Used 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid midsize 3-row SUV/crossover is a newcomer to the wider Sorento range. It joins a lineup that includes drivetrains running solely on gasoline, plus a regular hybrid.

What’s the difference between a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid? Both complement their gasoline engines with electric motors, but plug-in hybrids have batteries with greater capacity, enabling the vehicle to travel some distance as a purely electric vehicle.

In the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid’s case, that’s 32 miles. These bigger batteries can also be recharged from an outside source, which is the plug-in aspect and how that 32 miles is achieved.

The rest of the 2022 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is a well-equipped crossover with seating for six and a comprehensive array of safety features. The Sorento isn’t Kia’s only 3-row crossover, of course. There’s also the highly popular Kia Telluride. But the Sorento is slightly smaller, fitting between the Telluride and the compact Sportage.

The regular 2022 Sorento Hybrid (without the plug-in tech) is reviewed separately. The 2022 Sorento without any electrification also has its own review.

Often referred to as a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), this kind of hybrid can be a gentle introduction to electric-only driving, but with the reassurance of a gasoline engine on board should the battery run low.

Being able to run for 32 miles in electric vehicle (EV) mode opens up the possibility of using this new Sorento Plug-in Hybrid for everyday short trips without burning a drop of gasoline. Yet longer road trips won’t need any special planning.

There’s no special learning curve, either. It would be good, though, to get into the habit of recharging. And using a shift paddle under the steering wheel to increase the level of brake energy regeneration when going down hills. Chances are that someone interested in a plug-in hybrid will be fine with these extra little things.

With 261 horsepower under the right foot, the Sorento PHEV has a decent amount of muscle, sufficient for a cabin full of people and a trunk area full of their stuff. Yet being able to achieve the equivalent of 79 miles per gallon is an ideal way for a large-ish family to keep fuel bills and emissions low.

The Sorento PHEV comes with many driver assistance features as standard, such as a sophisticated forward-collision warning system, blind-spot monitoring, and partial self-driving. The standard all-wheel-drive system also has a Snow mode.

As mentioned, the new Sorento PHEV 3-row midsize crossover seats six. Two occupants per row, but the pair in the rearmost seats should probably be the smallest and most agile members of the family.

However, there’s generous space in the first couple of rows. Legroom in the second row is 40.3 inches, which should please any lanky teenagers who have just joined the basketball team.

Up front is an agreeable dashboard design housing a 10.25-inch touchscreen. We’re also happy to see leather covering for the steering wheel. Holding a plastic wheel for miles and miles is not anyone’s idea of a good time.

There are no compromises in cargo space by having a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. It stretches from 12.6 to 75.5 cubic feet, just the same as any other 2022 Sorento.

The entire Sorento lineup is only a year old, so this fourth generation has all the styling expressions of Kia’s contemporary SUV design language. We’d call it assertive, yet not overbearing.

There are no strange elements marking it out as a hybrid of any sort. It keeps its green credentials close to its metaphorical chest, looking virtually like any other 2022 Sorento.

The standard roof rails and window surrounds have a satin chrome finish, the grille has a gloss black mesh. Snow White Pearl and Runway Red are two premium colors costing an extra $445.

SECOND-ROW CAPTAIN’S CHAIRS
Instead of a 3-person bench in the second row, like a lot of 3-row crossovers, the new Kia Sorento PHEV comes with a pair of captain’s chairs as standard. They’re wonderfully comfortable and provide easier access to the back row.

6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
For many drivers, an automatic is an automatic. There are differences, though. For example, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is often a cost-cutting measure that’s slow to respond and has a tendency to drone. We salute Kia for installing a decent 6-speed automatic to enhance the driving experience.

There are several lower trims in the non-hybrid 2022 Sorento lineup. This plug-in hybrid model comes in SX and SX-P trim levels. The SX comes packed with a lot of standard features.

We’re looking at 19-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, all-wheel drive, keyless entry/start, heated/power-adjustable front seats (10-way for the driver, 8-way for the passenger), dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, rear-seat alert, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and hands-free tailgate operation.

Safety features include a forward-collision warning with pedestrian/cyclist detection and junction assistance, blind-spot monitoring, safe exit assist, front/rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, and adaptive cruise control with navigation-based driving assistance.

The infotainment system has the Sorento lineup’s largest touchscreen, a 10.25-inch unit with navigation, voice recognition, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Wireless charging is also included, along with eight USB ports.

Buyers wanting a better-equipped model should look at the SX-P. This brings perforated leather seating surfaces, 14-way powered driver’s-seat adjustment (with extendable thigh support), 10-way powered adjustment for the front passenger, heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, self-dimming rearview mirror, 12.3-inch configurable digital driver information display, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

The main option for both trims of the 2022 Sorento PHEV is a panoramic roof with a sliding shade, which also adds full LED cabin lighting.

Supplying the combustion-based energy is a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. On the electric side are two motors — a hybrid starter generator and one that connects to the wheels. These run off a lithium-ion polymer battery.

The entire system’s total output is 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. That’s a considerable amount of push.

It goes through a 6-speed automatic transmission to a standard all-wheel-drive system. It’s an on-demand type, meaning that it will default to front-wheel drive unless extra traction and grip are required.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) figures for plug-in hybrids that take the electric-only range into account. The 2022 Sorento PHEV, which can cover 32 miles on battery power, is estimated to achieve an average of 79 MPGe. When operating as a regular hybrid, it manages 34 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

With a full tank and a full battery, the 2022 Sorento PHEV can run for 460 miles.

The Sorento PHEV is rated to tow a maximum of 1,650 pounds.

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4
Two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors
261 horsepower (total system output)
258 lb-ft of torque (total system output)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 35/33 mpg, 72 MPGe combined
Battery-only range: 32 miles