The latest edition of the Sorento SUV moves the vehicle closer to electric drive systems. Bumper2Bumpertv has a look at what comes in the package which is filling the gap for now.
THE 2021 VERSON OF THE KIA SORENTO CAN BE FORGIVEN IF IT SEEMS TO HAVE MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES.
THE SUV HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL RESTYLINGS, UPGRADES AND EVEN TRIM LEVELS SINCE IT DEBUTED TWO DECADES AGO.
NOW IT IS PEERING INTO THE REALM OF ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLES.
THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN TEAM HAVE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO OFFER A TRADITIONAL GAS ENGINE, A HYBRID GASOLINE ELECTRIC AND A PLUG IN HYBRID DRIVE TRAIN IN THE SAME PLATFORM.
WE GOT A WEEK IN THE HYBRID VERSION AND HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THE BRAND MAY HAVE FOUND A SWEET SPOT.
LIKE MOST HYBRIDS THESE DAYS IT IS SEAMLESS AS IT SHIFTS FROM GASOLINE TO ELECTRIC POWERED OPERATION IN ROUTINE DRIVING CONDITIONS.
THAT LET US APPRECIATE WHAT IS UNDER THE HOOD, A 1.6 LITER FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE PAIRED WITH A 44 KILLOWATT ELECTRIC MOTOR.
COMBINED OUTPUT IS 227 HORSEPOWER WHICH MOVES THIS THREE ROW UNIT ALONG VERY NICELY.WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE FUEL ECONOMY WHICH LIVED UP TO ITS ADVERTISED COMBINED 37 MILES TO THE GALLON IN BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING.EVEN THOUGH IT IS A HYBRID KIA STILL MATES THE ENGINE WITH A PROVEN SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
THE TEST VEHICLE WAS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE MODEL THAT SEEMED MORE THAN CAPABLE FOR THE TASK.AND IF CALLED UPON IT CAN TOW A SMALL LOAD OF 1600 POUNDS SO DON’T PLAN ON PULLING A BOAT WITH THE HYBRID.
LIKE MOST KIA VEHICLES THIS VERSION OF THE SORENTO COMES WITH A LOT OF THE BRAND’S TECHNOLOGY AS STANDARD.
THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE FEATURES FOR EXAMPLE INCLUDES THE EXPECTED FUNCTIONS WITH ENHANCED FORWARD COLLISION AND PEDESTRIAN DETECTION SYSTEMS. THE INTERIOR LAYOUT PROVIDES THE EXPECTED BUCKET SEATS UP FRONT AND CAPTAINS CHAIRS IN THE SECOND ROW.
THERE IS A THIRD ROW BUT WE THINK IF A BUYER REALLY NEEDS THAT MUCH SPACE THEN SOMETHING LIKE THE TELLURIDE WOULD BE A BETTER OPTION.
NOW IF THE THIRD AND SECOND ROW ARE FOLDED FLAT THEN THERE IS ROOM FOR 75 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO.
WE HAVE NOTICED AND LIKED THE NEW SHEET METAL ON THE SORENTO.
THE EXTERIOR HAS A BOLDER APPEARANCE AND A LOT OF ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TO DETAILS AROUND THE LIGHTS.
KIA LIKE THE REST OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS IN THE MIDST OF REINVENTING ITSELF AS THERE IS A SHIFT TOWARD FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
WHILE THE SORENTO ISN’T QUITE THERE YET THIS GENERATION CAN AT LEST HOLD ITS GROUND UNTIL THE NEXT SYSTEM OF PROPULSION IS ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES OF THIS SIZE.
I’M GREG MORRISON
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