2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Kia has taken plenty of styling risks with models like the current-generation Sportage and Niro, but the design team played it safe with the Sorento. If you asked AI to come up with a generic midsize family SUV, it would probably look something like the current-generation Sorento. It’s still quite handsome, and it has some nice styling details such as the rear-pillar treatment and vent-like trim pieces on the front fenders, but take away the Kia badges and you’d be hard pressed to tell what brand of vehicle this is.

Still, it’s refreshing to see a crossover that doesn’t try to overcompensate with faux off-road costume jewelry or attention-grabbing styling elements like the current Toyota Highlander’s oversized grille. The Sorento is perfect for drivers who don’t need to show off, and that’s especially the case for the plug-in hybrid. The only telltales are small rear badges, model-specific 19-inch wheels, and a charge-port door located on the opposite side of the vehicle from the fuel door.

The interior is a bit more distinctive looking. Rather than just recapitulating design elements from other Kia models, the larger air vents framing the climate controls and big door handles give the cabin a distinctly SUV-like feel. While there is plenty of the typical metallic and piano-black plastic trim, diamond-pattern material on the dashboard and around the door handles makes for an interesting detail.

Because all plug-in hybrid models are built in top SX-Prestige spec (gasoline and hybrid Sorento models are still available in multiple trim levels), perforated leather upholstery is standard. Our test car’s combination of blue leather seats with a white steering wheel and door-panel trim was a pleasant surprise. It’s different from the usual color palette of car interiors, without being garish.

The Sorento PHEV essentially uses a beefed up version of the Sorento Hybrid powertrain, with a bigger battery pack (14 kilowatt-hours, compared to one kWh for the Sorento Hybrid) and more powerful electric motor. That motor and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine produce a combined 261 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Sorento PHEV isn’t exactly quick—Kia’s zero to 62 mph estimate is an unremarkable 8.7 seconds—but we were nonetheless impressed by its acceleration considering the need for the small turbocharged engine, transmission, and electric motor to all work in perfect harmony to get the thing moving. It’s not a given that all of these components will work together so smoothly, but they did.

Like other modern Kia models, the current-generation Sorento does everything it can to banish memories of the bargain-basement cars that defined the brand’s early days. Anyone who’s idea of Kia is still based on those vehicles will be shocked at how well the modern Sorento isolates road unpleasantries. It has an impressive feeling of solidity for a vehicle from a mainstream brand, and it provides very good ride quality. However, excessive body motion and imprecise steering mean the Sorento PHEV can lose its composure quickly. Those qualities also make it more satisfying to be a passenger than a driver; those looking for a more engaging driving experience should check out the 2024 Mazda CX-90.

Kia gave the Sorento PHEV a mechanical all-wheel drive (AWD) system, which doesn’t offer the fine control of torque like the system used in the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid, which relies mostly on front and rear electric motors for propulsion. Nor does Kia’s system include a transfer case, like the more traditional four-wheel drive (4WD) system that gives the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe genuine off-road capability.

Speaking of the Grand Cherokee, that’s likely what you’ll need if you plan on towing with your plug-in hybrid. The Sorento PHEV is only rated to tow up to 1,654 pounds, down from the 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity of the gasoline Sorento (that’s with an optional towing package that isn’t available on the plug-in hybrid). The Grand Cherokee 4xe can lug up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Kia sells the Sorento PHEV exclusively as a six-seater, with second-row captain’s chairs and a 50/50 split-folding two-seat third row. The Sorento is one of the few plug-in hybrids from a mainstream brand to offer three rows of seating.

As mentioned above, the related Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a third row, while Mitsubishi considers the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid’s to be for occasional use only. That leaves the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan and crossovers from prestige brands, such as the Volvo XC90 Recharge and Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring. One more competitor arrives for 2024 in the form of the Mazda CX-90, which aims for a spot between mainstream brands like Kia and the luxury brands.

Interior dimensions mostly carry over from the non-hybrid Sorento, albeit with slightly less second-row legroom. That still gives the Sorento PHEV about two inches of additional second-row legroom over the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid, which otherwise comes fairly close to the Kia’s interior dimensions despite being considered a compact, rather than midsize, model.

As with most other three-row vehicles, The Sorento PHEV can’t carry its full complement of passengers and a lot of cargo at the same time. With the back seats in place, just 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space is available. That grows to 38.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Sorento PHEV offers a power liftgate, but not a power-folding third row. However, collapsing the rear seats is much easier than in the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid.

