2025 Kia Sorento GT-Line PHEV assessment

The Kia Sorento vary is among the most numerous giant SUVs when it comes to its powertrain choices, with petrol V6, diesel four-cylinder, petrol-electric hybrid (HEV), and petrol plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variations accessible.

WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV AWD

All of them have seven seats and loads of sophistication, however as of proper now – early 2025 – you continue to must spend a heap extra money if you’d like an HEV or PHEV model of this spectacular mannequin.

It’s the costliest model of the Sorento that’s on check right here: the GT-Line PHEV, which has all-wheel drive as customary, however prices an entire lot greater than you may count on.

So is it price contemplating? Learn on to seek out out.

How a lot does the Kia Sorento value?

As talked about, the PHEV powertrain is reserved for the flagship GT-Line trim at this time limit. Kia Australia has, nonetheless, steered it needs to broaden its providing of ‘new power’ powertrain choices throughout extra worth factors within the Sorento line-up.

That ought to imply, in principle, that there’ll be some motion within the vary in 2025 that may see HEV and PHEV powertrains develop into accessible with decrease tools ranges at extra inexpensive costs.

However the actuality right here is that the all-wheel drive PHEV is the costliest choice within the Sorento vary proper now, representing an enormous circa-$19,000 premium over the equivalent-spec front-drive petrol V6, and about $16,000 greater than the wonderful diesel AWD. It’s additionally greater than $11K dearer than the GT-Line model of the plugless HEV with AWD.

To see how the Kia Sorento traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device

What’s the Kia Sorento like on the within?

The inside of the Kia Sorento GT-Line, regardless of which powertrain you choose, is a beautiful place to sit down and feels extra upmarket than some rivals.

Entrance seat occupants have terrific inclusions like heated and ventilated seats with loads of adjustment and good consolation, and the tasty Nappa leather-based seat trim additionally makes you are feeling such as you’re getting the business-class expertise, too. 

The sprint design is fashionable and trendy, with a pair of 12.9-inch screens flowing collectively in a single panel, and it actually does make this cabin really feel up-to-date. It’s additionally straightforward to be taught, with giant icons and fast response instances that make it straightforward to leap across the screens. And although there’s built-in sat nav, you continue to get wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too.

There’s a line of contact buttons beneath the dashboard for shortcuts across the infotainment menus, and in addition for the local weather controls. You may toggle between these capabilities with a button which adjustments the show, and the way the 2 knobs on the sprint behave. When you get the cling of this touch-panel, it’s actually intuitive.

The digital instrument clusetr is simple to learn, and presents a great quantity of information, however you’ll be able to’t present a live-map navigation readout there. Odd. 

Charging is taken care of by a set of USB-C ports up entrance, and there’s a wi-fi cellphone charger as properly. 

Plus the space for storing up entrance is outstanding, with an enormous space for telephones underneath the dashboard, two cupholders, a deep bin underneath the central armrest, and spacious door pockets.

Annoyingly, although, there may be some plastic trim on the transmission tunnel that continues to be a mud and fingerprint magnet.

Mother and father will love the very fact there’s a passenger discuss perform, so these within the very again can hear the grown-ups by the use of the audio system and a microphone up entrance. 

As for the center row, there may be sufficient legroom and headroom for large youngsters and full-sized adults, to the purpose the place six-footers can fortunately sit behind six-footers. 

Center-row riders get a fold-down central armrest, with further cupholders on the door playing cards, and extra storage apart from that. There aren’t any local weather controls for the second row, however there are directional vents.

Mother and father might be pleased with the ISOFIX baby seat anchors within the window seats, and there’s additionally a trio of top-tether factors again there. If baby seats aren’t occupying the window seats, those that do will have the ability to toast their tooshies by the use of the outboard seat heating controls.

The third row is okay, however not excellent (when you want excellent, purchase a Kia Carnival – belief me!).

The rearmost seats are greatest reserved for small youngsters or emergency seating, and there may be one-touch folding for the second row, to make entry simpler. Large items may battle, however little agile ones will clamber in fortunately. 

