6 things you need to know about the 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV

The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid (2022 Kia Sorento PHEV) is now available in the U.S. market. The plug-in hybrid midsize SUV competes with the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

7-seat version unavailable

Kia announced the 2022 Sorento PHEV globally in five- and seven-seat layouts. It isn’t offering the seven-seat layout in the U.S., though. The company says that three-row seating with second-row captain’s chairs (six-seat design) is standard. This is America’s only three-row plug-in hybrid midsize SUV, although the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV arriving in the second half of the year will offer seven seats. The U.S.-spec 2022 Sorento PHEV has 143.8 cu. ft. of passenger space. Kia is also developing a three-row zero-emissions SUV – the Kia EV9 – that should launch in the U.S. in 2024.

Made in South Korea

The gasoline-powered Sorento rolls out of the West Point Kia plant (Georgia) in the U.S., but the Sorento Hybrid’s manufacturing takes place only at the Hwasung Kia plant in South Korea.

261 horsepower powertrain

Positioned above the 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid, the 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV combines a 1.6-liter T-GDi turbo-four mill with a 66.9 kW electric motor, and the resulting combined power output is 261 hp. Kia mounts the electric motor between the engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV gets an AWD system with center locking differential and selectable drive modes, including a Snow mode as standard.

Better EV range than sister car Santa Fe

The electric motor of the 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV draws power from a 13.8 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. It’s a saddle-shaped, water-cooled unit located between the cabin floor and the underfloor, over the top of the propshaft. A 3.3 kW onboard charger situated beneath the cargo floor allows charging it with a plug. The charging port is on the rear three-quarters, opposite the fuel tank lid on the other side.

The 2022 Sorento PHEV can travel up to 32 miles (EPA est.) in EV mode. With the gasoline tank full and the battery pack fully charged, it gives a total range (EPA est.) of 460 miles. Combined fuel economy rating (EPA est.) is 79 MPGe. All of these are better than those of its sister model from Hyundai – the 2022 Santa Fe.

2022 Kia Sorento PHEV vs. 2022 Santa Fe PHEV

Aspect	2022 Kia Sorento PHEV Specification	2022 Santa Fe PHEV Specification
Combined Fuel Economy (Elec + Gas)	79 MPGe	76 MPGe
Combined Fuel Economy (Gas)	34 MPG	33 MPG
Pure Electric Range	32 miles	31 miles
Total Range	460 miles	440 miles

Only two trims

The 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV is available in two trim levels. It costs USD 45,190 in the SX trim and USD 48,090 in the SX Prestige trim. Federal and state incentives of up to USD 6,587 are available for the 2022 Sorento PHEV, which would reduce the prices to USD 38,603 and USD 41,503, respectively, after Federal Tax Credit. Kia also levies a destination charge of USD 1,215.

The Kia Sorento Hybrid (self-charging) is also available in two trims, namely S and EX, for a price of USD 34,090 and USD 36,090. As on the Sorento PHEV, Kia charges a destination fee of USD 1,215 on the Sorento HEV.

2022 Kia Sorento PHEV FAQs

Featured Image Source: Kia