Still can't figure what Kia was thinking when it named the Sorento after a small Italian village famous for lemons. The town of Sorrento, spelled with two r's, is known for its abundance of lemon trees.
Guessing Kia still has a sense of humor about it 20 years later as the Sorento remains a popular midsize crossover for the Korean carmaker. The 2022 Sorento EX Hybrid is an even more fuel-efficient example of the capable, comfortable family hauler, and has more total cargo volume than most in its segment.
Coming off a 7th-generation redesign, Kia this year added an all-wheel-drive option to the hybrid, a new plug-in hybrid model with an EPA rating of 79 MPGe, and a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen across the board.
Sorento's styling cues stem from its big brother, the Telluride, with its so-called tiger-nose grille in gloss black, quad-beam LED headlights and angular tail lights. Hood creases and black gloss trim around fog lights and air vents give it a more aggressive look.
Performance is less than exhilarating but it's more than adequate for commutes, trips to school or the coast. Power comes from a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, assisted by a 44 kw electric motor and energized by a 1.5 kWh lithium battery. Together they produce a modest 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Thanks, in part, to the good-sized battery, Sorento has strong pick-up from a stoplight. Helping the cause is a 6-speed automatic transmission, rather than a CVT (continuously variable transmission) often found in hybrids. This tranny moves through the gears quickly and smoothly, but Sorento still takes a leisurely 8.6 seconds to reach 60 mph.
More important in a family car is a quiet, stable and comfortable ride. Sorento handles corners with little body lean, and the suspension soaks up dips and bumps admirably.
Steering is accurate but feel and feedback are lacking. It sharpens some in Sport mode, but then the throttle can get overeager and jerky. On the flip side, Eco mode improves the mpg slightly but is too sluggish for most driving needs.
Sorento can tow a small trailer and boat or Jet Ski — up to 2,000 pounds, depending on trim.
The extra bucks for a hybrid pays off at the gas pump with an EPA-rated 39 mpg city, 35 highway, for a combined of 37.
Looking for something greener? Kia's new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offers more efficiency and power. Its turbo four and electric motor pump out 261 hp, 34 more horses. With the PHEV, you can also run some errands on electric alone if the trip is limited to around 32 miles.
Sorento's cabin has an upscale look and feel, with two-tone fabrics and brushed aluminum accents. Standard seats are trimmed in synthetic leather, heated, and have 10-way adjustability for the driver (for '23, eight-way power adjustments come to the passenger, too). Seats are comfortable, supportive and have ample head and legroom.
Same can be said for the second row, where two captain's chairs are standard and mandatory — no bench seat is available. Just press a button to move them forward for access to the cramped third row. Don't worry, it's fine for grade-schoolers and backpacks, but consider Kia's Telluride or Carnival minivan for teenagers.
Not much room behind the third row, either. Better to pull the rear straps, fold it down and open up to 45 cubic feet of cargo space. Tuck the captain's chairs away for 75.5 additional cubic feet of cargo volume, among the best in its class.
Technology upgrades this year start with the 10.25-inch touchscreen, up from the 8-incher last year. It houses Kia's latest infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and links to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has a simple user interface and responds quickly to inputs.
The driver's instrument display has a screen on the left for charging status and economy performance; the speedometer and tach are on the right. On the steering wheel are controls for cruise control, bluetooth and audio.
Kia skipped the standard gear shifter and went with a rotary-dial gear selector: Turn it right for drive, left for reverse, and push in for park. Easy-peasy.
An available 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system enhances the tunes, while a rear-seat entertainment system can keep the little ones or even in-laws from getting cranky.
Sorento's technology extends to its suite of advanced safety features, including Smart Cruise Control with stop and go; forward collision warning with emergency braking and pedestrian detection; lane-keep assist; blind spot warning and avoidance; rear cross-traffic alert and braking. It also has driver attention monitor, safe exit assist and rear-seat reminder.
Considering the impressive technology, fuel economy and total cargo space, plus a price in the mid $30s, the Sorento appears to be a pretty sweet deal — especially for a crossover named after a village laden with lemons.
2022 Kia Sorento EX Hybrid
MSRP: $36,645
What's all the excitement about? 7th-generation Sorento Hybrid has added all-wheel-drive, standard 10.25-inch touchscreen, class-leading total cargo volume; plug-in hybrid added to Sorento lineup
Powertrain: 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine combines with 44 kw electric motor to make 227 hp; mated to 6-speed automatic transmission
How's the performance? Not spirited but adequate for most needs; comfortable ride, stable on corners; 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds
Fuel economy: EPA-estimated 37 mpg combined (39 mpg city, 35 highway)
