row captain chairs fold down with a push of a button located in the cargo wall area.

A rotary gear shifter and a drive mode selector dial are prominently in front of the center armrest, lining up beside the cup holders. Moving further up the center stack is the 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for connectivity, and Mapcare to keep the nav system up to date.

The Rear View Monitor with Dynamic Parking Guidelines was easy to use, allowing precise maneuvering when backing the vehicle.

The 4.2-inch color Trip Computer Display in the instrument panel provides key vehicle data with excellent clarity and understandability. Personally, I would have preferred a larger display to show some more items.

The Sorento Hybrid is standard-equipped with a good array of safety and driving assist technologies, like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Safe Exit Assist.

Outside, my Sorento was painted a beautiful Runway Red, combined with gray interior that made for a stunning looking vehicle.

The Sorento rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels that is a part of the standard exterior ensemble including satin chrome roof rails, LED headlamps with Auto Light Control, LED daytime running lights, and heated outside mirrors with turn signal indicators.

The list price for the 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid starts at $34,090 for the S model. Stepping up to the EX trim bumps the price up by $2,000 to $36,090.

Kia has built a stylish and attractively strong SUV that is positioned as a smaller and less powerful sibling of the Telluride, yet still provides an excellent performance. It’s environmentally friendly and fun to drive. All this “Good Stuff,” can be had for less than $36,000.

Warranty
5 years/60,000 miles Limited Basic Warranty
10 year/100,000 miles Limited Powertrain Warranty
5 years/100,000 miles Limited Anti-Perforation Warranty
5 years/60,000 miles Roadside Assistance Plan

Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or [email protected].