Kia Sorento PHEV: How much again?

by Chris Riley

What is it?

Sorento seats seven and is the largest of Kia's SUVs.

Now in its fourth generation, it comes in four grades and with a choice of three powertrains.

There's a 3.5-litre petrol V6, 2.2-litre turbo diesel and now a 1.6-litre turbo plug-in petrol-electric hybrid, with ultra-low emissions.

In fact, it's the only large, mainstream SUV on the market to offer the option of all three drivetrains, but it comes at a premium -- and is it worth it?

What’s it cost?

Prices for Sorento start from $49,290 driveaway for the base model, petrol-powered front-wheel drive S.

The diesel is $3000 more, but also comes with all-wheel drive.

As well as the usual Eco and Sport options, all-terrain mode features dial-up Mud, Snow and Sand settings.

Default is EV and Eco mode.

There's four grades -- S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line.

But PHEV is available only in GT-Line trim and will set you back $81,990 driveaway.

That’s right, $81,990 driveaway -- $14,700 more than the top of the line diesel.

Oh, and any colour apart from Clear White attracts a $695 premium.

Kia’s designers, sought to maintain the robust, tough-looking aesthetic of earlier generations, while making it more refined and elegant -- sporty even.

Note, however, PHEV rides on downsized 19-inch alloys, rather than the 20s of the top petrol and diesel models (it's flashy rubber though).

The attractive, upmarket cabin introduces sophisticated next-gen design and in GT-Line this is based around twin digital displays.

The focal point of the dashboard is the eye-catching ventilation stack that looks like something out of Star Wars.

A large 10.25-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster includes monitors for various functions of the electric drive system.

The screen can be split in two for easy access to applications, vehicle information and multimedia content.

Powerful 12-speaker BOSE surround-sound audio is standard in GT-Line, with eight speakers, two tweeters, a centre speaker and subwoofer powered by external amplifier.

There’s also satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio, AM/FM radio, Bluetooth and wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and USB ports for each seat.

GT-Line also comes with a colour head-up display that projects driving information on to the lower area of the windscreen.

The system displays alerts from the car’s numerous driver assistance technologies, details of vehicle speed, and turn-by-turn navigation instructions.

Rounding out the list is Mood Lighting, with seven ‘core’ colours and a driver to passenger intercom system.

Sorento is fitted scores a five-star safety rating, with seven airbags and has Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) technology with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection.

This also detects oncoming traffic when making a turn at a junction.

Kia’s ‘level two’ autonomous driving technology, Lane Following Assist (LFA), controls acceleration, braking and steering depending on the vehicles in front.

It operates from 0-180km/h, using camera and radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while monitoring road markings to keep the vehicle in the centre of its lane.

There's also Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA), and Rear Cross-traffic Collision-avoidance Assist (RCCA).

However, the further back in the car that you are seated, the less protection offered in terms of airbags.

Second row passengers miss out on side airbags, while the third row misses out on both side and curtain airbag protection.

Highlights includes Nappa quilted leather, three-zone climate air, heated steering wheel, heated, cooled and power adjust driver and front seats, with heated, slide and recline rear seats.

There's also key fob parking, auto cruise control, auto high beam, 10.25-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, 8.0-inch head-up display, keyless entry and start, LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, 360-degree camera and power-operated tailgate.

The list goes on and on.

What’s it go like?

Sorento is big, comfy, easy to drive and light years from the Kias of old.

Power comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine combined with a 67kW electric motor, together with a 13.8kWh battery pack.

The combined output is 195kW of power and 350Nm of torque, with power transmitted to all four wheels via a conventional six-speed auto with paddle shifters.

Kia claims an all-electric range of 68km, but that's under the old system.

Under the newer WLTP regime, which uses different test procedures -- the figure is 57km.

Energy consumption is rated at 16.1kWh/100km.

The 140kg lithium-ion battery pack is located under the second row of seats and because the vehicle was designed with this in mind, Kia says it does not in any way compromise interior space.

In fact, although the new model is only 10mm longer at 4810mm, the wheelbase has grown by 35mm which means more room inside than before.

It's also 10mm wider and, with all seven seats deployed, there is 32 percent more boot space.

The boot, however, is still smaller than the standard model.

A full-size alloy spare is supplied.

Design elements from other models include a new ‘shark fin’ element on its rear C-pillar, and sculpted body surfaces with sharp creases.

Electric and hybrid modes are interchangeable.

In hybrid or HEV mode, it operates both energy sources, the engine and the electric motor simultaneously.

With claimed fuel consumption of 1.6L/100km, we clocked up 1085km over a three-week period at a rate of 6.0L/100km.

With the battery fully charged it used marginally less than this -- about 5.2L/100km -- but to be honest we couldn't be bothered constantly charging the thing.

The 1.6L/100km represents the the amount of fuel consumed over distance of 100km, under controlled conditions, minus the 57km contribution of the battery.

To get it, or even come close to it -- you need a fully charged battery and to travel in EV mode for the first 57km.

The good news is that you can drive the Sorento like a run-of-the-mill parallel hybrid and it performs pretty well in this mode, with the battery rarely falling below 15 per cent -- charge or no charge.

This means performance always benefits from boost by the electric motor.

Only under full load does it feel a little unconvincing, like the four it actually is -- wrapped in a big diesel body.

Here it is perhaps timely to mention the tow rating is a rather uninspiring 1350kg (with brakes).

PHEV comes with a Type 2 charging socket and is supplied with a Type 2 to powerpoint cable.

Charging this way takes up to six hours, or 3.5 hours if you install an optional 3.3kW wall charger.

If you'd like to make use of a faster, commercial charger such as those found at shopping centres, you'll need to acquire another optional cable.

We became aware of this when we fronted up to charge point at a local shopping centre, only to find the cable supplied was not compatible.

It's also interesting to note the flap covering the car charge port, located at the driver's side rear, refused to open at first.

The trick is to give it a short, sharp prod instead of a gentle tap, then it will pop open -- geez.

The vehicle is covered by the 7-Year unlimited kilometre Warranty, 7-Year Capped Price Service and 7-Year Roadside Assist.

What we like?

Big and classy
Upmarket cabin
Lots of technology
Satnav suggests charging stations
Climate friendly or friendlier

What we don’t like?

Expensive
Limited electric range
Annoying lane assist
Third row doesn't get airbag protection
Privacy screen awkward to remove and replace

The bottom line?

The latest Kia Sorento is a tour de force and I really wanted to like the PHEV.

But spending $82,000, almost $15,000 more than the diesel equivalent, for a car that will travel a maximum of 57km on electricity alone, just doesn't make sense.

Add to this the prospect of having to charge the car frequently to achieve the claimed fuel consumption and it becomes even less attractive.

I can hear Darryl Kerrigan's words now: "Tell him he's dreamin'."

I'll take the diesel -- any day of the week.