Kia Sorento PHEV 2021 revealed, promises to be both green and mean
Kia has pulled the covers off its new Sorento PHEV in Europe, with the Korean brand promising its newest SUV won’t just be the most efficient model in its line-up, but also the most powerful.
Taking its cue from Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV – that nameplate’s fastest and most powerful model – the Sorento combines its electric motor with a turbocharged petrol engine to create what Kia is referring to as its “turbo hybrid”.
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The Sorento’s 1.6-litre petrol engine produces some 132kW and 265Nm, while the electric motor contributes another 67kW and 304Nm. Combined, Kia says its new PHEV will produce a total 195kW and 350Nm.
Also on board is a new 13.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack, and while the brand is yet to reveal the specifics, it is promising the Sorento will be able to complete “shorter drives” on all-electric power. The battery pack features Kia’s first water-cooling system in a plug-in model, and the brand says more work has been done to make the electric motor smoother and quieter, too.
That power is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, with the brand promising “immediate acceleration response at any speed”, using battery power to not just plug acceleration holes on take-off, but to supplement engine power at higher speeds.
Like the rest of the Sorento range, the PHEV version houses five or seven seats, and despite the new battery pack being housed at the rear of the vehicle, will still deliver up to 898 litres of luggage space.
So far, the Sorento PHEV is only confirmed for a European launch, where around 25 per cent of the brand’s sales in 2020 have been of electrified vehicles, whether that’s mild hybrid, hybrid, PHEV or BEV. It will be in European dealerships in “early 2021”.
In Australia, Kia has confirmed the new Sorento family for launch in the coming weeks, but it’s yet to lock in the available hybrid or PHEV powertrains for our market.
When contacted by EV Central, Kia Australia said it is not talking about the Sorento PHEV yet.
However, it’s understood the petrol electric model is of serious interest for sale locally, which is hardly surprising given the success of the RAV4 Hybrid.
