Kia’s all-new award winning Sorento three-row SUV now has a plug-in hybrid variant. And earlier today, the Korean firm’s local arm announced full pricing and spec for the model — having already touched down in local showrooms.
Two versions of the Sorento PHEV will be sold locally; the AWD EX and the AWD Premium. The EX will be priced at $73,990 plus on-road costs, with the Premium slotting in at $89,990 plus on-road costs. This means the EX is a touch cheaper than both the $76,990 diesel Premium and $82,990 hybrid Premium Sorento models.
The EX offers a credible feature list. This includes leather upholstery, radar cruise control, parking sensors, a 10.25-inch primary touchscreen, satnav, and a comprehensive safety tech suite. Meanwhile, based on the flagship diesel and hybrid Sorento of the same name, the PHEV Premium comes stuffed with features; including Bose audio, power driver and front passenger seating, and 19-inch wheels.
Both models pair pair the same 1.6-litre petrol four with a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery and a 66.9kW/304Nm electric motor, giving them an overall output of 195kW/350Nm. Both models also get a claimed electric-only range of 57km per charge. Use the electric motor in conjunction with the petrol one, and Kia claims your emissions won’t exceed 36g/km.
Kia claims the Sorento PHEV boasts a segment first, in the form of a water-cooling system attached to the battery pack. This helps manage temperatures to improve efficiency. It’s one of a few clever EV touches on the Sorento; a platform Kia says it built specifically with electrification in mind.
One example of this is its packaging. The aforementioned 66.9kWh battery sits under the Sorento’s floor, making minimal impact on the seven-seat SUV’s cabin and boot space. It’s rated at 175 litres with third row seating erected and 1988 litres when both the second and third rows are folded flat.
“The Kia Sorento PHEV Premium has a bold and robust appearance and offers a luxuriously-appointed interior, as well as go-anywhere all-wheel-drive ability,” said Managing Director of Kia New Zealand, Todd McDonald.
“These considerations, combined with outstanding sustainability credentials, means the new model redefines expectations of what people have come to expect from a large, seven-seat SUV.”
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