Kia has given us a few details, and some first images, of the upcoming new Sorento PHEV plug-in hybrid.
Already a PHEV player
The Korean car maker has already seen quite a bit of success with plug-in hybrid models such as the Niro, the XCeed and the Ceed Sportswagon, and now it's applying the tech to its biggest vehicle. The new Sorento, in conventional diesel form, is due to arrive on the Irish market early next year, while this hybrid model will also make its debut later in 2021.
What we don't know quite yet is how far the Sorento PHEV will go on one charge of its 13.8kWh battery pack, nor what its CO2 emissions will be. Kia says that the car is still going through the homologation process, so it won't be able to reveal those figures for a bit yet.
We do know that, thanks to a 1.6 T-GDI turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, and a 90hp (66.9kW) electric motor, it has a combined maximum power figure of 265hp, along with 304Nm of torque. That should provide better-than-decent performance.
Full-time four-wheel drive
Unlike some cars, which use the electric motor to power the rear axle, the Sorento's petrol and electric halves drive a permanent four-wheel-drive system through the same six-speed automatic transmission. That means you'll have four-wheel-drive traction even in zero-emissions mode, but it's likely to be a little less efficient, overall, as a result.
The battery pack is water cooled for maximum efficiency, while the electric motor gets dual lamination to keep its noise to a minimum. The new 1.6-litre petrol 'Smart Stream' engine gets fully variable valve timing to boost its efficiency.
Because the new Sorento sits on an entirely new platform, designed from the outset for electrification, it means that Kia has been able to package the battery and electric motor without eating into the car's practicality, so this is a plug-in hybrid model that will still be available as a seven-seater. The boot is positively massive - up to 809 litres (for seven-seat models) or 898 litres (five-seat models) - and you still have a reasonable 175 litres of space if all seven seats are in use.
On the outside, the new Sorento PHEV will only be distinguished from its conventional counterparts by 'eco plug-in' badges and a charging port on the rear quarters. It's basically the same inside, too, although the big 12.3-inch digital instrument display gets some new graphics that are bespoke to the model. Ditto the 10.25-inch central infotainment screen.
High-tech options
Tech on offer will include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose stereo and 64-colour mood lighting. There's also Kia's new UVO Connect online services package (which includes live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest and details of potential on- and off-street parking including price, location and parking availability) and full smartphone connectivity so that you can manage the car's charging times.
Kia's also going all-in on safety. The Sorento plug-in hybrid comes with a range of Kia's Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Available technologies include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection and FCA Junction, which detects vehicles at junctions when turning; Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM); Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Blind-spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA); Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA); Smart Cruise Control with Stop&Go (SCC) and Navigation-based SCC (NSCC); Lane Following Assist (LFA); Driver Attention Warning (DAW); and Highway Driving Assist (HDA). It also offers a Rear-View Monitor (RVM) with Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA) and Rear Cross-traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA). The Sorento's Safe Exit Assist (SAE) feature also prevents rear doors from opening if the vehicle detects a hazard approaching from behind, such as a cyclist or another vehicle.
But wait, there's more. The new Sorento also gets Kia's first Multi-Collision Brake system, which enables the Sorento to mitigate the severity of secondary collisions. It automatically applies vehicle brakes when the airbags have been deployed after an initial collision, further protecting occupants from secondary frontal or side impacts. Needless to say, the Sorento comes with the usual seven-year, 150,000km warranty, which extends to the battery and electric motor.
Pablo Martinez Masip, Director of Product Planning and Pricing at Kia Motors Europe, comments: "The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid completes the new fourth-generation Sorento line-up, and is one of two electrified models available to European drivers. It deploys a turbo hybrid powertrain to boost performance, while reducing the car's environmental impact and running costs. Plug-in models continue to grow in popularity across Europe, and the new Sorento will be one of the most spacious, practical and versatile electrified models available."