Kia Australia is preparing to expand its hybrid offerings in the Sorento large SUV range with the introduction of a more affordable self-charging hybrid later this year.
According to a dealer bulletin leaked by fellow publication Wheels, the forthcoming Sorento self-charging hybrid will start from $66,750 before on-road costs – supplementing the range-topping GT-Line AWD plug-in hybrid which costs $80,330 before on-road costs
Buyers will be able to spend an additional $3000 to get all-wheel-drive for the three-row large SUV if they wish, though just like the plug-in hybrid version, the self-charging Sorento Hybrid will only be available in flagship GT-Line trim.
The Sorento hybrid will come to Australia this year
The front-drive Sorento Hybrid will command a $4680 premium over the front-drive V6 petrol GT-Line, while the AWD Hybrid commands an identical increase over the Sorento GT-Line AWD diesel.
Keep in mind this is all before on-road costs, so Kia’s driveaway pricing model means the Sorento Hybrid could strike an even sharper deal when it hits dealer floors in the coming months
Kia’s inclusion of a series-parallel hybrid version will give the Sorento large SUV range what it takes to compete head-on with its fierce rival from Toyota: the Kluger Grande Hybrid AWD ($75,700 before on-road costs).
According to the report, the Sorento Hybrid GT-Line’s specification levels will differ slightly from the petrol and diesel versions, getting smaller 19-inch alloy wheels (instead of 20s) – mirroring the same change with the plug-in hybrid version – while deleting the remote parking function.
Like the plug-in, the Sorento Hybrid gets 19-inch alloy wheels
The GT-Line Hybrid remains a fully-featured package though, with a 10.25-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, heated and cooled quilted Nappa leather seats, wireless phone charging and a panoramic sunroof.
What is the Sorento Hybrid’s powertrain?
Like the plug-in version, the regular Sorento Hybrid uses a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder but combines it with a smaller 40kW electric motor.
Total combined outputs for the Sorento Hybrid are 169kW/350Nm, meaning the same torque figure as the PHEV but 26kW less power.
In the UK combined consumption test, the Sorento Hybrid returns the equivalent of 5.7L/100km (40.9mpg) – beating the 6.1L/100km combined ADR figure for the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel Sorento.
There is a 1.6-litre turbo petrol that works in conjunction with an electric motor
Instead of the eight-speed torque-converter automatic used by the petrol, or the eight-speed dual-clutch used in the diesel, the Sorento Hybrid will use a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.
While the Sorento Hybrid was expected to launch in the latter part of 2021, its Australian release has been pushed back to the first half of this year due to supply shortages.
Kia Sorento 2022: prices in Australia
National driveaway prices are listed below
- S V6: $47,650
- S Diesel AWD: $53,790
- Sport V6: $53,790
- Sport Diesel AWD: $56,790
- Sport Plus V6: $58,390
- Sport Plus Diesel AWD: $61,390
- GT-Line V6: $65,990
- GT-Line Diesel AWD: $68,990
- GT-Line Hybrid: $66,750*
- GT-Line Hybrid AWD: $69,750*
- GT-Line PHEV AWD: $81,990
*Denotes before on-road costs pricing