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2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Review
Price Range: $37,998 - $44,998
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Good
8.0
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The standard Kia Sorento is an enticing offering in a crowded segment, but the plug-in hybrid is less appealing. Its fuel efficiency and overall easy-to-drive nature are commendable, but its steep asking price makes us question its value. If a plug-in hybrid is at the top of your list, the Sorento is a competent, versatile and comfortable option. But there's no doubt that its ICE-only sibling is a more well-rounded and far more affordable package.
2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What's new
- Now offered in a single trim level
- Part of the fourth Sorento generation introduced for 2021
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SX Prestige 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.76 per gallon for premium unleaded and $0.12 per kWh for electricity in Iowa.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Iowa
$93/mo for Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SX Prestige
Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SX Prestige
vs
$168/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
See Edmunds pricing data
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Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(64%)
4(12%)
3(0%)
2(12%)
1(12%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Blue Magic
5 out of 5 starsBlue Magic, 01/04/2022
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SX Prestige 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A)
I've only had it 10 days and I'm lovin" it! I went 36 miles in EV mode! it has more than enough power. A lot of bells and whistles like the panoramic roof, heated and cooling seats, etc. I got the Gravity Blue (Dark blue with flakes in the paint) which comes with a gray leather interior, I managed a nice 43mpg on the highway and was amazed as it stayed centered in the lane, even as the … road curved. Handles great and is the quietest car I've ever owned. So far nothing to dislike, just some things I saw in the plugin Santa Fe, like window shades in the 2nd row, rain-sensing wipers. It comes with a 3.3KW charger but since this is the top one it should have a least a 6.6KW charger like the RAV4 prime and an 18KW battery instead of a 13KW, which would match the RAV4, but you can't get everything, oh well. This model is just as scarce as the RAV4 prime and believe me, if you search you can get one without the 5-10K over MSRP that a lot are asking which means that eats up all of the tax-saving the Government allows, sad. I drove 100miles to get one without the mark-up. Good luck finding one, scarce as hens teeth right now, LOL
Kia Sorento PHEV - uses gas and electricity
5 out of 5 starsNorris Adams, 08/02/2022
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SX 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A)
This is the best of the fossil fuel and electric worlds. It uses regular gas, regenerates batteries while driving, and plugs in to household current. I am quite pleased with this vehicle. It is easy to drive and incorporates many safety features. I am a “full sized” male and I can sit in it comfortably. It also has a great deal of space for hauling whatever you want. It is a good looking … vehicle. The warranty is the best I ever had. As of this writing, I drove it 255 miles and still have 80% of the initial 12 gallon tank of gas left. I did charge it overnight a couple times but this indicates to me, I will be saving a great deal on my gas bill. I also don’t have to worry about a low battery because it runs on gas and it regenerates while driving and it switches modes automatically. The car has all wheel drive which I would not do without. It’s a nice vehicle.
Beware / Faulty Hybrid Battery System
1 out of 5 starsBrian, 12/09/2021
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SX 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A)
I just purchased this car and within a week received multiple error messages -- "Battery Management System" and "Hybrid System" notifications. I took it to the local dealer who said it looks like the hybrid battery requires replacement (one cell showing no power) however nothing can be done in terms of servicing until the dealer hears more from Kia corporate. Since this is the first year … that Kia has made the Sorento PHEV I'm worried that they haven't figured out all the kinks and now I'm stuck without a car as they figure it out. We've never owned a Kia before but had heard great thinks about performance and reliability. My advice would be to wait to see if this hybrid battery issue has a broader reach beyond my one-off issue because it is not fun to pay almost $50K for a car that breaks down in the first week!!
Outstanding new PHEV
5 out of 5 starsKia_is_fantastic, 11/28/2021
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SX Prestige 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A)
Although it isn’t perfect, this is possibly the most versatile PHEV at any price range - lots of room, a third row of seats, decent cargo room with third row seats down, good power, great ride and handling, and very useful tech.
Some drawbacks are too much piano black plastic in high traffic areas, very little cargo space behind third row, compromised towing capacity, and heavy … reliance on touch screen and capacitive buttons.
At its core, the Sorento PHEV is the Swiss Army knife that will suit most families’ needs. Just like a Swiss Army knife, it may not do one particular thing better than a specialized vehicle (e.g., minivans or off road capable SUVs), but it can carry 6 people in decent comfort and and quiet for not an unreasonable amount of money. Only thing is getting one at a decent price at a dealership. I was fortunate to snatch one up before the initial round of inventories disappeared.
1-year update:
All the pros and cons I’ve stated hold true after over 11k miles. One thing that gets a little annoying is the hesitation when transitioning from a stop to acceleration. There are also times when I want to slow down to a crawl but not fully stop (e.g. parking in my driveway) and it stops on its own instead of creeping. I have to think it’s some software that can fix this but there isn’t a TSB issued. Some reviewers in the media have also noted the hesitation and odd stopping issue so I know it’s not just my car.
Other than that, the car has been mostly trouble free and still works well as a family vehicle.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid since its last redesign.
2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Highlights
| Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $49,990 |
|---|---|
| EV Tax Credits & Rebates | $4,100 |
| Engine Type | Plug-in hybrid |
| EPA Electric Range | 32 miles |
| Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas) | 79 MPGeMPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe. |
| Cost to Drive | $93/month |
| Total Charging Time (240V) | 3.4 hours |
| Seating | 6 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.6 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
| Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| EV Battery Warranty | 10 years / 100,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid models:
- Junction Turning Detection
- Detects oncoming traffic, warns a driver who is attempting an unsafe left turn across traffic, and applies the brakes to avoid a collision.
- Highway Driving Assist
- Combines the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems for hands-on, semi-automated driving on highways.
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Uses cameras to show the driver what's in the Sorento's blind spots. Supplements the radar-based blind-spot warning system.
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