2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX-Status Evaluate

As the sunshine turns inexperienced, I bury the throttle. The electrical motor twists with all its would possibly, urgent me into the again of the seat. A second later, the engine kicks on, and a second surge of acceleration pushes me again tougher. Now, all 227 horsepower go to work, accelerating this mini-Telluride off into the horizon. All whereas it achieves 34 miles to the gallon.

Simply as its non-hybrid brother did final 12 months, the 2025 Sorento hybrid receives an up to date look exterior and new expertise inside. However Kia provides no X-Line or X-Professional variations right here. Even in all-wheel-drive kind, the Sorento Hybrid appears extra suited to city and suburban landscapes.

Kia tossed me the keys to the highest of two trims provided — a Sorento SX-Status — to drive round Metro Detroit. I bought a number of days to really feel out this up to date, fourth-generation, large-for-a-compact, small-for-a-midsize, but nonetheless three-row, crossover SUV. And to see how including a hybrid powertrain, however taking away a little bit of off-roading prowess, impacts it.

In brief: The 2025 Sorento Hybrid carries on the custom of providing numerous content material for the cash in Kia’s smallest three-row crossover. The up to date Sorento leans closely on Telluride design and appears good in consequence. Inside, you get a number of easy-to-use options and ample house for 4 adults and stuff. Or fill it with six folks and possibly a thimble or two. Going hybrid vastly improves gas financial system and driving vary. Simply don’t tread too removed from the pavement.

2025 Kia Sorento Evaluate

How Did Kia Change the Search for 2025?

The fourth-generation Kia Sorento arrived for 2021. Then, in 2024, Kia gave the non-hybrid Sorento an replace, which primarily included altering the entrance and rear fascia in addition to modernizing the inside.

The Sorento hybrid waited till the 2025 mannequin 12 months to obtain the identical updates. Nonetheless, the 2024 Sorento additionally acquired X-Professional remedy, which isn’t obtainable on the hybrid for 2025.

You see the styling updates clearly wanting on the entrance finish, with extra squared-off, sharp angles, and a typically boxier form. Basically, Kia shoveled as a lot Telluride because it may onto the entrance finish. In consequence, you get vertically stacked headlights and a big black grille.

However the Sorento additionally contains daytime working lights, Kia coined Star Map. Skinny, amber-colored beams run throughout the highest of the headlights, slightly below the hood line, extending towards the middle and down vertically on the surface of the primary lights.

Kia fiddled with the rear finish in comparable style, narrowing the vertically stacked taillights and simplifying the bumper design. Total, it appears to be like cleaner and extra Telluride-like. However Kia stored the modifications within the rear extra refined than up entrance, actually.

Going With out X-Professional

In contrast to the usual Sorento, which provides X-Line on nearly all of its all-wheel-drive fashions, in addition to the non-obligatory X-Professional for the SX-Status, the hybrid retains every part on-road pleasant. Nicely, not completely — you do nonetheless get the center-locking differential, simply because the X-Line provides. However you go with out the completely different bumper with skid-plate remedy and the bridge-type roof rack.

And, you positively don’t get the 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tires provided on the X-Professional model of the SX-Status Sorento. Nor do you get the added gear that bumps up towing capability to 4,500 kilos. The truth is, the 2025 Sorento Hybrid, no matter trim or drivetrain, is proscribed to towing 1,654 kilos.

However that’s to not say you need to strictly follow pavement with the hybrid Sorento. You get 19-inch wheels and cheap all-season tires, 6.9 inches of floor clearance, and 16.8/21.2 levels of strategy and departure angle clearance, respectively.

The Sorento hybrid provides some mechanical benefit to journey, a bit, on to rougher terrain. Although, by comparability, the X-Line and X-Professional variations of Sorento get 8.2 inches of floor clearance in addition to 18.4/21.7 levels of strategy and departure.

House & Screens Inside

For the Sorento Hybrid, Kia provides two trims: EX and SX-Status. Selecting between these two raises the worth by $6,400, and far of that value distinction comes with what Kia provides inside.

The EX will get the 12.3-inch heart show display, and that features wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It additionally contains heated entrance seats, dual-zone local weather management, and a wi-fi smartphone charger.

However, the SX-Status provides a completely digital, additionally 12.3-inch instrument cluster display, versus analog gauges with a 4.3-inch display sandwiched in between. You additionally get heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, and a higher-end audio system. Maintaining it stylish, you additionally get actual as a substitute of artificial leather-based.

Within the second row, all hybrids embody captain’s chairs. However the SX-Status mounts an inverter and A/C plug again there, in addition to guide sunshades on all sides. For good measure, these second-row seats are heated as nicely, to not point out loads of house and luxury.

