Largest hybrid vehicles
Our 34.7-mpg average was, in fact, pretty close to the SUV’s highway estimate.Īs you’d expect, the hybrid’s fuel economy is a lot better than the regular Sorento’s. The SUV was loaded with five people and a week’s worth of stuff, and the trip consisted almost exclusively of highway driving, which prevented the powertrain from capturing the lost braking energy needed to recharge the battery and augment engine power.
A few things were working against it, however. I averaged 34.7 mpg during a 1,309-mile road trip - a bit under its overall rating. In practice, the Sorento’s estimated fuel economy was a bit difficult to achieve. The Highlander Hybrid is rated slightly lower with all-wheel drive (35 mpg combined), which the Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer. They’re a smidge higher than the FWD Highlander Hybrid’s EPA rating of 36/35/36 mpg for more on these two, compare Highlander Hybrid and Sorento Hybrid specifications here. The Sorento hybrid has an EPA fuel economy rating of 39/35/37 mpg city/highway/combined - solid numbers for a vehicle this size. The switch to electric-only power happens seamlessly the only clue is a green EV indicator light. There’s no EV mode to force electric-only operation, but the electric motor kicks in frequently - both to boost power and to drive the car on electric power alone - to increase efficiency. The Sorento’s brakes have a fairly natural pedal feel and linear action, both of which are very unlike some hybrids’ firm, unresponsive pedals. The hybrid sometimes makes odd, ethereal whirring sounds, as do many hybrids on the market, but Kia has done a solid job smoothing out other telltale hybrid quirks in two areas: regenerative braking and the transition from electric vehicle power to gas. Torque is strong from a stop, and the six-speed automatic quickly ticks off shifts, making for fuss-free power delivery at higher speeds. The Sorento Hybrid uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a 44-kilowatt electric motor and a 1.5-kilowatt-hour battery for a total system output of 227 horsepower, which is plenty powerful. Related: 2021 Kia Sorento Review: A Middle Child Deserving of the Spotlight What You GetĢ021 Kia Sorento Hybrid | photo by Jennifer Geiger This review focuses mostly on the front-wheel-drive hybrid model you can read my review of the gas-only Sorento below. Compared with the 2020, the Sorento is bigger this year and has an updated multimedia system, a nicer cabin, an available hybrid powertrain, more standard safety features and a rugged off-road version. Redesigned for 2021, the Kia Sorento three-row SUV slots just below the Telluride three-row SUV in Kia’s lineup. The Highlander is a bit bigger, but the Kia is less expensive and has better fuel economy. The electrified three-row SUV complements the already impressive Sorento lineup by adding a decent bump in the gas mileage department.Īgainst the competition: The Sorento Hybrid has few direct competitors, but its closest one is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The verdict: Families looking for a large vehicle with small-vehicle fuel economy don’t have a lot of options, but the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid is a good one.