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It’s harmful to face nonetheless in Australia’s hotly aggressive SUV market, however Kia definitely can’t be accused of doing so.
After launching right here in 2020, the fourth-generation Kia Sorento obtained a considerable mid-life replace in 2024, receiving the model’s new company face in addition to a completely overhauled inside.
Kia’s not finished both, with an replace due later this 12 months set to carry improved Lane Following Help 2 with steering wheel grip detection, plus Kia Digital Key 2 that enables your smartphone for use as a key fob.
Undoubtedly Kia desires to remain on prime of the big SUV section. And there’s nothing else with the variability the Sorento affords – petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, plus a alternative of front- or all-wheel drive.
It’s arguably among the many higher lookers within the section too, with the facelift giving it an much more good-looking, premium look than earlier than. These turned off by the polarising Hyundai Santa Fe might discover this a soothing balm.
Watch: Paul’s video evaluate of the Sorento HEV AWD
To the tip of August, the Sorento is sitting above even the Toyota Kluger and Subaru Outback within the gross sales race, whereas its Hyundai Santa Fe platform-mate is additional again within the rear-view mirror if gaining pace.
The Sorento has managed to fend off its company cousin regardless of the Santa Fe just lately receiving a complete redesign, and providing a a lot wider vary of hybrid variants.
In more and more hybrid-hungry Australia, that’s a key benefit to have. Kia says extra hybrid Sorentos are coming, however for now it has simply front- and all-wheel drive GT-Line Hybrids, with neither in nice provide.
That’s why through the first half of this 12 months, Hyundai offered nearly 5 occasions as many Santa Fe Hybrids as Kia did of its Sorento Hybrid. So, is it price ready for an electrified Sorento?
How a lot does the Kia Sorento price?
Within the mid-size SUV section, hybrids abound. Within the giant SUV section, they’re a lot much less frequent.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2026 Kia Sorento S V6 FWD | $51,380 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento Sport V6 FWD | $54,000 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento S Diesel AWD | $54,380 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento Sport Diesel AWD | $57,000 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento Sport+ V6 FWD | $58,930 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento Sport+ Diesel AWD | $61,930 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento GT-Line V6 FWD | $66,290 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento GT-Line Diesel AWD | $69,290 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid FWD | $70,330 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid AWD | $73,330 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento GT-Line PHEV AWD | $84,660 |
The Sorento takes on not solely its Santa Fe company cousin, but additionally the Toyota Kluger and… properly, that’s just about it, except you broaden your consideration listing to incorporate mild-hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
You will get the Sorento Hybrid solely in GT-Line trim for now, albeit with a alternative of front- or all-wheel drive.
Hyundai will solely supply a base Santa Fe Hybrid with front-wheel drive, whereas all Toyota Klugers are all-wheel drive, so there’s not a direct equal to our GT-Line front-wheel drive tester in both lineup.
At $70,330 earlier than on-road prices, it’s priced nearly immediately between all-wheel drive Elite and Calligraphy variants of the Santa Fe Hybrid, and just under the mid-spec Kluger GXL. It’s additionally nearly precisely $1000 greater than a Sorento GT-Line diesel, which comes with all-wheel drive and really comparable gas economic system.
To see how the Kia Sorento strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
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What’s the Kia Sorento like on the within?
The pre-facelift Sorento had a little bit of an American flavour to its cabin, which has been changed with a extra uniform software of the Kia company look.
It’s arguably a extra elegant cabin than earlier than, however it’s not with out its flaws.
A number of these are centred across the centre console. The edges of this, the place you might relaxation your knee, are laborious. Additionally they creak while you press them.
The centre console bin lid is creaky too, whereas the drive mode selector is a bit wobbly. These are disappointing construct high quality flaws in a cabin in any other case freed from them.
There are nice contact factors just like the delicate sprint prime and doorways (though the delicate driver’s armrest flexes a bit), or the suede headliner that’s so delicate you are feeling as if you might take a nap on it.
The controls, drive mode selector apart, are additionally beautiful to make use of. That features the rotary shifter dial and the varied bodily buttons and switches on the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The local weather management panel, shared with the Sportage, represents an appropriate stability between the analogue and digital worlds. It has correct knobs, however is in any other case touch-capacitive. This enables the array for use for adjusting the local weather management and, with the press of a button, the sound system.
This additionally allowed Kia designers to pen a cleanly styled centre stack, with out going to the extremes of Chinese language manufacturers that bury many of those controls in touchscreen menus.
The touchscreen itself is straightforward to navigate with crisp, trendy graphics, and enhances an equally interesting digital instrument cluster. A head-up show permits you to hold your eyes on the street.
Step into the second row and there’s loads of area in each path, although centre-seat occupants will discover the centre console intrudes considerably on their leg room.
There are the requisite facilities – air vents, map pockets, a fold-down armrest with cupholders, and a pair of USB-C shops. These are positioned on the edges of the entrance seatbacks, making them considerably simpler to succeed in than rivals’ shops.