Because it’s only available in SX-Prestige trim for 2023, the Sorento PHEV comes loaded with convenience features. A tilt and telescopic steering column, heated steering wheel, integrated memory system, 14-way power adjustable driver’s seat and 10-way power front passenger’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats are all standard.

The Sorento PHEV comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, but they’re placed side-by-side to give the appearance of one big screen. The 10.25-inch touchscreen is used in other Kia (and Hyundai) models, and as in those models, it doesn’t support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You’ll need a cable to use those connectivity features. Wireless phone charging is standard, however, along with eight USB ports spread across all three rows, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system.

Aside from the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there’s little to complain about. Kia has adopted a sharp design theme for its infotainment systems that’s both distinctive and functional. There’s no need to dig through multiple menus for important functions, either. Certain Kia models, like the smaller Sportage crossover, combine climate and audio functions into one thin bar below the main touchscreen, the Sorento retains a full complement of analog controls for each set of functions.

Kia also keeps controls for the plug-in hybrid system simple. Some plug-in hybrids include multiple modes that, for example, allow the driver to save electric power for later and run exclusively in gasoline mode, but the Sorento only includes Comfort, Eco, Sport, Smart, and Snow drive modes. It’s also possible to increase the force of the regenerative braking with paddle shifters. Some drivers might miss the plug-in hybrid-specific functionality, but others will find this setup reassuringly familiar. It’s much closer to a non-hybrid vehicle.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) doesn’t break out safety ratings for the plug-in hybrid, but, overall, the Sorento received the organization’s top “Good” score in all crash tests for the 2023 model year. Sorento models also received the highest scores for headlights and front-crash prevention systems—but only with optional features. The standard headlights received a “Poor” rating, while the standard front-crash prevention system received the second-highest “Advanced” score in the daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian scenario.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) didn’t rate the 2023 Sorento PHEV, but gave decent scores to the gasoline and hybrid versions. Both received a four-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side crash testing.

Kia also includes the expected array of driver assist features under its Drive Wise banner. Standard features include: lane-following assist, lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, forward collision warning (with junction turning assist), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exist assist, and rear occupant alert, which reminds the drivers to check the back seats for kids and pets before exiting.

Also standard are navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist (which adds automated lane centering for highway driving), and surround-view and blind-spot-view camera systems. The latter, also available on other Kia and Hyundai models, shows a camera view in the instrument cluster when a turn signal is activated.

The 2023 Sorento PHEV gets an EPA-rated 32 miles of electric range with an efficiency rating of 70 MPGe combined. Kia estimates that it will take 3.5 hours to recharge the battery pack with the standard Level 2 AC charger (DC fast charging isn’t available). Let the battery run down, and the Sorento PHEV is rated at 34 mpg combined in hybrid mode.

Kia still offers one of the longest warranties of any brand. Coverage includes a 10-year, 100,000-mile, powertrain warranty and five-year, 60,000-mile, limited warranty. That’s matched only by sibling brand Hyundai and its Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid.

Pricing starts at $51,315 (including a $1,325 destination charge) for the sole Sorento PHEV SX-Prestige trim level. There are few options aside from Snow White Pearl or Runway Red paint ($445 each) or our test car’s Navy Interior Color Package ($295).

The related Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid keeps its base trim level for 2023, so it undercuts the Kia with a base MSRP of $43,745 with destination. It has about the same electric driving range (31 miles), the same warranty, and the same tech and driver-assist features as the Kia. So if you don’t need a third row, the Santa Fe is definitely worth a look.

The Mitsubishi Outlander, meanwhile, is a better choice for buyers who want a plug-in hybrid first and a crossover second. Mitsubishi estimates 38 miles of range (official EPA figures weren’t available at the time of publication), offers DC fast charging (albeit with the less common CHAdeMO connector), and designed the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid to drive more like an EV. Base versions start at $41,190, but pricing is similar to the Kia when comparably equipped.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe emphasizes traditional SUV attributes like towing and off-road capability. But it offers less electric range than the Sorento PHEV (26 miles) and starts just over $60,000. The 2024 Mazda CX-90 will also offer three rows and a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but EPA fuel economy and electric-range ratings weren’t available at the time of publication.

For now, the Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid fulfills its mission. It’s both efficient and practical, and while it’s now offered only in high-end SX-Prestige form, it at least offers generous feature content and an attractive interior to justify its relatively high base price.