Kia has fully revamped the Sorento for the 2021 model year, and the staff hard at work on duty at Newatlas.com gave a thorough review of its performance. Customers thrilled for the coming of warmer weather here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis have been asking about hybrid options, and we're proud to present them with the all-new Sorento Hybrid. Just for starters, it offers a significant boost in fuel economy. This complete revamp also moved the Sorento a bit more to the midsize category, as it's one of the few options out there with 3 rows of seating.
The testing team reporting for duty drove both the brand-new 2021 Sorento in gasoline format as well as the Hybrid and felt that the hybrid model possesses much better balance, and great manners on the road even minus the all-wheel-drive option. Taking noticeable design cues from the larger Telluride and the newly-renamed K5 sedan, the interior becomes significantly more upscale. These are all qualities that today's car buyers are looking for, and to top it all off there is also an 8-inch touchscreen at the base which grows 2.25 inches as you move up in trim level.
The all-new Sorento's screens (of all sizes) possess a rapidly responding interface that offers up blind spot cameras along with other practical features. The child safety latches in the third row are easier to access as well. Plus, with the third row folded down you will have more than enough room for large family grocery store runs or sporting event cargo.
Like many new Kias, even the base level Sorento Hybrid S is very well-equipped. As standard features, you'll enjoy 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, tinted rear windows, roof rails, keyless entry with push-button start, simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats, power-adjustable driver's seat, and a six-speaker audio system. Stepping up to the EX model offers black exterior trim, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, and enhanced forward collision mitigation.
Power for the hybrid is derived from a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and onboard electric motor that together cranks out 227 horsepower. Both the gasoline and hybrid models proved to be quiet on the road, easy to operate and offer refined drives when up against the competition. As many say it does, the Sorento feels much more premium a vehicle than the price tag lets on, and the move into full electrification will continue with the coming of the PHEV model soon to be announced. The Edmunds.com review team also reflected that the competition like the Ford Escape, Hybrid Honda CR-V, and Toyota Venza cannot match the luxury and fuel economy numbers it boasts.
If you like what you hear and you're ready to take a test drive of the all-new 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid, give us a call! We'll help you lease or purchase this all-new hybrid SUV.
