2022 Kia Sorento PHEV – DM Test Drive | Review

Plug-in hybrids, like this Kia Sorento plug-in, make a lot of sense for someone trying to maximize usability and efficiency. The Sorento offers good looks and the bells and whistles people crave, but there are better PHEVs out there.

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Intro music and graphics by Skyler Benn.

This video was filmed with in-ear, binaural microphones, so if you listen with headphones, it will sound like you're sitting in the driver's seat!

#sorento #phev #kia

[soulclassics]

The ICE runs for heating in winter, even if you are in EV-mode. But this consumes just a little bit of gas.
Other brands offer electric heating in EV-mode - BUT you pay for that with a significant reduced electric range.

The decision of KIA is smart, because electric heating costs a lot of energy. Heating with petrol costs just 1 or 2 liters per hour (1/4 - 1/2 gallon). And the ICE is warmed up, before you hit the highway.
The Toyota RAV4 Prime has problems, when you drive pure electric for months and suddenly go for a long range trip. The Toyota combustion engines tend not to start in that situation. With a KIA PHEV you will not have that problem.

For very short trips (like 5 minutes drives) we stop the AC in winter and drive our Sorento PHEV fully electric with just seat- and steering-wheel heating on. Within 5 minutes the AC wouldn't heat up the car anyway.
9 months of the year heating is not an issue at all here in Germany. Should be the same in Michigan.

HEV-mode functions as a "Hold"-mode. Battery-range is saved in this mode, e.g. if you head to a city.
In the city you switch to EV-mode and drive emission free there.
Many drivers don't know that. KIA should communicate that more clear and understandable.

Sport-mode makes the ICE run all the time and the battery is charged (pretty fast).
We don't use Sport-mode very often, because gas consumption goes up a lot in that mode.

We love our Sorento PHEV!

[hongsm]

There is a EV/HEV mode button. It cycles amongst full EV, Auto, and hybrid modes.

[yiannis]

Love this car! I am getting the 2.2 CRDi Diesel version soon! In this same color. The tiger face contrast of white and the black grill is awesome.

[michaeldempsey]

I've always been in a ford family but the detail of this interior is impressive for the cost of that thing!

[HugoAguilera]

Seriously, what is the point of reviewing a PHEV with a dead battery?

[TJZTechShow]

Avidly waiting for more content on the M240i :)

[vitusbering]

please help me to calculate. If I drive exactly 100 km per day, and have no chance to recharge but night time, how much would be an economy? Taking in consideration a canadian cold weather and mixed city/highway roads, the first 50km the car will eat 4 l/100 (electric mode with periodical gas initiation for heating and speeding). Then battery loose charge, and the remaining 50 km I'll drive on 1.6T gas engine, with fuel consumption 8 l/100. At my return to home I will spend 4/2 +8/2=6 liters. If I run more than 100 km, this amount will be bigger. Is it correct?

[shawnelakattu]

Thank you for making these videos! It help us make the best choices for our families! Does the Sorento really get 79mpge as advertised? Do you think Toyota will come out with a PHEV-Highlander Prime to compete with this?

[carperdiem]

Is there any regen braking on this? My biggest problem with my Volt is the very low regen braking even when in the L setting. I am one who likes one pedal driving.

[baldheadlogic]

Great Review. The interior and exterior design is remarkable. However, the real world fuel range (ev + plus gas) is not that great. I am curious to how the regular HEV Sorento fuel range is.

[DM-fvhw]

Did anyone catch all those Broncos around 18:50ish?

[marccompher]

Yes it is $50k but the tax credit you get ($6, 500) helps drop it to that price point you said you prefer.