As the sunshine turns inexperienced, I bury the throttle. The electrical motor twists with all its would possibly, urgent me into the again of the seat. A second later, the engine kicks on, and a second surge of acceleration pushes me again more durable. Now, all 227 horsepower go to work, accelerating this mini-Telluride off into the horizon. All whereas it achieves 34 miles to the gallon.
Simply as its non-hybrid brother did final yr, the 2025 Sorento hybrid receives an up to date look exterior and new know-how inside. However Kia affords no X-Line or X-Professional variations right here. Even in all-wheel-drive type, the Sorento Hybrid appears extra suited to city and suburban landscapes.
Kia tossed me the keys to the highest of two trims supplied — a Sorento SX-Status — to drive round Metro Detroit. I received a couple of days to really feel out this up to date, fourth-generation, large-for-a-compact, small-for-a-midsize, but nonetheless three-row, crossover SUV. And to see how including a hybrid powertrain, however taking away a little bit of off-roading prowess, impacts it.
Briefly: The 2025 Sorento Hybrid carries on the custom of providing numerous content material for the cash in Kia’s smallest three-row crossover. The up to date Sorento leans closely on Telluride design and appears good because of this. Inside, you get a number of easy-to-use options and ample house for 4 adults and stuff. Or fill it with six folks and perhaps a thimble or two. Going hybrid vastly improves gas economic system and driving vary. Simply don’t tread too removed from the pavement.
Automobile:
5-door, 6-seat, crossover SUV
Dimensions:
189.6″ L x 74.8″ W x 66.7″ H, 110.8″ wheelbase
Cargo space (behind third/2nd/1st rows):
12.6/45.0/75.5 cu.-ft.
Powertrain:
Turbocharged 1.6L I-4 hybrid
Energy:
227 hp, 258 lb.-ft.
Transmission/Pushed wheels:
6-speed automated transmission/all-wheel-drive
MPG:
34 metropolis, 34 hwy, 34 comb
MSRP base value:
$40,065 (Hybrid EX with FWD, together with $1,375 vacation spot cost)
MSRP as examined:
$49,090
Greatest-looking Kia exterior of the coveted Telluride
Customary, easy-to-use, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Beneficiant cargo house when carrying 4 or fewer of us
Heated steering wheel
Teeny-tiny third-row seating
Transmission sluggish to downshift if you need swift acceleration
Solely six speeds means you take care of greater revs on the interstate
Lower than splendid pedal modulation for one-pedal driving
Robin Warner
2025 Kia Sorento Evaluate
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
How Did Kia Change the Search for 2025?
The fourth-generation Kia Sorento arrived for 2021. Then, in 2024, Kia gave the non-hybrid Sorento an replace, which primarily included altering the entrance and rear fascia in addition to modernizing the inside.
The Sorento hybrid waited till the 2025 mannequin yr to obtain the identical updates. Nonetheless, the 2024 Sorento additionally acquired X-Professional therapy, which isn’t out there on the hybrid for 2025.
You see the styling updates clearly trying on the entrance finish, with extra squared-off, sharp angles, and a typically boxier form. Basically, Kia shoveled as a lot Telluride because it may onto the entrance finish. Because of this, you get vertically stacked headlights and a big black grille.
However the Sorento additionally consists of daytime working lights, Kia coined Star Map. Skinny, amber-colored beams run throughout the highest of the headlights, slightly below the hood line, extending towards the middle and down vertically on the skin of the principle lights.
Kia fiddled with the rear finish in comparable vogue, narrowing the vertically stacked taillights and simplifying the bumper design. General, it seems cleaner and extra Telluride-like. However Kia saved the modifications within the rear extra delicate than up entrance, definitely.
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
Going With out X-Professional
In contrast to the usual Sorento, which affords X-Line on virtually all of its all-wheel-drive fashions, in addition to the non-obligatory X-Professional for the SX-Status, the hybrid retains every thing on-road pleasant. Nicely, not completely — you do nonetheless get the center-locking differential, simply because the X-Line affords. However you go with out the totally different bumper with skid-plate therapy and the bridge-type roof rack.
And, you positively don’t get the 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tires supplied on the X-Professional model of the SX-Status Sorento. Nor do you get the added tools that bumps up towing capability to 4,500 kilos. Actually, the 2025 Sorento Hybrid, no matter trim or drivetrain, is restricted to towing 1,654 kilos.
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
However that’s to not say it’s best to strictly stick with pavement with the hybrid Sorento. You get 19-inch wheels and cheap all-season tires, 6.9 inches of floor clearance, and 16.8/21.2 levels of method and departure angle clearance, respectively.
The Sorento hybrid affords some mechanical benefit to journey, a bit, on to rougher terrain. Although, by comparability, the X-Line and X-Professional variations of Sorento get 8.2 inches of floor clearance in addition to 18.4/21.7 levels of method and departure.
House & Screens Inside
For the Sorento Hybrid, Kia affords two trims: EX and SX-Status. Selecting between these two raises the worth by $6,400, and far of that value distinction comes with what Kia affords inside.
The EX will get the 12.3-inch middle show display screen, and that features wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It additionally consists of heated entrance seats, dual-zone local weather management, and a wi-fi smartphone charger.
