BACK TO NATURE

These offroaders are aimed at adventurers with an environmental conscience

Big cars and large engines have gone hand-in-hand since the earliest days of motoring. But hybrid technology has the potential to change the need for huge motors in seven-seat SUVS, bolstering combustion power with electric assistance.

KIA SORENTO HYBRID

The new Sorento Hybrid combines a 1.6-litre turbo petrol motor with 44kw of hybrid assistance to produce 169kw and 350Nm.

Sold in tiny numbers compared to the allconquering Toyota Kluger, the Kia Sorento Hybrid is only available in top-end Gt-line trim with luxuries such as heated and cooled leather seats, a panoramic sunroof and 12speaker Bose stereo.

That means it starts at $69,750 plus on-road costs (about $75,500 drive-away) in all-wheeldrive trim. Our team was divided by the Sorento’s cabin, which has more hard surfaces than you might expect. The back seat is also a touch cosy, passengers hemmed in by a low sunroof and bulky cupholders.

The Sorento scores points for sipping regular fuel as opposed to the Toyota’s demand for premium unleaded but potential savings are offset by expensive servicing.

It’s rare to find a hybrid motor mated to a conventional six-speed automatic transmission, but that’s what we find here. The combination of transmission, electric motor and petrol engine is occasionally lumpy, particularly when the gearbox doesn’t anticipate driver intentions. Firm suspension makes the Sorento engaging to drive on a winding road, if a little less comfortable for passengers. There’s less roll from the Kia, which returns more precision than expected.

TOYOTA KLUGER HYBRID

The Kluger looms over the Kia and Hyundai as the biggest and best-selling model.

It has a proven 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid engine – the same found in the Camry Hybrid – adding all-paw traction with the aid of a 40kw electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The result is a strong 184kw of combined power, and even more impressive 5.6L/100km fuel use.

Hybrid Kluger customers can choose between three models ranging from $59,990 drive-away to the $83,000 drive-away for the range-topping Grande tested here.

The caramel-coloured cabin felt like a 1990s loungeroom, a sensation reinforced by wonderfully plush seats and dated electronic displays. Built in Indiana to American tastes, the Kluger is a big softie with plush suspension prone to body roll. It’s not a driver’s car, but six out of seven occupants won’t mind.

Toyota’s hybrid know-how shines on the road, where a CVT auto delivers seamless progress the Kia can’t match. Energy harvesting under brakes is similarly silken and the transition between petrol and electric grunt is masterful. The Kluger’s place as the most efficient car here is impressive considering it is the largest and most powerful model. It gels nicely with the meaning behind its name – Kluger being German for “smarter”.

HYUNDAI SANTA FE HIGHLANDER

Toyota calls the Kluger “Highlander” in America, but Hyundai Australia trademarked that name for use on its range-topping Santa Fe.

Updated in 2020, the latest model has a clever dual-clutch auto that reduces fuel use by more than 20 per cent. Though it’s not a hybrid, the 2.2-litre turbo diesel’s 6.1L/100km fuel figure is impressive in everyday running.

And that’s before you factor in 5.3L/100km highway fuel use translating to 1250-kilometre cruising range. The eight-speed auto is a winner on the road, with a wide spread of ratios that keep the diesel on the boil. Its suspension strikes a fine balance between the Kia and Kluger, with more control than the Toyota but less edge than the occasionally sharp Sorento.

We tested the Santa Fe in top-end trim priced from about $71,500 drive-away to match the high features lists of the Kia and Toyota. You get twin digital displays, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, ambient lighting, heated and cooled seats and much more. All three cars are loaded with all the safety gear you could expect, along with practical touches such as full-sized spare wheels and powered tailgates.

Does the surprisingly efficient Santa Fe outhybrid the hybrids in the real world? It’s better for long highway drives, but not as green in town – largely due to a lack of stop-start fuel saving tech. You’ll be the only one burning fossil fuel in the school pick-up line.

VERDICT

The Santa Fe is a great car for towing and longdistance drives but not the most economical choice in town, while Kia’s Sorento is sporty and modern. But the Kluger is still the pick, with superior space and a polished hybrid set-up.