The six-passenger 2024 Sorento Hybrid comes in a simplified lineup of two trims: EX and SX Prestige. Their hybrid powertrain combines a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 44kW electric motor to produce 227 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. A six-speed automatic gearbox feeds power to either the standard front-wheel drivetrain or available all-wheel drivetrain. With FWD, the Sorento Hybrid returns an EPA-estimated 39 mpg around town and 35 mpg on the highway; this changes to 36 city/33 highway with AWD. You can tow a small trailer with the ’24 Sorento Hybrid, as the capacity taps out at 2,000 pounds.
Kia outfits the base EX with roof rails, a smart power tailgate (which raises automatically when the key fob is detected), proximity keyless entry, remote start, automatic LED headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED fog lights, push-button start, heated side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a convenient dual-level cargo floor, and wireless phone charging. It’s ready for a crowd with three rows of synthetic leather-clad seating and eight USB ports (one data and seven charging), with the added comforts of dual-zone automatic climate control, heated power-adjustable front seats, a pair of second-row captain’s chairs, and a 50/50-split folding third-row bench for two.
The SX Prestige’s appeal grows with genuine leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats with driver’s position memory and thigh extensions, heated outboard second-row seats, projector-type LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and taillights, power-folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, a HomeLink universal garage door opener, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, manual second-row sunshades, and a 115V power outlet.
Kia supplies each Sorento Hybrid trim with the Drive Wise safety technology bundle. Found on all trims are forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian and junction turning detection, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and curve speed management, highway driving assist, intelligent speed limit assist, driver attention warning with leading vehicle departure alert, rear occupant alert, and safe exit assist. As the topmost trim, the SX Prestige also gets a blind-spot view monitor, reverse parking collision-avoidance assist, and a surround-view camera.
Both trims come with a driver-centric 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment array that includes navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth for hands-free phone and audio streaming. But while the EX receives a straightforward six-speaker sound system, the SX Prestige is enhanced with a magnificent 12-speaker Bose unit. Access to Kia Connect is also standard.