New Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid arrives in Australia with 68km EV range and a considerable price tag
The Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid arrives in Australia as a new and electrified flagship, with the new PHEV GT-Line also the most expensive Kia-badged vehicle on sale in Australia.
Designed to sit atop the Sorento family (which spans $46,850 to $67,290 in petrol and diesel guises), the new Plug-in Hybrid variant demands a $79,330 investment, or $81,990 drive-away, putting it at the very top of the Kia family in Australia, above the $70,990 drive-away asking price of the Niro EV Sport.
“Along with Niro range, the Sorento PHEV is another stride in the right direction towards a greener future. With the introduction of Sorento HEV and the highly anticipated EV6 next year, Kia will be lifting the electric vehicle benchmark to an all-time high,” says Kia Chief Operating Officer, Damien Meredith.
Kia Sorento PHEV battery, motor and charging
The fourth-generation Sorento was designed from the outset with electrification in mind, with the brand promising the addition of the electric motor and batteries won’t compromise passenger or luggage space.
What is does add, though, is a claimed 68km EV driving range, courtesy of its 14kWh Lithium-ion polymer battery which is positioned under the second-row seats, and which adds 140kg to the Sorento’s weight.
The Sorento PHEV is also equipped with an integrated Type 2 charging socket. Kia says using a 3.3kW AC power source will take the battery from 15- to 95-percent charged in 3.25hrs.
The Sorento’s 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine will produce 132kW and 265Nm, and is paired with an electric motor mounted between the engine and transmission that produces an extra 67kW and 304Nm. All up, Kia says the system will produce a combined 195kW and 350Nm, and you can choose between three drive modes (Eco, Sport and Smart) when putting that power to use via the six-speed automatic transmission.
Kia also says the Sorento PHEV will drink 1.6L/100km and emit 36g/km of C02, but it’s worth pointing out those numbers are based on lab tests at the vehicle’s most efficient running cycle.
Kia Sorento PHEV technology
As the top-spec trim in the Sorento family, the new PHEV GT-Line is swimming in tech, with a lot of it designed to capitalise on the new electrified architecture.
The cabin is dominated by a 10.25-inch centre screen and 12.3-inch digital driver display, both of which will not only show navigation instruction, media choices and journey information, but will also show you the battery or charging status, or guide you to the nearest charging station.
There’s also a standard Terrain Mode, which makes the most of the AWD architecture and allows you to choose between Mud, Snow or Sand modes, playing with engine torque, stability settings and gear shifts accordingly.
Other top-end kit includes a 12-speaker BOSE surround-sound stereo system, seven Nappa leather-wrapped seats, a host of active safety kit and a colour Head-up Display.
