Is the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid a Good Car?
Though it’s not the most affordable SUV on the market, the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is an awesome choice for parents with a short commute.
Though it might not get you the best bang for your buck, the 2022
Kia Sorento
Plug-in Hybrid is a great choice for parents with a short daily commute.On the bright side, the Sorento PHEV gets excellent fuel economy, has a strong battery-only range, and reaches a respectable 261 horsepower. Unfortunately, when you switch to its electric motor, that number falls to a measly 90 horsepower—not much for its lofty starting price tag of $44,990!
So, do the pros outweigh the cons? Here with the answer is
Jerry
, the super app
that saves folks money on car insurance
. We’ll walk you through all of the Sorento’s specs, see how it stacks up against its hybrid competitors, and answer the million-dollar question: is the Kia Sorento PHEV a worthy investment?2022 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid
First things first: the Sorento is only available as a plug-in hybrid on the vehicle’s high-end trims. So, when you go with a Sorento PHEV, you’re going to get a suite of awesome tech features (more on that later!).
If you’re looking for an affordable electric chariot, you’ll want to look at vehicles like the
Hyundai Ioniq
or the Toyota Prius Prime
. But if you’re happy to drop top-dollar on a high-class hybrid, read on—the Kia Sorento is worthy of consideration!Pricing
The 2022 Sorento Hybrid comes in two trims: the Plug-in Hybrid SX and the Plug-in Hybrid SXPrestige. There isn’t a huge price jump between the two of them: the SX starts at $44,990, and the SX Prestige climbs a few thousand dollars to the tune of $47,890.
Seems a little high, right? Well, we’ve got good news: the Sorento PHEV is eligible for a $6,857
federal tax credit
, and your state might offer additional incentives! Though the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is still an expensive ride, that tax credit sounds mighty nice.Performance and fuel economy
When they built the Sorento PHEV, the engineers at Kia coupled a 1.6L four-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a six-speed transmission. The result? A combined fuel rating of 34 MPG and a stellar hybrid fuel rating of up to 79 MPGe.
Here’s the best part, though: the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid has a battery-only range of 32 miles! That’s higher than most competitors and should allow you to do most (if not all!) of your daily drive without dipping into the fuel tank.
In the power arena, the Sorento PHEV wins some and loses some. The Sorento generates 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque—more than enough for the average driver! However, when you switch to electric-only mode, the Sorento dips to a sub-par 90 horsepower. On top of that, the Sorento’s max tow rating of 1,650 pounds isn’t doing it any favors for families who like weekend camping trips.
While the Sorento isn’t amazing, it’s got enough power and fuel efficiency to get you where you need to go.
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Exterior styling
When it comes to attractive styling, the Kia Sorento is all about finding the golden mean. It’s modern but not futuristic, sleek but not too sporty, and powerful but not overbearing. In short, it’s a beautiful vehicle, but it isn’t built to turn heads.
Roof rails come standard, the grille is dipped in a black gloss mesh, and the windows have a satin chrome finish. Plus, for an extra $445, you can coat your Sorento in one of two premium colors: Snow White Pearl or Runaway Red.
Interior and comfort
The Sorento Hybrid comfortably seats six. With three rows, the mid-size Sorento offers plenty of space for a cross-country road trip but we’d still suggest saving the rear seats for the smallest members of your family.
But what about those luxury features that we promised? Don’t worry, they’re all there! The 2022 Sorento PHEV boasts an intuitive, 10.25-inch touchscreen and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, for maximum comfort on the road. On top of that, the high-end Kia Sorento PHEV includes:
- Keyless ignition
- Heated seats and mirrors
- Dual-zone front climate control
- Lots of cargo space
Technology
Thankfully, the tech features that we touched on in the previous section are just the tip of the iceberg! From the driver’s seat, you’ll have access to the Sorento’s computer unit which comes with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, Alexa compatibility, voice recognition, and built-in navigation.
Kia Sorento PHEV owners will also enjoy a host of safety features:
- Forward-collision warning
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Adaptive cruise control
- A 360-degree camera system
- Front/rear parking sensors
- Stability control, traction control, and emergency braking assist
Warranty coverage
The major selling point of every Kia vehicle is an
industry-leading warranty program
. When you purchase a Kia, you’ll get a spectacular standard warranty:- A 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty
- A 5-year/100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty
- A 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan
Of course, if that isn’t enough coverage for you, you could complement it with an
extended warranty
—but we get the feeling that Kia’s best-in-class warranty should do the trick!Trim levels and options
Though the 2022 Kia Sorento is available in a whopping 12 trim levels, only two of those are equipped with the plug-in hybrid powertrain: the SX and SX Prestige.
Technically, both trim levels are high-end, so they each come with a panoramic sunroof, smart liftgate, and 20-inch alloy wheels. The SX Prestige adds a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, a Bose premium audio system, and a 12.3-inch digital entertainment cluster to the party.
With a $3,000 difference between the two trims, you need to ask yourself one question: just how much luxury do you need? If a steering wheel that stays warm in the winter and superb sound quality are must-haves for you, upgrading to the SX Prestige trim level will be well worth it.
The bottom line
This is as simple as it gets: if you need a reliable plug-in hybrid with a strong electric range and plenty of palatial touches, the Kia Sorento PHEV is an excellent buy. That said, there are other, more affordable hybrid SUVs that are worth considering!
Let’s take a look at two of the best alternatives.
2022 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid vs. 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in
If the Sorento PHEV is slightly too pricey for you, don’t sweat it. The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in gets outstanding gas mileage and will save you over $15,000! Here’s how it all shakes out:
Model | Starting price | Fuel economy (gas only) | Fuel economy (gas + electric) | Driving range | Charging time (Level 2) | Hybrid battery warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid | $44,990 | 34 mpg | 79 MPGe | 32 miles | 2.5 hours | 10 years or 100,000 miles |
2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid | $27,705 | 52 mpg | 119 MPGe | 29 miles | 2 hours | Lifetime |
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2022 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid vs. 2022 Ford Escape PHEV
How about a hybrid for folks who want the best of both worlds? Check out the
Ford Escape PHEV
. The Escape offers some of the deluxe features on the Sorento but won’t break the bank. Take a look at the side-by-side comparison:
Model | Starting price | Fuel economy (gas only) | Fuel economy (gas + electric) | Driving range | Charging time (Level 2) | Hybrid battery warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid | $44,990 | 34 mpg | 79 MPGe | 32 miles | 2.5 hours | 10 years or 100,000 miles |
2022 Ford Escape PHEV | $35,455 | 40 mpg | 105 MPGe | 38 miles | 3.3 hours | 8 years or 100,000 miles |
How to save money on car insurance
Driving a plug-in hybrid is a fantastic way to save on gas expenses. What’s another killer way to
cut down on car expenses
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Trust us on this one—Jerry’s savings are no joke! On average, Jerry users save more than $800 on car insurance. That’s one of the many reasons that more than two million drivers have switched using Jerry!
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