2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid Quick Drive
2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid
Specs: 1.6 Liter Turbo 4 with Hybrid assist. 227 HP
Price as tested: $38,205
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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
This is the brand spankiin’ new Kia Sorento Hybrid. The Sorento nameplate has been with us for a long time and for that time…it always played second fiddle to the likes of the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer. This new generation aims to go straight for those segments leaders. With strong styling, comfortable interior and a multitude of drivetrain choices…the Sorento is no longer happy playing ‘second-fiddle’. Does it hold up?
The Sorento has always been a great looking crossover. The last generation was probably one of the best looking midsize crossovers on the market.
But, while it indeed looked good, it never was attention grabbing…this new generation changes on the other hand…turns heads! The front has a mix of Acura and Acura to it and the rear has Mustang Mach-E influence. Overall, it is striking indeed.
Let’s go ahead and break it down:
The Great:
You are never going to lose this in a parking lot. The styling is upfront and as I said above…striking. The interior is not just on par with it’s competitors…its solidly leap frogs the Honda Pilot and the Explorer. From the materials, to the seating to the NVH. Kia did a phenomenal job.
The Good:
The Hybrid powertrain makes 227 horsepower and 195 ft/lbs of torque. It feels much quicker than the numbers suggest, thanks to the electric motor torque fill. The transmission is quick and seamless. The drivetrain overall is fluid, unobtrusive and efficient as this year is long.
The Bad:
While the styling is striking…i prefer the European aesthetic of the last generation better.
The Ugly:
The electronic shifter is cumbersome to use. While it looks like it was directly lifted from Ford…it’s spring activated, so its action is akin to a rotary phone. You twist the knob to the gear you want, then it springs back to center. At least that is the concept. Unfortunately selecting said gear is numb and either I had it in the right gear or didn’t have a gear at all.
The Overall:
Kia found it’s proverbial footing a few years back and this Sorento shows that they are not slowing down. Instead of being mere afterthoughts…every single one of their vehicles is a genuine player in the respective categories. This Sorento is another example.
