Flash Drive: 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid

More for Less

[Ed. note: Clean Fleet Report got another look at the Sorento Hybrid–Michael view is here.]

Kia arrived in the U.S more than a quarter century ago, and ever since, the Korean brand has been successfully selling—and even building—cars here. The Sorento, a compact, but roomy, crossover is the second largest of six SUVs in the Kia family. The fourth-generation model is debuting for 2021. I briefly sampled the Hybrid model; a plug-in hybrid is coming next year.

In the U.S, we love our SUVs, so thoroughly upgrading the popular Sorento is a wise business decision. The new model receives more sharply defined lines outside and an all-new interior. The new face features a more imposing version of the tiger-nose grille, composed of a series of three-dimensional “mouths.” The headlamps are a series of sparkling boxes. The body sides are more folded, and the chunky, twin-bar tail lamps evoke a more muscular view from behind. There’s a prominent spear-shaped garnish ahead of the front doors that implies forward motion. An odd-looking raised section pokes up aggressively in the rearmost side windows.

Inside, Kia moves further into a more luxurious look and feel. Kia calls the theme “Refined Boldness”; it offers quilted metal trim, complex and elegant vertical dash vents, and fashionable embossed leather chairs. A little tune plays when you arrive and depart the vehicle, as Kias have done for a while. The turn signals make the tick-tock sound of a fine Swiss clock, and you can hear it clearly since it’s so quiet inside while you’re driving.

Runway Special

My Runway Red test car was the EX model. There’s also an S model, but the EX gets a roster of extras, including a panoramic sunroof, a handy wireless charging pad and more electronic safety features, including enhanced front collision avoidance for pedestrians and junctions.

The standard gasoline-only Sorento comes with either a 191-horsepower (hp), 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a turbo version that puts out 281 hp. The Hybrid gets a smaller, but still turbocharged, 1.6-liter four with 227 hp and a 1.5-kilowatt-hour battery for the 44-kilowatt electric motor. This delivers U.S EPA numbers of 39 mpg city/35 highway/37 combined. Compare the 37 with the 25 of the petrol-burning model to see how much driving the hybrid incrementally reduces your carbon footprint. EPA Green scores are a laudable 7 for Smog and 8 for Greenhouse Gas.

The six-speed automatic transmission provides paddle shifters if you’d like to select gears yourself.

A new generation vehicle needs to do more than just look different. The new Sorento has a 1.4-inch longer wheelbase, which translates into more interior space. The car weighs 3.1 percent less, too. The new platform is set up to accommodate alternate drivetrains, enabling them to offer hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.  

With only a two-day test during a pandemic, I can’t report a lot about the driving experience, except that you sit tall, the interior is quite comfortable, and that 227 horsepower seems to be enough. I found myself driving with pure electricity a few times when I was in town on level ground, and the switch to using the engine wasn’t too intrusive.

Three Rows To Go

This may be a compact crossover, but it comes with three rows of seats. The second and third rows fold, so you can haul a lot of gear if you want to. The second row offers three-passenger bench seating or twin captain’s chairs–a class exclusive.

Today’s vehicles are showcases of safety technology, and the Sorento has plenty. I urge you to consult their website for details. As a family car, this one should protect you and your loved ones effectively. Kia’s UVO link telematics technology is an array of advanced vehicle features, including routing, weather, user profiles, smart speaker integration and much more. If you buy a new Sorento, it could keep you entertained for hours.

The Sorento S starts at $29,390, but my EX tester, with $445 extra for the red paint, came to $37,035. Add $1,170 to either model for transportation. This hybrid model is built in Hwasung, Korea, but there is also a plant producing gas-only Sorentos in West Point, Georgia. Only the Hybrid models are imported.

Driving a hybrid helps to put less harmful CO₂ into the atmosphere and adds no extra tasks to your driving day. If you want to do more for the environment, next year the plug-in hybrid version arrives, with a 13.8 kWh battery that gives the car an estimated 30-mile all-electric range. Kia already markets the smaller Niro in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric flavors, so you can expect the same award-winning level of quality in any model you choose. Kia has had the highest rated mainstream vehicles in initial quality from J.D. Power for six years running.

Kia sure has come a long way since the 1994 Sephia subcompact sedan I tested all those years ago.

Story by Steve Schaefer; photos by Steve Schaefer and Kia.

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Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.