Caraganza First Drive Review 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid: Something for the rest of us

2021 Sorento HEV Hybrid

There are many cool things that come with reviewing cars. Not just the fact that I get to drive a new car every week (though that is cool), but I get to drive very nice cars; hi-end machines like Mercedes (especially if there’s an AMG badge slapped on the side), BMWs (especially if there’s an M badge), or anything Porsche.

The problem with those of course (beyond the fact I usually only get to keep them for a week) is that most of those AMGs, M cars, and Porsches, are cars that I could never afford (nor most of the rest of us for that matter). Because one of the un-cool things about reviewing cars is that you don’t sign up for the gig to make money.

So it is that some weeks I need to return to terra firma and spend a week with a vehicle for the rest of us.

Most everything from Kia falls into this category.

I was reminded of this when Kia sent me a 2021 Sorento for a recent week. First introduced in 2002, the 2021 marks the fourth generation for the mid-sized SUV. In a nod to keeping up with the changing times, a hybrid version was introduced last year, and powered the 2021 tester I had.

2021 Sorento HEV Hybrid

The 2021 Kia Sorento has five trims: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige and is available with either FWD or AWD. There are three powertrains, including a turbo hybrid, which is what I had under the hood of my EX tester for the week. For the rest of the lineup there’s a standard 2.4-liter inline-four and an optional 3.3-liter V-6 engine.

The EX is sort of the middle child, situated above the bottom two models and below the top two, but has niceties like leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and remote start. The EX also gets some styling upgrades like 18-inch wheels and black exterior accents. You could add front wheel drive, but not to the hybrid version.

I had the non-hybrid version of the Sorento in 2019 (a top-of-the-line SXL for the record), and while the 2021 is a new generation, the styling differences don’t seem all that striking. The 2021 is a bit wider, and longer perhaps, but not all that much. And while the Sorento may not be some sort of striking beauty, it isn’t ugly, it just is.

And what it is, isn’t bad at all.

What I was most surprised about was the power under the hood. Turns out that the Sorento hybrid has a combined output of 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All in a very nice hybrid SUV that comes in with an MSRP under $40,000. Look I’m onboard with the trend of hybrid, though a little less so for the all-electric (though I have to confess to a begrudging acceptance), and this Sorento hybrid is certainly helping. The power coming out of the hybrid was downright surprising. Kia said the upcoming plug-in hybrid variant drives all four of its wheels with a combined 261 horses and a significantly larger battery, so it could be even better.

The Sorento won’t turn any heads, nor will it tear up the Nürburgring, but what it does, it does well, and it is a very nice place to be, especially for the price. Sure, all-wheel drive would be good, but to get any hybrid SUV at an affordable price isn’t easy. For the record, that SXL I had two years ago had an MSRP of $48,785. So, you mean for $10,000 less I could get a hybrid that’s almost as nice? I can’t believe I am writing this, but in the case of the Sorento, the hybrid would win out.  It’s almost as nice as that SXL and with much better fuel mileage I could save my pennies to get say something with an AMG or M badge. Eventually. Some day. Maybe.

2022 Update: Kia sent me the 2022 version of the Sorento Hybrid EX almost a year after the one I wrote about above. I’m only adding this update because the changes from the 2021 to 2022 models weren’t many (the biggest surprise was that the base MSRP did drop from $37,035 for the 2021 to $35,590 for the 2022), all-wheel drive was added, and a10.25-inch touchscreen and navigation system was made standard. After a second week with it, my opinion wasn’t changed: among the hybrid SUVs on the market, the Sorento is one of the best.

2023 Update: Last verse is the same as the first. For 2023 the base S trim level has been dropped and a new top-of-the-line SX Prestige trim level was added.

The 2021 Sorento EX Hybrid
MSRP: $37,035
MSRP (as tested): $38,205
Engine: 1.6L 4-cylinder turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Hybrid engine 227 horsepower (combined), 258 lb-ft torque (combined).
Transmission: 6-speed automatic w/OD
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 39 city, 35 highway, 37 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested, mixed conditions): 38 mpg
Base curb weight: 3979 lbs.

Exterior Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 110.8
Length: 189.4
Width, without mirrors: 74.8
Height: 66.7
Front Track Width: 65
Rear Track Width: 65.4
Minimum Ground Clearance: 6.9

Interior Dimensions
Passenger / Seating Capacity: 6
Front Head Room (inches): 40.3
Front Leg Room (inches): 41.4
Front Shoulder Room (inches): 59.1
Front Hip Room (inches): 55.6
Second Row Head Room (inches): 39.1
Second Row Leg Room (inches): 40.7
Second Row Shoulder Room (inches): 58.1
Second Row Hip Room (inches): 55.1
Third Row Head Room (inches): 36.8
Third Row Leg Room (inches): 29.6
Third Row Shoulder Room (inches): 53
Third Row Hip Room (inches): 42.5
Cargo Space/Area Behind Front Row (cubic feet): 75.5
Cargo Space/Area Behind Second Row (cubic feet): 38.5
Cargo Space/Area Behind Third Row (cubic feet): 12.6

Warranty
Warranty – Basic (mths/miles)     60/60,000
Warrranty – Powertrain (mths/miles)     120/100,000
Warranty – Corrosion perforation (mths/miles)     60/100,000
Warranty – Roadside assistance (mths/miles)     60/60,000

Greg Engle

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