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
Alternatively, the SX-Status provides a totally digital, additionally 12.3-inch instrument cluster display screen, versus analog gauges with a 4.3-inch display screen sandwiched in between. You additionally get heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, and a higher-end audio system. Conserving it stylish, you additionally get actual as a substitute of artificial leather-based.
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
Within the second row, all hybrids embrace captain’s chairs. However the SX-Status mounts an inverter and A/C plug again there, in addition to guide sunshades on both sides. For good measure, these second-row seats are heated as nicely, to not point out loads of house and luxury.
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
Not so for the third row. These seats are like sitting on a futon mattress transformed to a sofa about 6 inches off the bottom, with a three-drawer dresser positioned proper subsequent to it to dam any precise legroom. Any youngsters greater than 10 years previous would complain about lack of house.
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
With all three rows up, cargo house suffers as nicely. You get 12.6 cubic ft of storage technically, however not a lot ground house and practically no depth. The whole lot modifications when you fold these seats flat, nonetheless.
With room for 4 adults up entrance, you get 45 cubic ft of cargo house behind them. Or fold these seats as nicely — it’s press-of-a-button simple, and also you get 75.5 cubic ft of house. Loads to throw in a motorcycle, or tons of substances.
Hybrid Energy
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
In contrast to the styling and inside, Kia left the hybrid powertrain alone for 2025. A turbocharged 1.6L inline-four-cylinder engine joins a small electrical motor to ship a mixed 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Many of the horses comes from the engine, which makes 177 of ‘em by itself. The electrical motor contributes an honest 59 horsepower to the combination but in addition matches the engine in creating 195 pound-feet of torque.
Whereas a six-speed automated transmission retains the engine in a contented rev vary, a 1.5-kWh battery pack provides electrical energy to the motor. It additionally absorbs some again below braking.
When you select the EX trim Sorento hybrid, you get a front-wheel-drive crossover except you pay an additional $1,800 to get 4 pushed wheels. The SX-Status comes normal with all-wheel-drive.
Going hybrid improves gas economic system by rather a lot. Based on the EPA, you’ll get 34 miles out of a gallon of fuel, no matter whether or not you accumulate these miles on the town, freeway, or mixed.
Entrance-wheel-drive variations carry out even higher, with 36 mpg in all three classes. That trumps the common Sorento EX and better trims. They solely handle 20 mpg within the metropolis, 27 on the freeway, 23 mixed. Even the bottom Sorento with front-wheel drive solely manages 23/31/26 metropolis/freeway/mixed, respectfully.
Having fun with the Drive
The hybrid additionally packs an honest punch; even with slightly below 4,400 kilos of weight to haul round, the Sorento accelerates briskly from nearly any pace. Credit score the ample torque of the electrical motor.
Stab the throttle, and it takes a few seconds for the transmission to kick right down to a decrease gear. However as soon as it does, the Sorento presses you again into your seat and surges ahead. Upshifts come rapidly, and also you’ll see triple-digit speeds earlier than too lengthy.
Even higher, the electrical motor responds rapidly and ably if you want to speed up extra reasonably, making the Sorento simple to maneuver across the metropolis. Alternatively, off throttle deceleration, the place the battery pack absorbs power again, is extra like an on/off swap. That makes it more durable to get pleasure from one-pedal driving, as this Kia makes it troublesome to modulate. No worries, simply deal with it like a traditional machine; use the brakes.
And benefit from the completely nice journey. Kia engineers discovered an excellent steadiness between journey and dealing with. The Sorento Hybrid simply manages all of the lumps and bumps on the street, but additionally maintains a comparatively even keel when cornering. Actually lean on it, and also you’ll get understeer.
General, Kia constructed a constant, if not thrilling handler. Simply don’t count on to wow your mates in your favourite again street.
However be at liberty to speak about it on a street journey. The Sorento isolates the cabin from wind and street noise nicely, above common for a mainstream SUV of this dimension. You and your mates will discover no bother carrying a dialog whereas on the street. With solely six speeds to work with, you’ll hear the engine somewhat bit, however solely within the background.
(Photograph/Robin Warner)
2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX-Status Evaluate Abstract
In contrast to the usual Sorento, which you’ll be able to leap in for nicely below $35K, going hybrid requires greater than 40 grand. Selecting the SX-Status jumps the worth to almost $50K. It’s not low cost. However for the cash, you get numerous content material. Kia throws in a number of comforts and conveniences in each the primary and second rows —to not point out the power to hold as many as six of us in a pinch.
The heated and ventilated entrance seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, and Bose audio system mix with a quiet and comfy journey. Kia constructed a strong construction and tuned the chassis nicely. And, contemplating that this measures lower than 190 inches from nostril to tail, you get numerous house inside, all whereas feeling small and nimble within the metropolis.
Whereas not as adventure-ready as a Sorento X-Professional, the hybrid makes a terrific journey accent. Consider it like a motorized duffel bag. Stuff it with you, your mates, and your gear to hold to the beginning of no matter epic factor you want to conquer, and it’ll achieve this far more effectively than the usual Sorento, X-Professional or no.
