2023 Kia Sorento PHEV Yearlong Review: How Does Its Safety Tech Perform?
From adaptive cruise control to blind-spot monitors and rainy-day driving aids, here’s what to know about the Sorento’s safety creds.
Even a great infotainment system isn’t enough to make a traffic-ridden road trip less taxing. For that, you need systems like Kia’s Highway Driving Assist (HDA). Several months into our yearlong test of the 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV, this feature has proven invaluable, easing the burden of long drives with its capable adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this tech? And how well do the other driver assist and safety features perform? Let’s explore how the Sorento makes us feel secure on the road.
0:00 / 0:00
Highway Driving Assist: Kia, Take the Wheel
Just as it was in our yearlong 2020 Hyundai Sonata and 2021 Sorento testers, HDA remains a reliable companion for long commutes and road trips. The adaptive cruise control maintains a consistent speed and distance from the car ahead. When the vehicle ahead changes into another lane, the Sorento reacts smoothly and relatively quickly to keep up with the flow of traffic. The precise steering assist also inspires confidence, eliminating much of the constant steering effort needed while navigating highway curves. HDA keeps the car within its lane, although if unchecked, it sometimes wants to veer to the leftmost part of the lane. The updated 2024 Kia Sorento offers a more advanced version of this semi-autonomous driving system called HDA 2, which adds lane change assist functionality.
Keep in mind these aren’t hands-free driving systems like GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s BlueCruise. HDA requires the driver’s hands to remain on the wheel, or else it will eventually deactivate after warnings.
Rain or Shine
They say Californians can’t drive in the rain. But I felt at ease piloting the Sorento through the many downpours that have hit San Diego this winter (staying away from the worst storms, of course). Rain-sensing wipers engage automatically, clearing the field of view in an SUV that already offers good forward visibility with its expansive windows. The LED projector headlights with automatic high-beams provide excellent illumination that covers an expansive area around the vehicle. These bright lights make me feel safe driving at night down a dark road or in unfavorable weather conditions.
Watch Your Blind Spots With This Handy Feature
Blind-spot view monitor acts like another set of eyes when you’re changing lanes. After so many years of switching lanes without this tool, though, I am only now getting into the habit of using it on a regular basis.
Activate a turn signal, and a view of the lane you’re looking to enter pops up in the instrument cluster display. If you click the left turn signal, for instance, the left gauge will show a real-time video of the lane to your left. Normally it provides a clear picture, but the feature doesn’t always work well in the rain as droplets block the view.
The 360-Degree Camera Is Gold
As its name suggests, this feature provides a 360-degree view around the car to facilitate parking maneuvers. It’s a lifesaver for navigating this large SUV into a tight spot. The camera resolution isn’t the sharpest, but it’s suitable for the job. There’s a handy button to activate the 360-degree camera when you start a parking maneuver, but given how often we use the feature, we wish it were in a more obvious place rather than in the middle of the lower center console. It activates automatically when you reverse.
Kia Access App
Kia’s smartphone app has many practical uses. It can remotely start the engine or lock the doors, plus it provides info on your vehicle’s charging status. But with features like Find My Car, it’s also a great tool to keep track of where you parked or where your family members are. Click on the 360 View Gallery icon, and you’ll receive pictures of what’s to the front back, left, and right of your parked car. We’ve even used an identical feature on our long-term Genesis G90 to spy on our car while it was at the dealer.
Other Helpful Tools
Another helpful feature on long drives, Driver Attention Warning keeps tabs on how alert the driver is behind the wheel. If it senses fatigue in the driver, it will suggest taking a break. I’ve also long enjoyed the Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, which provides a gentle audio alert when the vehicle in front of you has moved ahead.
How Does the Sorento PHEV Perform in Crash Testing?
Unfortunately, the Sorento PHEV hasn’t been rated by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Other Sorento variants have been tested, though. Gas and traditional hybrid versions of the 2023 Sorento received an unimpressive four-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. However, the non-PHEV 2023 Sorento made a strong showing with IIHS, earning Good scores in all crash categories evaluated.
Although our Sorento isn’t equipped with the most advanced tech Kia offers, its set of driver assistance features make us feel safe on the road. We hope the refreshed Sorento improves on its predecessor’s NHTSA safety score; only the 2024 Sorento Hybrid has been fully tested, and it likewise received a four-star overall rating out of a possible five stars.
For More on Our Long-Term 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV:
*EPA blended-PHEV (charge-depleting) mode testing, with vehicles set to their default drive and brake-regeneration modes.
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.
Read More