Third-row headroom is tight for adults, and the flat seats imply it’s a knees-up proposition. However when you’re somebody who makes use of their seven-seater with a lot of youngsters on board, you’ll be completely satisfied to be taught there are an extra two ISOFIX factors and two top-tethers for the very again row.

These within the again get separate fan controls and vents, and USB cost factors, in addition to storage for a small bottle and cellphone.

By way of baggage area, the Sorento gives 187L with the third row in place, 616L in its five-seat structure and 2011L with the second and third rows folded flat. There’s a small charging cable bag that takes up a little bit of area within the boot, too.

All variations function a full-size alloy spare wheel, and there’s even an area for the cargo blind beneath the boot flooring.

To see how the Kia Sorento traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device

What’s underneath the bonnet?

This PHEV is a bit completely different to a number of the different plug-in hybrids available on the market.

It runs a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine teamed with an electrical motor built-in into its six-speed automated transmission, and it has on-demand all-wheel drive. 

The petrol engine makes 132kW of energy at 5500rpm and 265Nm of torque over 1500-4500rpm by itself, with the transmission-mounted e-motor contributing 67kW (2100-3300rpm) and 304Nm (0-2100rpm) for complete system outputs of 195kW and 350Nm.

Below the second-row seats is a 14kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack which might be charged through AC single-phase energy at a most price of simply 3.3kW. It’ll take three hours 25 minutes to cost from 15 to 95 per cent at this price by its Kind 2 port.

Kia claims a pure-electric driving vary of as much as 68km (NEDC), mixed gas consumption of simply 1.6L/100km, and CO2 emissions of 36g/km. It has a 67-litre gas tank and wishes 95RON premium unleaded.

Once I charged it up, I noticed an indicated 50km of EV vary on the show, and in actuality it achieved 55km in EV mode over a mixture of driving eventualities.

I ran it out to 100km to get an concept of whether or not the claimed 1.6L/100km is lifelike, and I noticed a real-world determine of two.5L/100km for that first hundred kays.

Then I did 100 with the battery depleted, to get an concept of what it is likely to be like when you can’t prime up on EV energy. And with some start-stop driving, city working and freeway cruising, I noticed a return of 6.5L/100km indicated.

Not dangerous, however not fairly a game-changer.

The battery weighs 140kg by itself, and contributes to this Sorento’s porky tare weight of 2052kg. Be aware that the gross automobile mass is 2680kg, so if you wish to match seven folks on-board they may must eat mild lunches within the lead-up. 

The towing capability for the Sorento PHEV is 750kg unbraked and 1350kg braked. Select the diesel AWD and also you get 2000kg max towing functionality.

To see how the Kia Sorento traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device

How does the Kia Sorento drive?

Let’s discuss concerning the powertrain at first, as a result of it’s a peculiar one.

The electrical motor is built-in into the transmission, and what this implies is you could really feel and even hear gearshifts occurring, even with the automobile working in totally electrical mode.

In hybrid mode, it can clearly use that gearbox too, and in some situations it may make the drive expertise really feel considerably laggy, with a hesitation between the engine and transmission and the electrical intervention. My companion drove this automobile and stated “it felt laborious to guess what would occur subsequent” when in hybrid mode.

One other quirk of this powertrain is that, even when you’re in EV mode and also you’re making an attempt to dictate the powertrain behaviour, it can overrule you and infrequently kick the petrol engine into life.

Whether or not it’s once you push the throttle laborious, and even throughout deceleration down hills, it received’t keep in EV mode on a regular basis when that mode is chosen, not like another PHEVs.

As talked about above, it does have a great quantity of EV driving vary accessible, however with this a part of the market shifting shortly – there are PHEVs with 100km-plus ranges hitting our shores this yr – it already looks like this Sorento is a bit behind the instances.

That comes right down to the low-capacity battery, which at 14kWh for a two-tonne-plus SUV just isn’t precisely made for long-distance EV commuting.

