The new wave of hybrid electrical vehicles (HEVs) offers those people keen for an electrical vehicle a tentative first step into that increasingly popular realm without fully committing to it.
Hybrids are reasonably safe bets for those owners because these vehicles have onboard self-charging capacity and so aren’t victims of the current paucity of EV charging points as plug-in hybrids and EVs are.
We tested the top-shelf seven-seat Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD to see how a performs in the real world. How did it do? Read on…
Kia Sorento 2023: GT-Line 7 Seat HEV AWD
| Engine Type | Turbo 4, 1.6L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Unleaded Petrol/Electric |
| Fuel Efficiency | 5.8L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 7 |
| Price From | $64,790 - $74,470 |
| Safety Rating |
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Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?
The Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD has a manufacturer suggested retail price of $69,750 (excluding on-road costs).
Our test vehicle has mineral blue premium paint which adds $695 to the price, taking it to $70,445.
Standard features on the GT-Line Hybrid include a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen (with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a 12-speaker Bose audio system, a 12.3-inch colour digital instrument cluster, wireless charger, as well as a 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, quilted Nappa leather-appointed seats, dual-zone air conditioning, ambient lighting, and a hands-free power tailgate.
It has 19-inch alloy wheels and a full-size spare.
Exterior paint is mineral blue. Other colours available are clear white, silky silver, steel grey, gravity blue, aurora black, and snow white pearl.
Is there anything interesting about its design?
If you’re like me and your eyes start glazing over when people – especially marketing folk – talk about a car’s “refined boldness” or its “tough-looking aesthetic” or its “character lines” then you’re reading the right yarn because all I’m going to say is: I don’t reckon you’ll be ashamed to drive this around town, or even in the bush.
This is a good-looking vehicle in that I-can’t-really-tell-it-apart-from-other-SUVs kind of way.
It has LED head- and tail-lights, a big panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, nice exterior touches in gloss black and silver, and 19-inch alloy wheels, which are a point of difference with its non-hybrid stablemates that are shod with 20-inch wheels.
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How practical is the space inside?
The Kia Sorento is roomy and practical and in GT-Line guise it’s all of those things with a generous added dollop of prestige.
Through all three rows of seats, there is ample comfort (quilted nappa leather trim and soft-touch surfaces), and practicality (cup-holders, bottle-holders, USB charge points and climate control) for everyone.
Upfront, the seats are heated and ventilated and the driver’s seat is 14-way power adjustable with two-position memory. Yep, even the steering wheel is heated.
There are three USB-A ports and a wireless charging pad as well as a centre console with cupholders, and a centre armrest with lid.
The multimedia touchscreen system is easy to use and to match your phone with, and there are plenty of actual real buttons off-screen (for dual-zone climate control etc) if you’d prefer to use those.
Second-row passengers get plenty of room (and seat-movement versatility to make even more), plenty of amenities (directional air vents, three USB charge points, cupholders, fold-down arm-rest, retractable sunshade blinds) and the outer seats are heated.
The second-row seats fold and slide fore-aft for ease of ingress and egress of third-row passengers.
Speaking of the third row, occupants back here don’t get heated seats but they do get plenty of room (for a third row) and plush quilted seat trim. There are also air vents, fan control and USB ports.
The rear cargo area has a 12V power outlet, luggage net hooks, luggage net, luggage screen and an underfloor compartment.
In terms of packable space, there’s a listed 175 litres in the rear cargo area when all seats are up and in use; that increase to 604 litres when the third row is not in use; and there is 1996 litres with the second and third rows stowed away.
What are the key stats for the engine and transmission?
The Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD is a hybrid so it has a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine – producing 132kW at 5500rpm and 265Nm from 1500 to 4500rpm – and it has an electric motor, which produces 44kW. That motor operates for short bursts or works in conjunction with the petrol engine.
The Sorento has an underfloor 1kWh lithium-ion battery, which stores any energy produced when you’re decelerating or braking, or stores any excess engine power.
It has a six-speed automatic transmission and a part-time all-wheel drive system with a lock mode.
What's it like as a daily driver?
Let’s cut to the chase before you start distractedly looking at your phone; the Sorento is an impressive daily driver.
It’s refined and comfortable, yielding a relaxed driving experience as a result of a combination of ever-so-smooth delivery of power to the road and a hybrid system so seamless I’ll sling you $20 if you can reveal to me any discernible difference in the real-world machinations of the two systems operating here – electric and internal combustion engine.
