2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid

With long-distance road travel very much part of the USA's car culture, many people opt for hybrid vehicles to save fuel on the short haul, while eliminating EV range anxiety on longer trips. The 227-horsepower 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid and 261-hp plug-in hybrid give you a choice of powertrains with acceptable performance, given their thriftiness. The third row is small, and neither model is memorable to drive, but Kia's hybrid game is strong; the PHEV is good for 32 miles on electric power alone - enough for the average driver's daily duties. The Kia Sorento Hybrids are still new, having both debuted within the last two years, and their stiffest competition is in-house, in the form of the similar Hyundai Sante Fe HEV and PHEV models. Other rivals include the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the new Mazda CX-90 PHEV. Every safety review of Kia's Sorento Hybrid SUV has produced good results so far, so it's a compelling overall package at a high-value price. But is that PHEV all it's cracked up to be, and is it better than similar Santa Fe rivals?

With a $36,690 MSRP, the FWD Kia Sorento Hybrid EX's price represents very good value and is several thousand dollars cheaper than most of its rivals. Adding AWD will cost you $2,300 and also adds 19-inch wheels. The AWD-only SX Prestige retails for $42,490. There is only a single SX Prestige PHEV model and its price is $49,990. These prices don't include Kia's $1,325 destination charge.

The average mid-size SUV is quite boring to drive, and in this regard, the Sorento Hybrid is par for the course, lacking the pleasing punch of the RAV4 Prime PHEV or the inherent sportiness of a BMW X5 Hybrid. That said, it handles neatly enough, with limited body roll, low noise levels, and good grip levels. The ride is mostly serene, but high-frequency bumps send a few too many tremors through the structure, and on broken surfaces, the Sorento cans struggle to settle down. It's not harsh, just noticeable, and worse on the SX-P trims' 19-inch wheels. Kudos must go to the Kia engineers for seamlessly blending in the regenerative braking while the gas engine cuts in and out unobtrusively and with nary a vibration. Performance is only middling, with both HEV and PHEV getting to 60 mph in the mid-seven-second bracket.

The Sorento HEV is a roomy, well-built SUV with pleasing looks and lots of kit for a high-value price. Performance is acceptable, and fuel economy is excellent. It's a sharp choice in this corner of the market and makes a convincing case for itself. Less so the PHEV, which isn't any faster than the HEV despite being more powerful due to its added heft and commands significantly more money. Worse, it's not a proper EV when in EV mode, with a weak motor that blunts its responses, although the 32-mile range is impressive if you have the patience to drive with a gossamer's touch on the accelerator pedal. For most people, the Sorento HEV will make more sense and is a sound choice against its rivals - as well as the less-than-accomplished and more expensive Sorento PHEV. It also offers a more economical FWD powertrain, which its Hyundai Santa Fe compatriot doesn't offer, making the Kia our choice.

It lacks the SX-P's leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, premium audio system, and surround-view camera, and it looks a bit tippy-toed on its small 17-inch wheels, but the FWD Hybrid EX is the smartest buy in the lineup - and those wheels and high-profile tires calm the ride compared to the jittery 19s on the EX AWD and SX-P. Even adding the Panoramic Sunroof package with its LED ambient interior lighting, in addition to the destination fee, keeps you on the sunny side of $40k, which makes it excellent value in our books. We wouldn't spend $10k more on the PHEV.