The truth is, when you want a seven-seater SUV and you realize you’d wish to get extra out of your EV drive part, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is likely to be an ideal selection. It’s cheaper than this SUV, and whereas it’s also barely smaller, I managed to get greater than 80km of EV driving out of a full cost.

On the subject of efficiency, there’s definitely sufficient on supply right here. You’ve obtained a number of modes to select from, together with Eco, Regular and Sport, and the latter actually permits you to get probably the most out of the powertrain. It’s not ridiculously quick, however it’s fast sufficient. 

The drive expertise is predictable, with steering that feels manageable in any respect speeds and simple to show once you’re parking, and the trip consolation isn’t too dangerous, with a barely agency edge to it, however it by no means feels too jarring or sharp.

It’s a little heavier than the opposite variations, however the weight isn’t all that noticeable in most conditions. 

However we famous a few high quality points with our mortgage automobile: there was a slight vibration in EV mode at low speeds, particularly when turning, and the dashboard of the automobile developed a squeak after simply 1200km.

To see how the Kia Sorento traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device

What do you get?

On check right here is the flagship variant within the Sorento vary, the GT-Line PHEV.

2025 Kia Sorento GT-Line PHEV tools highlights:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Full-size spare wheel
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Distant Good Parking Help
• Keyless entry
• Push-button begin
• Electrical tailgate with proximity opening 
• Parking Collision Avoidance Help – Reverse
• Quilted Nappa leather-appointed seats
• Digital rear-view mirror
• Suede headliner
• Ambient inside lighting
• 360-degree encompass view monitor
• Heated and ventilated entrance seats
• Heated outboard second-row seats
• Panoramic sunroof
• Kia Join
• Over-the-air updates

Is the Kia Sorento protected?

The utmost five-star ANCAP score was awarded to the Sorento in 2020, and it continues on with the consequence throughout all powertrain selections.

Customary security tools consists of:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Automobile detection
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Bicycle owner detection
  • Junction help
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Lane-keep help
• Lane Following Help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Clever Velocity Restrict Help
• Driver consideration alert
• Protected Exit Warning
• Reversing digital camera
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Tyre strain monitoring

All 2024 Kia Sorento fashions now additionally obtain Kia Join on-line providers, which embrace:

• eCall
• Distant lock
• Distant local weather management
• Automobile monitoring
• Automobile standing monitoring
• Voice assistant
• Vacation spot ship to automobile
• Actual-time site visitors updates
• Valet parking mode

The Sorento Sport and above add Freeway Driving Help which capabilities solely when driving on a freeway or motorway and builds on adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality, mixed with Lane Following Help to maintain the automobile centred within the lane.

GT-Line variants add:

• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Protected Exit Help (NEW)
• Digital baby security lock
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Aspect parking sensors
• Distant Good Parking Help

The Sorento has seven airbags, together with twin entrance, entrance centre, entrance aspect and curtain airbags, however observe that the third-row occupants’ heads will not be coated by these curtain baggage.

How a lot does the Kia Sorento value to run?

The 2024 Kia Sorento is roofed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, and the identical cowl is obtainable for the battery pack for the PHEV mannequin.

Servicing necessities are a giant consideration right here. The Sorento PHEV wants upkeep each 12 months or 10,000km, making it needier than its non-electrified siblings.

And it prices a helluva lot to service, contemplating these interval durations, as follows:

Which means your common service value is $705, so whereas your petrol bills is likely to be decrease, you’re diverting a few of that value in the direction of upkeep. 

Roadside help is obtainable, and when you service with Kia you’ll have it renewed out to eight years of canopy.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Sorento

Frankly, that is the least attractive model of the Sorento in GT-Line spec. The worth appears exorbitant, and the diesel AWD is well a greater choose for individuals who need a highly effective and environment friendly model of this seven-seater.

That’s what I’d purchase if I used to be set on a Sorento. Or possibly even the cheaper Sport+ diesel AWD.

All in favour of shopping for a Kia Sorento? Get in contact with one in all CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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