We additionally love the position of cupholders on the doorways, that means if you happen to’re travelling three-up within the second row there’s nonetheless a spot for folks to pop their drinks.
Evaluating the Sorento and Santa Fe back-to-back although, it’s the Hyundai that’s higher packaged.
There appears to be extra third-row legroom within the Kia, however headroom is worse – at 180cm tall, I couldn’t sit up with out my head brushing the roof.
And any deficiency the Hyundai has in leg room may be resolved by merely sliding the second row ahead barely, as you are able to do within the Kia.
The Sorento’s steeply raked rear-quarter glass might make the SUV look a bit extra athletic, however it finally ends up making the third row really feel fairly darkish. Santa Fe occupants, in distinction, get way more pure mild.
Additionally they get curtain airbag protection, one thing the Kia solely affords for the entrance two rows. Third-row occupants do, nevertheless, get vents, a pair of USB shops, two cupholders, and fan controls.
For those who’re transporting young children, you’ll discover top-tether youngster seat anchor factors for all seats within the second and third rows, plus 4 ISOFIX factors. That’s not at all times a given with three-row SUVs.
Additionally, critical kudos to Kia for nonetheless becoming a full-size alloy spare. We’re seeing an rising variety of manufacturers select to not supply even a space-saver spare, with tyre restore kits abounding. We all know which we’d relatively have if we had a puncture on a rural street…
| Dimensions | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|
| Size | 4815mm |
| Width | 1900mm |
| Peak | 1700mm |
| Wheelbase | 2815mm |
| Cargo capability | 179L (third row up) 608L (third row folded) 1996L (second and third rows folded) |
To see how the Kia Sorento strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
What’s below the bonnet?
The Kia Sorento is the one automobile in its section to supply a alternative of petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid energy.
| Specs | Kia Sorento Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.6L turbo 4cyl |
| Engine outputs | 132kW / 265Nm |
| Electrical motor outputs | 44kW / 264Nm |
| System outputs | 169kW / 350Nm |
| Battery | 1kWh lithium-ion |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto |
| Drive kind | Entrance-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1909kg |
| Gas economic system (claimed) | 5.4L/100km |
| Gas economic system (as examined) | 6.2L/100km (inner-city, suburban and freeway loop) 7.1L/100km (over the course of per week) |
| Gas tank capability | 67L |
| Gas requirement | 91-octane common unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 122g/km |
| Emissions customary | Euro 5 |
| Braked tow capability | 1650kg |
The Sorento Hybrid’s noticed gas economic system of 6.2L/100km was fairly good, given after I took a smaller Hyundai Tucson Hybrid – which makes use of the identical fundamental powertrain – throughout an an identical inner-city, suburban and freeway loop, it used 6.1L/100km.
Consumption elevated to 7.1L/100km over the course of per week, in opposition to an official declare of 5.4L/100km. It’s price noting the extra reasonably priced diesel makes use of 6.0L/100km. CO2 emissions are 122g/km within the hybrid and 158g/km within the diesel.
To see how the Kia Sorento strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
How does the Kia Sorento drive?
So we all know the Kia Sorento Hybrid is economical, however what’s it really feel prefer to drive?
Once you take off, the petrol engine kicks in nearly immediately, although it engages easily.
It has a really totally different really feel than, say, a Toyota hybrid. A number of that is because of using a six-speed automated transmission as an alternative of a CVT, so you’ll be able to really feel gear adjustments.
A few of these really feel a bit slurred, significantly at low speeds, however in the end the Sorento feels – for higher or worse – extra like a standard petrol-powered automotive with some electrical help relatively than a conventional hybrid.
You might assume a 1.6-litre engine in a automotive this massive would have the Sorento feeling underdone however, whereas it’s no rocketship, it has sufficient grunt off the road.
It sounds a bit raspy however the cabin is mostly quiet, with engine, street and wind noise stored at bay – specifically, the combustion engine sounds prefer it’s working away someplace off within the distance.
The Sorento feels extra SUV-like to drive than its Santa Fe company cousin, and there’s a bit extra rebound over bumps and ruts and extra head toss.
The 19-inch wheels within the Sorento even have a little bit of an impression on experience high quality. It proved usually snug even over regional roads, however on some city pavement the Sorento had a bent to clomp considerably over bumps.
For those who worth driving engagement, the Sorento disappoints. The brake pedal feels picket and the steering has little really feel, so that you type of punt it right into a nook and cling on.
Sport mode provides slightly weight, however it might probably’t handle the dearth of really feel, and it sees the Sorento maintain gears for longer.
The lane-keep help can also be fairly assertive, so you might need to flip that off on winding roads.
So, it’s not all that satisfying to drive in a rush, however in equity there’s not loads of pleasure to be discovered on this section.
