Kia Sorento MQ4 FWD HEV GT-Line (2022-2026)

A hybrid SUV that falls short of beating Toyota at its own game – This is Kia’s other hybrid Sorento. There’s also a plug-in hybrid on offer, which we’ve already tested, but this is the petrol/electric hybrid that you don’t plug in. Kia’s Sorento is a well built car, and feels like it’ll withstand the test of time and the test of having kids rummage through its interior. Press on any panels, pull on doors and put pressure on plastics, and the Sorento refuses to squeak or show preemptive rattles.

This car feels weighty, translating to a ride that feels higher quality than a lighter SUV. In addition to weight, technology feels right at home in 2022. The screens are bright, easy to use and quick to react to inputs.

Available only in the fully specced GT-Line model, the Sorento Hybrid is priced from $66,750 for the front-wheel drive model, and $69,750 for the all-wheel drive version. All of these prices are before on-road costs.

Toyota offers a better price for the Kluger Hybrid AWD, starting from $54,150. However, the Sorento offers a lot more equipment, tech and creature comforts.

The PHEV (plug-in hybrid) variant of the Sorento is priced at the top, starting from $81,080 before on roads.

Servicing is capped over 7 years or up to 70,000km (whichever comes first). Servicing totals $4,894 over this period.

A BOSE audio system is fitted to the Sorento Hybrid, and it certainly makes an impact. It’s not perfect, but it does enhance your audio with clearer highs and less ‘muddy’ sounding lows.

A major drawback was a high pitched whirring sound that emanated from the electric motor under the bonnet.

It was annoying when parked and driving at low speeds. Outside these conditions, however, it wasn’t noticeable. If you have older ears, you might not notice it. But to some of my passengers, it would have made them reconsider buying this car just because of how intrusive that whirring sound was.

Kia should have beefed up the brakes just a little for these heavier hybrid variants of the Sorento. It’s noticeable how soft that brake pedal feels when slowing for corners or when pulling up for an emergency stop.

Day-to-day, the brakes are easy to get used to, but they simply don’t hide the weight of the extra electric motor and batteries. It makes the hybrid feel like the diesel Sorento has been on a diet of burgers and milkshakes.

Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 132kW of power and 265Nm of torque. This is paired with an electric motor, making an additional 44kW from a 1.6kWh battery mounted between the engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

The total power is 169kW (226hp).

Combined power feels relatively rapid, thanks to additional power being available from 0rpm. It’s quite obvious when that 1.6L engine kicks into gear, and can sometimes be a little startling at low speeds. It can fool you into thinking you’ve just curbed your alloy wheels if it turns on while parking.

Power is being sent via a 6-speed automatic transmission all through to the front wheels.

A shift-by-wire rotary selector is a cool touch, and really easy to engage with.

Shifts are seamless and hardly felt by occupants, even if we’re missing the 8-speed auto found in the diesel Sorento.

Around the city and traffic, the Sorento is a fantastically comfortable SUV. It’s easy to cruise and avoid feeling the road underneath you. Although, hit a pothole hard enough and you’ll get an aggressive thump from the front wheels.

Through corners, the weight of the Sorento hybrid causes it to wallow slightly and perform pronounced shifts forwards and backwards under rapid acceleration and deceleration.

While lacking the ability to drive exclusively as an EV for extended periods of time, the Sorento claims fuel consumption figures of 5.5L per 100km combined. We achieved around 8.3L per 100km driving our Sorento Hybrid for the week.

There isn’t anything different between this GT-Line Sorento compared to other GT-Line trims with different engines.

There’s plenty of space, light and features. There are the same dual 10.25-inch displays on show both for the infotainment and driver.

Despite being a massive 7-seater, the Sorento Hybrid loses a little boot space in lieu of those electric bits and pieces.

On the inside, you’d never know it was slightly more cramped compared to the diesel/petrol variants. On paper, the boot space is 179L with seven seats in use, 608L with the third-row folded, and 1996L total.

That means there’s less total space than the other non-electrified Sorento models that boast just over 2,000L of cargo space.

As fuel prices fluctuate and become a pain point for many households, petrol electric hybrids are quickly becoming relevant again.

Fully electric SUVs are few and far between, with 7-seat options being obscenely expensive.

The Sorento Hybrid offers an ideal middle ground, offering diesel-like efficiency without the cost of filling up with the oily stuff and having to worry about diesel issues when strictly driven around the city.

I’d absolutely consider one if the PHEV Sorento looks a little too pricey to you, and the Toyota Kluger feels a little too sparse when opting for the slightly more affordable models.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.