The 2022 KIA Sorento Hybrid EX FWD Midsize Crossover SUV
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: What is a Sorento? A Sorento is a midsize crossover SUV from Kia.
Following a total redesign for the 2021 model year, this crossover boasts an upscale interior, with comfortable seating, and a user-friendly infotainment system.
The 2022 Kia Sorento is a midsize crossover that is one of the few in its class to offer 3 rows of seating. In that sense it’s an intriguing pick if you want something that’s more versatile than Kia’s Sportage small SUV, and not as big, or as expensive, as the 3 row midsize Telluride SUV.
For 2022 the Kia Sorento will be available in five trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. Prices start at $29,490, and go all the way up to $44,265. All Sorento models come standard with FWD front wheel drive, and AWD all wheel drive is available as an extra cost option. With more power train options, and a smaller footprint, the Kia Sorento is a compelling substitute for the larger SUV’s in this class.
This week Kia sent me a 2022 KIA Sorento Hybrid EX FWD SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this Hybrid EX model is: $35,990. The options on the test SUV are: the Runway Red paint for $445, and the carpeted floor mats for $210. The total MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the $1,175 destination charge, is: $37,820.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the total out the door purchase price came to: $42,548. At under $43,000 this SUV costs less than the average $45K transaction price for all vehicle purchases, and makes it a best buy in the midsize SUV class. Plus this is a hybrid model, so you’re getting an even better deal in the long run, with gas prices rising so quickly lately.
To prove that point the 2022 Sorento Hybrid gets 35 MPG highway, 39 MPG city, with an average of 37 MPG overall. The greenhouse gas rating is an 8, and the smog rating is a 7, both out of 10. Great gas mileage, good emissions ratings, and a nice price, all rolled into one very capable, good looking, midsize, crossover SUV.
So, how does the 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid driveline work? To achieve these strong results, the 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid teams up a 1.6L liter turbocharged 4 cylinder gas engine, bolted to an hybrid electric motor with a lithium-ion battery pack, to deliver a healthy 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. To get AWD all wheel drive you need to add an additional $1,800 to $2,300 to the price, depending on the trim level and model.
The turbocharged hybrid drivetrain provides up to an estimated 460 miles of combined range. The responsive 258 lb-ft. of torque is delivered seamlessly via the hybrid combination of the electric motor and the gas engine. The high density lithium-ion polymer battery has a range of 32 miles using absolutely no gas in the electric mode. For all around driving, the combination in the Sorento Hybrid reaches up to 79 MPGe, or roughly 450+ miles from the battery power and the 12.4 gallon fuel tank.
Standard included features are: forward collision avoidance assist and junction turning, highway driving assist, navigation smart cruise control with stop and go, and a smart hands free power tailgate. Plus LED fog lights, a wireless phone charging pad, parking distance warning assist in both forward and reverse, and electronic stability control.
Tech starts with a 10.25” touch screen with navigation and mapping, a rear view camera with dynamic guidelines, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, SiriusXM radio, a 4.2” color supervision cluster, USB chargers for all 3 rows, a smart key with push button start and remote start, dual zone automatic climate control, rear cross traffic avoidance assist, pedestrian recognition, blind spot collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, and parking distance warning in reverse.
For a brand new midsize hybrid crossover SUV for under $43 Grand, the Kia Sorento EX delivers a nice blend of technology and good looks, all wrapped up in the industry’s best 10 year and 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
So, when you’re ready to buy a new midsize SUV, the Kia Sorento should be on your ride and drive list, as it’s one of the best priced midsize SUV’s for sale today. Call, click or visit your local Kia dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the 2022 Kia Sorento. And remember that the base price for a new Sorento starts at only $29,490.
Kia - Movement that Inspires. A word to the wise is sufficient: Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember, “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense © editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net