The 2022 Kia Sorento Is a Good Choice for Your First EV
Carlos Kirby
· 4 min read
There has been a push in the last couple of years to bring
electric vehicles
to market. The rising price of gas and concern for the environment are leading more people to buy them.However, many people worry about switching completely to EVs. They worry that an electric car won't go as far as a gas-fueled car, or that it will be expensive to insure.
The 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV can help you get over these fears. This SUV can be charged like an electric car and be fueled like a gas-powered car, while being great to drive. The price of insurance might even be comparable to other
Kia's insurance
. Here is why this car might be a good first step in switching to EVs.
The Kia Sorento PHEV's specs
Switching to a plug-in hybrid certainly gets easier when it has 143.8 cubic feet of passenger space like the 2022 Sorento PHEV. It also boasts the best second-row legroom for any PHEV SUV, and can comfortably seat six passengers.
This model also has a six-speed automatic transmission, and the body has been improved from the last generation. According to
Car and Driver
, the wheelbase is 1.4 inches wider and the average tensile strength has been increased by four percent.The real luxuries, however, begin with the advanced driver systems. It comes equipped with everything from blind spot collision avoidance assist to parking distance warning-reverse. The last system detects things behind your car and beeps as you get closer to them.
A buyer also gets many features for staying informed through UVO link telematics. There is a connected routing feature that calculates your best route based on historical information, your preferences, and real-time maps. It also allows you to control the vehicle's climate and other factors with your voice, and can report the weather in 25,000 cities.
There is even a feature for calling 911 if an airbag deploys, which is reassuring to any nervous driver.
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Kia makes the Sorento go the distance
MORE: Consumer Reports Warns to Avoid the 2021 Ford Explorer in Favor of a Kia or Mazda
More important than the luxury features is the combined projected range of 460 miles and 79 MPGe.
According to
MotorTrend
, Kia accomplishes this by coupling a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine to a 66.9 kW electric motor. Together, the engines produce 261 hp. Manufacturer testing has found that this car can travel on the electric engine alone for 32 miles, according to
Kia Media
. This is more than any other three-row PHEV SUV.If you need to top off the battery, the plug port is in the rear quarter panel, which makes it easy to drive off when done with charging.
Electric vehicles drive into the future
MORE: A New Federal Bill Could Make EVs Much More Affordable
Kia has been working on creating more hybrids and electric vehicles with a strategy they call 'Plan S.' The company introduced the fourth generation Sorento model in gasoline-powered and turbo hybrid electric vehicle forms last year as part of it. The 2022 Sorento PHEV is the latest addition to their 'Plan S'.
These hybrids are eligible for a Federal Tax Credit of $6,587 and many state incentives. This means that the price of owning a Sorento PHEV may be as attractive as its driving range and fuel efficiency, though the pricing won't be announced until we're closer to its on-sale date.
Whatever the initial price tag says, there is no need to spend a lot on insuring an electric vehicle or hybrid. The Sorento's many safety features may make you eligible for discounts on insurance, but you will have to search to get the best ones.
Knowing where to look for deals can be tricky, so
Jerry
comparison shops for you. We make a point of knowing where all the discounts are, and can help you slide right into owning an electric vehicle for less money.
