The 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid provides seating for six in a midsize SUV capable of traveling up to 39 mpg in the city. Toss in a wealth of standard features and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and it’s difficult to find fault.
As brilliant an idea as a 3-row hybrid SUV seems, there are few challengers in the field. With Ford dropping the Explorer Hybrid this year, the only real alternatives to the Sorento Hybrid are the newly introduced 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Another option might be the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, reviewed separately.
Powering the Sorento Hybrid is a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion polymer battery pack, producing a combined 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
We should point out that the Sorento Hybrid’s standard 2nd-row captain’s chair seating limits total passenger capacity to six, and its hybrid powertrain reduces towing to just 2,000 pounds vs. the non-hybrid’s 3,500 pounds.
For 2024, there are only two trims: EX and SX Prestige. Let’s look at both and see which is best for you.
Note: A revised Sorento Hybrid, with styling like that of the updated 2024 standard gas-engine Kia Sorento, will be offered for model year 2025.
Prices are current at the time of publishing.
What’s New:
Besides some color changes, the 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid carries over with no significant changes.
Our Recommendation:
We’d get the EX, which is well equipped. But the leather interior, Bose audio, and Blind View Monitor of the SX Prestige pull us hard in that direction.
Sorento Hybrid EX
Starts at $36,690 | See listings
- SynTex upholstery
- 10.25-inch touchscreen
- Middle-row captain’s chairs
- Power front seats with heat
- 6-speaker audio
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Navigation-linked smart cruise control
- Highway Driving Assist
- Wireless smartphone charger
- Smart power liftgate
- Power side mirrors with heat
- LED headlights
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- See more
Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige
Starts at $42,490 | See listings
- Leather upholstery
- 14-way power driver’s seat with thigh extensions
- 12.3-inch digital instrument panel
- 12-speaker Bose Premium audio
- LED projector headlights/daytime running lights
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Blind View Monitor/Surround View Monitor
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Powerpoint in rear cargo area
- Power-folding side mirrors with heat
- See more
2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX: $36,690 (FWD), $38,990 (AWD)
The 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX comes standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), but all-wheel drive (AWD), aided by a center-locking differential, is available for an extra $1,800.
A quick walk around the EX’s exterior reveals 17-inch alloy wheels, a black rear spoiler, auto on/off LED headlights, LED fog lights, roof rails, heated power outside mirrors with LED turn signals, and a Smart power rear liftgate that activates when standing behind it with the key fob.
Kia’s Smart Key proximity key fob allows the doors to be unlocked simply by touching a button on the door handle.
Moving to the EX cabin, we find SynTex synthetic upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with 2-way power lumbar support, an 8-way power passenger seat, 3-setting heated front seats, 2nd-row one-touch sliding and folding captain’s chair seating, and a 50/50 split-folding and reclining 3rd-row seat.
Convenience features include a leather-wrapped tilt/telescoping steering wheel with Bluetooth, audio, and cruise controls. Also standard is a 4.2-inch trip computer display, push-button start (part of the Smart Key system), dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents, a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a one-touch auto up/down power driver’s window. Sliding sun visors with built-in vanity mirrors are a nice touch, as is an overhead console with a sunglass holder.
Kia excels in the areas of infotainment and connectivity, and the Sorento Hybrid is no exception. It includes a 10.25-inch color touchscreen with built-in voice-activated navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system allows for natural language voice recognition that lets you speak casually when controlling various voice-activated systems. Audio reproduction comes courtesy of a 6-speaker AM/FM/HD Radio.
Kia Connect lets you use a smartphone to activate remote start, set the interior climate controls, or locate your vehicle in a crowded parking lot. The Sorento Hybrid also offers several charging and connection ports, including a data port in the front console, three USB charging ports in the second row, and two additional charge ports in the third. Two 12-volt outlets, one in the front console and one in the rear cargo area, are also standard.
The Sorento Hybrid includes an impressive list of standard driver-assist systems, along with mandatory safety equipment such as front, front side-impact, and three-row side curtain airbags. The grouping consists of automatic high-beam headlights, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, a blind-spot monitor with collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic detection with reverse braking.
Also standard are a lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist. Kia’s Lane Follow Assist automatically steers the vehicle, keeping it centered between lane markings. Standard Intelligent Speed Assist alerts the driver to the posted speed limit with an icon in the instrument cluster.
Wrapping up the Sorento Hybrid’s driver aids is a driver attention monitor with lead vehicle departure warning (alerts the driver when the vehicle in front has pulled away), rear parking sensors, a rearview monitor, and a rear occupant alert system with ultrasonic sensors to remind the driver to check the back seats. Safe Exit Assist warns passengers from exiting when the rear radar sensors detect traffic approaching from behind.
Additional systems include cyclist detection for the forward collision warning and avoidance system, front parking sensors, Junction Turning Assist (can apply the brakes to avoid a collision when making a left turn across traffic), and Highway Driving Assist, which controls steering, acceleration, and braking on highways where information is available.
An optional Panoramic Sunroof Package adds a panoramic glass sunroof and LED interior lighting.
With the $1,325 destination charge, the 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX comes to $38,015. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect a monthly payment of around $717. See 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX models for sale near you
2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX includes:
Smart Cruise Control-Curve with Stop & Go — When using adaptive cruise control, the system can bring the Sorento Hybrid to a complete stop and then resume speed once traffic begins to move. The system will also slow the vehicle, if necessary, for curves on the highway.
Wireless charging pad — This pad allows wireless charging of a compatible smartphone, eliminating the need for messy cables.
Available panoramic sunroof — This converts the roof into a giant glass window, which can open part way and features a power sliding sunshade.
2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige: $42,490
The 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige adds more luxury features and standard AWD.
While the hybrid powertrain remains unchanged, the SX Prestige piles on the comfort and convenience with items like perforated leather upholstery, a smart power liftgate, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.
Other SX Prestige goodness includes 19-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, additional exterior LED lighting including LED projector headlights, power-folding side mirrors, a Blind View Monitor, a Surround View Monitor, and a parking collision avoidance program that works in drive or reverse.
The SX Prestige interior adds retractable rear door sunshades, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, and heated and ventilated front seats, including a 14-way power driver’s seat with 4-way power lumbar and 2-way power thigh extension, and a 10-way power passenger seat with 2-way power lumbar support. Memory for the driver’s seat and mirrors comes standard, as does cargo bay 115-volt inverter, one-touch up/down power windows, and HomeLink garage door opener.
The Panoramic Sunroof Package is the only option.
With the $1,325 destination charge, the 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige costs $43,815. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect a monthly payment of around $827. See 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige models for sale near you
2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige includes:
Surround View Monitor — This technology, which gives you a bird’s eye of the area immediately surrounding the Sorento Hybrid SX-P, improves safety in driveways and parking lots.
Blind View Monitor — When you signal left or right, a video image of the Sorento Hybrid’s respective rear three-quarter blind spot appears on the instrument panel, helping to make your lane changes safer.
Smart power liftgate — With the key fob in hand, one needs only stand behind the liftgate for a few seconds, after which the power liftgate automatically opens.
