11 Pros and Cons of Our Plug-In Hybrid Kia Sorento As a Daily Driver
The PHEV Sorento is a comfortable family hauler, but it’s missing a few features.
Our family has thoroughly enjoyed the initial months of our yearlong journey withMT's 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, though it's hard to say if the feeling is mutual. While the Sorento remains unruffled during the occasional toddler tantrum, the upholstery's resilience to spills and stains was recently put to serious test, which it passed. An easygoing personality is one of the Sorento's best traits, as it made our recent move across state borders less stressful. However, it's certainly not without imperfections. Here are some of our biggest observations so far about the Sorento PHEV's capabilities as a daily driver.
We Like: Comfortable Ride and Cabin
Thanks to its settled ride, the Sorento PHEV remains comfortable around town and on long highway drives. We're also impressed with how composed it remains over rough, bumpy roads with potholes. Although this plug-in hybrid SUV feels large in parking lots, its handling inspires confidence on the road. The plush and supportive seats keep the family comfortable for hours.
We Don't Like: Hesitation Pulling Away from a Stop
At times when I've slowed to a stop and intend to get going again, the accelerator exhibits a slightly delayed response in hybrid mode. This issue is particularly annoying when preparing to make a right turn after stopping at a red light, and I want to complete the maneuver before traffic builds. It's a brief pause, but it happens often enough at inopportune moments that it is one of my biggest frustrations so far with the Sorento.
We Like: EV Range
This is the reason you buy the PHEV version of the Sorento: its coveted electric range. Capable of traveling 32 miles on electricity, the Sorento has enough juice to tackle local trips around town without using gas. It has more EV range than our Mazda CX-90 PHEV, which can only go 26 miles on electricity.
On a related note, I love the Kia Access app and find myself using it several times a week. The app displays charging status and will notify you 10, 20, or 30 minutes before charging is complete, if you choose. It can also remotely start the SUV, lock the doors, and change the climate. The app can help you locate your car or give you the rundown of upcoming maintenance needed. Refreshing the information on the page can take a second, but overall, the app is straightforward and easy to use.
We Don't Like: Range Drops Off
Adding up my trip mileage, I haven't yet been able to get close to the EPA-estimated 460 miles of combined gas and electric range in the Sorento PHEV. Not even 400 miles (370 is the farthest I've driven). I have also noticed that the Sorento's range readout decreases more quickly when the tank is low. It's one of my New Year's resolutions to drive more efficiently, but I'm still not optimistic I will reach the EPA's estimated range.
We Like: Functional Cockpit Layout
We're enjoying the crisp 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which displays helpful information such as EV range and driver's state of alertness. On the lower center stack is the perfectly positioned rotary gear shifter, which lights up the P, R, or N letters as you select the gear. Its small size frees up space for a handy phone cubby.
We Don't Like: No Wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
Despite being the most expensive Sorento—and a well-equipped one at that—our PHEV doesn't offer wireless smartphone connectivity. We expect this feature to come standard on the refreshed 2025 Sorento PHEV coming out later this year.
Not having this feature wasn't a big deal, until I drove a Ford Edge with wireless smartphone connectivity and enjoyed how easy it was to access Google Maps and podcasts when I'm in a hurry. Connecting in the Edge was quick and easy, something I can't say about my Sorento.
We Like: 360-Degree Camera
Must we say more? This feature makes parking so much easier. The 360-degree view pops up quickly on the infotainment screen, and graphics are sharp enough to provide an accurate view of your surroundings as you make a parking maneuver.
We Don't Like: Capacitive Touch Buttons
Some people will disagree, but I'm not a huge fan of the capacitive touch buttons. They look great but aren't as responsive as I'd like. It would be great if the volume knob were a little bigger, too.
We Like: Use of Space
It's certainly not the most spacious three-row SUV, but the Sorento PHEV makes good use of the space it has. As we noted in our car seat review, there's plenty of space for my two toddlers and their car seats, even in the third row. Sitting in the middle row, Grandma can easily look after one toddler in the other second-row seat and another toddler in the third row directly behind.
We Don't Like: Lack of Rear Lighting
When I strap my toddler into her car seat in the third row at night, I wish there were more lighting back there. Lights on the side of the ceiling would be a blessing. At least the third row has other amenities like USB ports and phone cubbies, though my toddler doesn't need those quite yet.
We Like: Solid Power
Along with a comfortable ride, the Sorento PHEV has plenty of power for accelerating onto a highway on-ramp, even in Eco mode. On some family cars, different drive modes seem to have almost no effect on the drive experience. But switch to Sport mode in this Sorento, and you'll notice slightly sharper reflexes.
For More On Our Long-Term 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV:
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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