Kia is looking to take a bite out of the Toyota Kluger’s sales with the Australian arrival this month of the Sorento hybrid.
It will be the latest addition to the Sorento SUV range which added a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) late last year. It is the only model range in Australia available with petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
From launch, the Sorento ‘self-charging’ series hybrid will be available in one highly-specified model grade – the GT-Line – in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) guise.
Pricing starts at $66,750 before on-road costs for the FWD, while the all-paw version adds a $3000 premium for a price tag of $69,750.
That undercuts the flagship Sorento PHEV by more than $10,000, but Toyota has a price advantage, for now.
The Kluger hybrid starts at $54,150 for the entry grade GX AWD and climbs to $75,700 for the Grande AWD.
For now, the Sorento and Kluger are the only two offerings in the sub-$70,000 large SUV segment with a hybrid option. However, the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee will be offered in five-seat 4xe PHEV guise later in the year.
For now, the Sorento hybrid is only available in the range-topping GT-Line grade. That’s due to production constraints resulting from the semiconductor shortage and global supply chain issues.
Kia Australia chief product planner Roland Rivero told CarsGuide in October last year that the company was initially keen to offer more grades, but it was hampered by the global situation.
“We’re having a few issues with the semiconductor shortage” Mr Rivero said. “We would have investigated a full range of hybrids – given we have severe shortages, we didn’t want a greater amount of complexity in the Sorento range.”
It is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, combined with a 1.49kWh battery and 44kW electric motor, for a total system output of 169kW/350Nm. It drives either the front or all wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel economy is believed to be rated at 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres, which is a sip more frugal than the Kluger’s 5.6L claim.
Standard gear on the GT-Line Hybrid includes a 14-way power adjustable driver’s seat, quilted Nappa leather-appointed seats, dual-zone air conditioning, ambient lighting, wireless device charger, power tailgate, a 12.3-inch colour digital instrument cluster connected to a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.
Safety gear includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitor, and a lane keeping aid with lane change assist.
2022 Kia Sorento hybrid pricing before on-road costs
| Variant | Transmission | Cost |
| GT-Line FWD | Automatic | $66,750 |
| GT-Line AWD | Automatic | $69,750 |
Keyword: Watch out Toyota Kluger! 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid Australian pricing and features revealed for single-grade electrified SUV