I’m not terribly familiar with the black magic going on under the metal via the engine, electric motor and battery, but it’s easy enough to drive the Sorento with consideration in order to keep your passengers happy and your fuel consumption at a respectable level.
On-road drive modes are Eco, Sport, Smart with each adjusting throttle, transmission, braking and traction controls to better suit the driving conditions, so there’s plenty to experiment with there.
Visibility is good, driving position can be dialled-in pretty close to spot-on, and the bonus of paddle shifters (for when you want to get lively), a touch of zippiness and a slightly sporty all-round approach keep the Sorento feeling fun.
Steering retains a neat feel in the hands most of the time, even if it errs on the tighter side of things, but at 4810mm long (with a 2815mm wheelbase), 1900mm wide and 1700mm high, the Sorento is still a nimble vehicle around town, and in the suburbs.
The seats and soft-touch interior make for a user-friendly space and it’s easy to spend a ton of time in here as driver or passenger, without ever getting the urge to whinge.
It’s so well-equipped too that those in the Sorento needn’t fuss or argue about whose turn it is to charge their device or control the air-con etc because there’s something for everyone.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though. (Thanks, Sly.)
The ride is more than a bit firm on sealed surfaces – I’m going to blame that on stiff suspension and the Sorento’s low-profile Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres (235/55 R19) more than anything else. You really feel every lump and bump on chopped-up blacktop back roads.
There’s also a little bit of lag in getting power to the road surface at lower speeds. It’s minor but it’s still noticeable.
All in all, this is a city-friendly SUV with few negatives about it.
What's it like for touring?
The Sorento performs well on well-maintained gravel tracks and dirt roads in dry weather – and it’s very effective on wet sealed surfaces.
This vehicle, with its 176mm of ground clearance, lightweight chassis and light-duty AWD system, is simply not designed or engineered for low-speed, 4WD-style off-roading, so it shouldn’t be used for such. Be realistic about its off-road capabilities and you’ll have fun.
It comfortably fits the designation of a light-duty off-roader and worst-case scenarios for the Sorento should be limited to traversing slightly traction-compromised circumstances and there are plenty of adventures to be had within those parameters.
Off-road drive modes – Snow, Mud and Sand – develop situation-specific characteristics in terms of throttle response, transmission shifts, as well as braking and traction control systems to help you safely drive to the conditions.
The firm suspension comes back to haunt you when dirt tracks or gravel roads become bumpier; deeper potholes and frequent stretches of smaller, sharper corrugations really rattle the Sorento’s cage – and your spine.
This SUV’s Goodyear Eagle F1 (235/55 R19) tyres are good on-road but far from ideal on gravel and dirt tracks.
The Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD has a listed maximum towing capacity of 750kg (unbraked), and 1650kg (braked).
How much fuel does it consume?
Official fuel consumption for this AWD is 5.8L/100km on a combined cycle.
We recorded 6.7L/100km on this test.
The Sorento HEV has a 67-litre fuel tank so, going by that figure, you could reasonably expect a touring distance of about 970km – that figure is minus a 30km safe-distance buffer.
Warranty & Safety Rating
What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?
The Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD has the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating as a result of testing in 2020.
It has seven airbags (including a centre airbag), five top tether and four ISOFIX child-seat mounts. It’s worth noting that the Sorento’s curtain airbags do not cover third-row passengers.
Its comprehensive suite of safety tech includes freeway-speed auto emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction detection, reverse auto braking, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and driver attention alert.
What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered?
The Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD is covered by Kia's seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
The seven-year capped price servicing program has intervals set at one year or 10,000km (whichever occurs first) and those cost $323, $663, $481, $1010, $364, $897, and $655, for a total of $4393.
Some of those service costs are on the wrong side of reasonable, and are worth making a note of if you’re cross-shopping in this SUV realm.
Verdict
The Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD is an impressive vehicle: it’s refined and comfortable and has a real quiet class about it.
It’s also packed with features and tech and enough plush touches to satisfy even your poshest mate.
And that’s all wrapped up in a pleasant package.
It’s a quiet-achiever hybrid, so you’ll keep your fuel bills down and help to save the planet, one drive at a time. Well done, you.
Until EVs get much cheaper and Australia’s charging infrastructure greatly improves, it seems like a nice-driving and efficient hybrid, like this Sorento, is about the best you can do.
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