Overview The 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid is exactly what its name implies: Kia’s popular three-row SUV with a choice of two fuel-saving hybrid powertrains. The conventional hybrid delivers an EPA-estimated 36 mpg in combined driving, while the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is rated for 74 MPGe with a fully charged battery. Plus, it can travel up to 30 miles on electricity alone. Otherwise, the Sorento Hybrid doesn’t stray too far from the standard version, offering handsome contemporary styling and an impressive amount of technology and features for the price, even in the base model. Interior space is abundant in the first and second rows, but the third row is best reserved for children or packages. What’s New for 2026?The Kia Sorento Hybrid carries over with no changes. Pricing and Which One to BuyThe price of the 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid is expected to start around $41,000 and go up to $55,000 depending on the trim and options.EX$41,000 (est)SX Prestige$49,000 (est)EX PHEV$50,000 (est)SX Prestige PHEV$55,000 (est)We like the EX. Although it’s the base model, it comes standard with faux-leather upholstery, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and remote start. It’s also significantly less expensive than the SX Hybrid and the PHEV variants. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Sorento Hybrid is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor that combine for 227 horsepower. Front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission are standard; all-wheel drive is available as an option. The plug-in hybrid powertrain consists of the same basic setup, but a more powerful electric motor brings combined horsepower up to 261 ponies; all-wheel drive is standard on the plug-in. The Sorento Hybrid’s road manners are composed, if a little bland, but compared to the base nonhybrid model its acceleration is noticeably perkier. Get on the throttle heavily in front-drive models, though, and you’ll feel a little torque-steer tug through the steering wheel.0–60-MPH TimesAt our test track, the Sorento Hybrid managed a 7.2-second run to 60 mph. Not bad for a three-row family SUV, but acceleration bragging rights belong to speedier rivals such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. Despite its extra power, the plug-in hybrid was slightly slower in our testing, hitting 60 mph in 7.6 seconds.More on the Sorento Hybrid SUVTowing and Payload Capacity While the nonhybrid Sorento can tow up to 3500 pounds, the hybrid variant offers only a 2000-pound capacity. That spec also lags behind the Jeep, which is rated to tow up to 6000 pounds.Range, Charging, and Battery Life The plug-in hybrid model carries an 11.8-kWh battery pack which is rated to deliver 30 miles of electric-only driving per charge. The extra weight associated with this battery, however, is likely the cause of the PHEV model’s pokier acceleration time.Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG The EPA hasn’t released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Sorento Hybrid yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings of 36 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. The plug-in hybrid has a combined rating of 74 MPGe, but its city and highway estimates are listed at 33 and 34 mpg, respectively. MPGe stands for miles per gallon of gas equivalent, an EPA metric that estimates PHEV and EV vehicle fuel efficiency. The PHEV is also rated to travel up to 30 miles on electricity alone on a single charge, so you won’t need gas when you drive locally and recharge regularly. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, we recorded 31 mpg in a Sorento Hybrid EX and 25 mpg in the SX Prestige PHEV. For more information about the Sorento Hybrid’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.Interior, Comfort, and CargoThe Sorento’s interior has an attractive layout, nice materials, and solid build quality. The dashboard is bookended by two upright air vents but is otherwise simple in its design. Ambient lighting is smartly incorporated into the cabin and stitched surfaces on the door panels and seat inserts provide an upscale appearance. A variety of cubby storage spots and cupholders contribute to the Sorento’s family-friendly mission. Second-row captain’s chairs and a two-place third-row bench are both standard. Adults will have no trouble finding a comfortable position in the front and second-row seats, but the third row is snug for riders larger than a teen.The Car and Driver DifferenceInfotainment and ConnectivityWith infotainment and connectivity features at the forefront of new-car technology, the Sorento supports all of the most desirable content. The hybrid model comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a six-speaker stereo, in-dash navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Upgrade to the SX Prestige trim and you’ll get a 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a 12-speaker Bose stereo.How to Buy and Maintain a CarSafety and Driver-Assistance FeaturesBasics such as blind-spot monitoring and automated emergency braking are standard on the Sorento Hybrid. Kia also equips each trim with adaptive cruise control and its Highway Driving Assist feature, which helps center the Sorento Hybrid in its lane while using the adaptive cruise system. For more information about the Sorento Hybrid’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature
Warranty and Maintenance CoverageKia has one of the most impressive warranty plans in the industry. However, it doesn’t offer the complimentary maintenance that its corporate counterpart, Hyundai, does.
- Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
- Hybrid components are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
SpecificationsSpecifications
2022 Kia Sorento PHEV
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, all-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $46,405/$49,960
Options: Prestige package (perforated leather seats, 14-way-adjustable driver’s seat and 10-way-adjustable passenger’s seat, heated rear seats, 12.3-inch gauge cluster display, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, Bose stereo), $2900; snow white pearl paint, $445; carpeted floor mats, $210
POWERTRAIN
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 1.6-liter inline-4, 177 hp, 195 lb-ft + AC motor, 90 hp, 224 lb-ft (combined output: 261 hp, 258 lb-ft; 11.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack; 3.8-kW onboard charger)
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.8-in vented disc/12.8-in vented disc
Tires: Continental CrossContact LX Sport
235/55R-19 101H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 110.8 in
Length: 189.4 in
Width: 74.8 in
Height: 66.7 in
Passenger Volume: 142 ft3
Cargo Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 4490 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.6 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.8 sec @ 89 mph
100 mph: 21.5 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.8 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.0 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 127 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 162 ft
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 26 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving, Hybrid mode: 25 mpg
Highway Range, Hybrid mode: 310 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 34/35/33 mpg
Combined Gasoline + Electricity: 79 MPGe
EV Range: 32 mi
2021 Kia Sorento EX Hybrid
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $37,765/$38,210
Options: Runway Red paint, $445
POWERTRAIN
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 1.6-liter inline-4, 177 hp, 195 lb-ft + AC motor, 59 hp, 195 lb-ft (combined output: 227 hp, 258 lb-ft); 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.8-in vented disc/12.8-in vented disc
Tires: Nexen Roadian GTX SUV
235/65R-17 104h M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 110.8 in
Length: 189.4 in
Width: 74.8 in
Height: 66.7 in
Passenger Volume: 143 ft3
Cargo Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 4095 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.6 sec @ 92 mph
100 mph: 19.0 sec
120 mph: 30.9 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.1 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.1 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 122 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.81 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 33 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 31 mpg
Highway Range: 540 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 37/39/35 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINEDMore Features and Specs
Source: caranddriver.com
