2026 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

The Kia Sorento is one of the few SUVs from a mass-market brand that’s available with a regular gas engine, a conventional hybrid powertrain, or a plug-in hybrid arrangement. When there’s juice in the battery, the Sorento PHEV has the highest efficiency rating of the bunch. It’s capable of traveling up to 31 miles on electricity alone, making it great for anyone who can benefit from 3-row seating but doesn’t travel very far very often. When those longer trips do come up, this SUV is still impressively efficient and comfortable. We review the non-hybrid and conventional hybrid Sorento variants separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of PHEV SUVs, including the Kia Sorento PHEV.

The 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV adds the X-Line appearance package with black wheels and blacked-out exterior trim on the top SX Prestige trim. Also, all all-wheel-drive-equipped models of both the HEV and PHEV now come with a Terrain drive mode. Another update is a standard charging cable that works for both Level 1 and Level 2 charging.

The 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV starts at $49,735 for the base EX trim. The upper X-Line SX Prestige model begins at $54,935.

Kia Sorento PHEV pricing is close to what might be its closest competitor: the Mazda CX-90 PHEV. A more affordable option is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

Before buying a Sorento PHEV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Kia Sorento PHEV resale value is about average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Kia Sorento PHEV is propelled by a 261-horsepower plug-in hybrid setup employing a 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD). Although it has a bit more muscle than the regular Sorento Hybrid (34 more horses, 12 more lb-ft of torque), acceleration is similar due to the weight of the larger battery.

Even so, zipping from a standstill to 60 mph in about 8.6 seconds is quick enough for confident highway merging and passing. In our experience, it feels lively from behind the wheel. Should potential buyers think they need more thrust, the Mazda CX-90 PHEV develops 323 hp and hits 60 mph at least two seconds sooner.

In electric driving, the Sorento PHEV accelerates smoothly and quietly. In hybrid mode, power delivery and braking feel aren’t quite as steady and seamless as we’ve experienced in the 2-row Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, but that’s a high bar. Overall, we’ve found the Sorento PHEV responsive around town and comfortable on the highway.

Fuel Economy

The Sorento PHEV can run for 31 miles using just electricity. When the battery is depleted, it achieves 33 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That’s pretty good, but the regular Sorento Hybrid, which doesn’t plug in, gets 37 combined mpg with front-wheel drive (FWD) and 34 combined mpg with all-wheel drive.

Whether the Sorento PHEV brings significant fuel savings compared to the Sorento Hybrid depends on how often you use the gas engine. According to EPA estimates, the PHEV only saves you about $20/month compared to the conventional all-wheel-drive hybrid, but your fuel costs can vary greatly with driving habits and the costs of energy and gas in your area.

Another thing to consider is the total range, if that’s important to you. With a full battery and a full tank of gas, the Sorento PHEV goes 440 miles, while the Sorento Hybrid traverses 637 miles with a full gas tank.

We like the Sorento PHEV’s generally pleasant cabin, with its fine materials and well-placed controls. The simulated leather seating surfaces in the EX feel sufficiently premium, while the higher SX Prestige trim offers genuine leather.

The cabin’s centerpiece is a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The SX Prestige gains a dual 12.3-inch setup in a single curved unit, the other screen serving as a digital instrument cluster. We’ve consistently praised Kia’s infotainment system for its quality graphics, modern features, and user-friendly controls, and the Sorento PHEV’s screen is no exception.

As with the standard Sorento Hybrid, this year the Sorento PHEV offers a bench seat in the second row, which means total seating for up to seven people. Second-row captain’s chairs are now optional on the EX trim and remain standard in the SX Premium. This setup reduces total seating capacity to six, but captain’s chairs are more comfortable than a 3-across bench seat, and they make the third row easier to access.

Passenger space is generous in the first two rows, with plenty of legroom and headroom. The third row is a kids-only zone, though, with just 29.6 inches of legroom. If you plan to use the third row on a regular basis, we highly recommend looking into the larger Kia Telluride or the electric Kia EV9.

Cargo space is tight when all three rows are in place, only 12.6 cubic feet behind the rearmost seats. This opens out to 38.5 cubic feet behind row two when they’re folded. With rows two and three down, there’s an ample 75.5 cubic feet. This cargo volume is very similar to that of the Mazda CX-90 PHEV.

We like the contemporary aesthetic of the Kia Sorento PHEV, which looks rugged without going overboard. This year, the SX Prestige trim gets the X-Line appearance package, which adds stylish black wheels and black exterior accents.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Cable-free phone integration is standard in both Sorento PHEV trims, and we love the convenience and tidiness of this feature. Wireless charging is also on board.

Infotainment system
The standard 12.3-inch display in the Sorento PHEV is feature-rich and user-friendly. The SX Prestige takes the tech to the next level with a curved display, adding a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.

Smart Power Tailgate
Imagine walking up to your locked Sorento PHEV, hands full of shopping, kids, accordions, whatever. Stand by the smart tailgate for three seconds (while having the key in a pocket or purse) and it will open automatically, then close with the touch of a button. It’s a standard item and, again, we’re all for making life easier.

Smart Cruise Control
More than adaptive cruise control, machine learning means it can adapt to and emulate driving styles. We’ve found it to feel quite natural.

Highway Driving Assist 2
Installed in the SX Prestige trim, this helps alleviate the fatigue of long freeway stretches by keeping the Sorento Hybrid in its lane, maintaining a safe distance to the vehicle in front, and assisting with lane-changing maneuvers. Stay alert; you still have to keep a hand on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

Blind-Spot View Monitor
This SX Prestige feature shows real-time video in the driver information display, with more detail than regular blind-spot monitoring can convey. In our opinion, greater awareness of surroundings can only be a good thing.

The 2026 Sorento PHEV employs a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and two electric motors to create an ample 261 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. This thrust goes through a 6-speed automatic transmission to a standard all-wheel-drive system.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Kia has some of the best warranties. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first, including roadside assistance. Powertrains are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Safety

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the Kia Sorento a Top Safety Pick, the agency’s second-highest accolade. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian/cyclist detection, and junction turning assistance.