Not so for the third row. These seats are like sitting on a futon mattress transformed to a sofa about 6 inches off the bottom, with a three-drawer dresser positioned proper subsequent to it to dam any precise legroom. Any youngsters greater than 10 years previous would complain about lack of house.

With all three rows up, cargo house suffers as nicely. You get 12.6 cubic toes of storage technically, however not a lot ground house and almost no depth. Every little thing modifications when you fold these seats flat, nonetheless.

With room for 4 adults up entrance, you get 45 cubic toes of cargo house behind them. Or fold these seats as nicely — it’s press-of-a-button straightforward, and also you get 75.5 cubic toes of house. A lot to throw in a motorcycle, or tons of drugs.

Hybrid Energy

In contrast to the styling and inside, Kia left the hybrid powertrain alone for 2025. A turbocharged 1.6L inline-four-cylinder engine joins a small electrical motor to ship a mixed 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Many of the horses comes from the engine, which makes 177 of ‘em by itself. The electrical motor contributes a good 59 horsepower to the combo but in addition matches the engine in creating 195 pound-feet of torque. 

Whereas a six-speed computerized transmission retains the engine in a cheerful rev vary, a 1.5-kWh battery pack provides electrical energy to the motor. It additionally absorbs some again underneath braking.

For those who select the EX trim Sorento hybrid, you get a front-wheel-drive crossover until you pay an additional $1,800 to get 4 pushed wheels. The SX-Status comes customary with all-wheel-drive.

Going hybrid improves gas financial system by quite a bit. In accordance with the EPA, you’ll get 34 miles out of a gallon of gasoline, no matter whether or not you accumulate these miles on the town, freeway, or mixed.

Entrance-wheel-drive variations carry out even higher, with 36 mpg in all three classes. That trumps the common Sorento EX and better trims. They solely handle 20 mpg within the metropolis, 27 on the freeway, 23 mixed. Even the bottom Sorento with front-wheel drive solely manages 23/31/26 metropolis/freeway/mixed, respectfully.

Having fun with the Drive

The hybrid additionally packs a good punch; even with slightly below 4,400 kilos of weight to haul round, the Sorento accelerates briskly from nearly any velocity. Credit score the ample torque of the electrical motor.

Stab the throttle, and it takes a few seconds for the transmission to kick all the way down to a decrease gear. However as soon as it does, the Sorento presses you again into your seat and surges ahead. Upshifts come shortly, and also you’ll see triple-digit speeds earlier than too lengthy.

Even higher, the electrical motor responds shortly and ably if you want to speed up extra reasonably, making the Sorento straightforward to maneuver across the metropolis. However, off throttle deceleration, the place the battery pack absorbs vitality again, is extra like an on/off swap. That makes it tougher to get pleasure from one-pedal driving, as this Kia makes it troublesome to modulate. No worries, simply deal with it like a standard machine; use the brakes.

And benefit from the completely nice journey. Kia engineers discovered a very good steadiness between journey and dealing with. The Sorento Hybrid simply manages all of the lumps and bumps on the street, but additionally maintains a comparatively even keel when cornering. Actually lean on it, and also you’ll get understeer.

Total, Kia constructed a constant, if not thrilling handler. Simply don’t anticipate to wow your folks in your favourite again street.

However be happy to speak about it on a street journey. The Sorento isolates the cabin from wind and street noise nicely, above common for a mainstream SUV of this measurement. You and your folks will discover no hassle carrying a dialog whereas on the street. With solely six speeds to work with, you’ll hear the engine somewhat bit, however solely within the background.

2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX-Status Evaluate Abstract

In contrast to the usual Sorento, which you’ll bounce in for nicely underneath $35K, going hybrid requires greater than 40 grand. Selecting the SX-Status jumps the worth to just about $50K. It’s not low-cost. However for the cash, you get numerous content material. Kia throws in a number of comforts and conveniences in each the primary and second rows —to not point out the power to hold as many as six of us in a pinch.

The heated and ventilated entrance seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, and Bose audio system mix with a quiet and cozy journey. Kia constructed a stable construction and tuned the chassis nicely. And, contemplating that this measures lower than 190 inches from nostril to tail, you get numerous house inside, all whereas feeling small and nimble within the metropolis.

Whereas not as adventure-ready as a Sorento X-Professional, the hybrid makes an incredible journey accent. Consider it like a motorized duffel bag. Stuff it with you, your folks, and your gear to hold to the beginning of no matter epic factor you want to conquer, and it’ll accomplish that means extra effectively than the usual Sorento, X-Professional or no.