What’s extra essential for a big household SUV is refinement, and right here the Sorento delivers. It additionally will get energy all the way down to the bottom easily, with torque steer well-managed and solely the occasional chirp from the tyres in additional spirited driving.
That assertive lane-keep help helps you from straying into one other lane, with the Lane Following Help conserving you neatly centred inside one and taking a number of the pressure out of freeway driving.
Hyundai Motor Group automobiles used to punish you for turning off the pace restrict alert, however now you’ll be able to flip off this annoying chime and but nonetheless have street indicators seem throughout the instrument cluster.
A digital rear-view mirror is a welcome inclusion. You might discover it distracting as I do, however it may be switched again to a daily mirror and is extraordinarily welcome while you’ve bought folks or gadgets blocking your view out the rear window.
The Hyundai Motor Group’s Blind Spot View Monitor can also be a helpful characteristic, displaying footage out of your blind spot within the instrument cluster while you’re indicating.
To see how the Kia Sorento strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
What do you get?
The Sorento Hybrid is obtainable solely in GT-Line grade, the highest trim stage within the wider Sorento lineup.
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2025 Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid gear highlights:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Full-size alloy spare
- Computerized LED headlights
- Computerized high-beam
- LED entrance fog lights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Arms-free energy tailgate
- Panoramic sunroof
- Rear privateness glass
- Eco, Sport, Good drive modes
- Proximity entry with push-button begin
- Distant Good Parking Help
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- DAB digital radio
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi and wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Head-up show
- 12-speaker Bose sound system
- Nappa leather-based upholstery
- 14-way energy driver’s seat
- 4-way lumbar help
- Cushion extension
- 2-person reminiscence
- Heating
- Air flow
- 10-way energy passenger seat
- 2-way lumbar help
- Heating
- Air flow
- Second-row three-person bench
- Reclining
- 60:40 break up/flat folding
- Heating (for outboard seats)
- Third-row two-person bench
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Heated ‘premium’ steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
- Digital rear-view mirror
- 64-colour ambient lighting
- 6 x USB shops (2 in every row)
- Alloy scuff plates
- Alloy pedals
- Suede headliner
- 7-year Kia Join subscription
- Distant automobile monitoring, standing checking
- Distant management of locks, local weather management
- SOS emergency name operate
- Voice assistant
- Actual-time visitors updates
- Valet parking mode
To see how the Kia Sorento strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
Is the Kia Sorento secure?
The Kia Sorento has a five-star security score from ANCAP, primarily based on testing carried out in 2020, and this score applies to petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.
| Class | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 82 per cent |
| Baby occupant safety | 85 per cent |
| Weak street person safety | 63 per cent |
| Security help | 89 per cent |
Normal security gear consists of:
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian, automobile and bicycle owner detection
- Junction help
- Reverse AEB
- Blind-spot help
- Blind Spot View Monitor
- Driver consideration alert
- Clever Pace Restrict Help
- Lane Following Help (lane centring)
- Lane-keep help
- Rear occupant alert
- Secure Exit Help
- Encompass-view digital camera
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Entrance, front-side and front-centre airbags
- Curtain airbags (1st and 2nd rows)
Not like many rivals with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and secure exit warning methods that merely sound a chime or flash a light-weight, the Kia has blind-spot, rear cross-traffic, and secure exit help options which can actively intervene.
For instance, Secure Exit Help will cease an occupant from opening the rear doorways if it detects they’re about to exit the automobile into the trail of an oncoming automobile. Likewise, the Sorento’s blind-spot help and rear cross-traffic help options will apply the brakes in the event that they detect an imminent collision.
To see how the Kia Sorento strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
How a lot does the Kia Sorento price to run?
The Kia might have an extended customary guarantee than its Hyundai cousin (seven years versus 5), however the latter is extra reasonably priced to service and might prolong guarantee protection to seven years if you happen to service throughout the Hyundai community.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, limitless kilometres – automobile 7 years, 150,000km – high-voltage elements |
| Roadside help | 8 years (service-activated) |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years |
| Common annual service price | $650 |
| Complete capped-price service price | $4552 |
To see how the Kia Sorento strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid
We’re wanting ahead to a wider vary of Kia Sorento Hybrids in Australia, as a result of essentially it is a good SUV.
As anticipated of a Hyundai Motor Group automobile, there’s loads of slick know-how.
Design is subjective, however we don’t assume we’re courting controversy by saying the Kia Sorento is probably the most enticing giant hybrid SUV in the marketplace, and that seven-year guarantee can’t be crushed on this a part of the market.
Nonetheless, we’d steer you in direction of a Santa Fe Hybrid, if you happen to can abdomen the styling. It’s better-packaged, has extra security equipment, and is barely higher to drive, and it’s in a lot higher provide in Australia.
In case your partner vetoes the polarising Santa Fe, nevertheless, and also you handle to truly get your palms on a Sorento Hybrid, you’re nonetheless getting a lot of the goodness simply in a extra standard wrapper.
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MORE: Discover the Kia Sorento showroom
