The 2022 Kia Sorento range has grown in Australia with the launch of a new hybrid variant. The SUV was already offered in petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid guise and with the addition of the hybrid, is now the only vehicle available in Australia with four such powertrains.
Powering the Sorento HEV is a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine that alone delivers 132 kW (177 hp) and 265 Nm (195 lb-ft) of torque. This engine is supplemented by an electric motor with an additional 44 kW (59 hp) and 264 Nm (194 lb-ft) of torque, mounted between the petrol engine and the transmission. All up, the Sorento Hybrid pumps out a combined 169 kW (226 hp) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) and is offered in front- and all-wheel drive configurations. A 1 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery is located under the floor.
Coupled as standard to the hybrid powertrain is a six-speed automatic transmission. Combined fuel consumption for the front-wheel drive model sits at 5.3 l/100 km while the all-wheel drive sips 5.8 l/100 km over the combined cycle and in Australian conditions.
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Kia Australia will exclusively sell the Sorento HEV with the luxurious GT-Line trim level. As such, it comes standard with 19-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Blind Spot View Monitor, quilted Nappa Leather seats, interior mood lighting, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, 8-inch color head-up display, remote engine-start, Parking Collision Avoidance Assist, Panoramic sunroof, fast wireless charging, heated first- and second-row seats, ventilated first-row seats, a 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, Rear Occupant Alert, second-row sunshade blinds, and a passenger talk in-car intercom.
Pricing for the Sorento HEV FWD starts at AU$66,750 ($47,174) and rises to AU$69,750 ($49,294) when ordered with all-wheel drive.
“Sorento already provided one of the most versatile, practical and spacious large SUVs on the market and now in an industry first, it also offers Australian buyers the most diverse powertrain lineup to choose from within a model range,” Kia Australia chief operating officer Damien Meredith said. “The addition of PHEV and HEV options to the popular Sorento range is another example of Kia’s progress in vehicle electrification. Along with the recently launched and award winning EV6, and the next-generation Niro range of electric vehicles arriving in the very near future, Kia Australia is offering a variety of choices in its contribution to a greener future.”
