The Kia Sorento family of SUVs offers an appealing balance of traits that keeps it perpetually high in our list of the Best 3-Row SUVs. We say “family of SUVs” when discussing the Sorento because Kia builds its midsize family hauler with a surprising four powertrains.
Two gas-powered Sorento options include a 191-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and a 281-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder version. A plug-in hybrid Sorento offers up to 32 miles of all-electric range.
But the sweet spot for many buyers will undoubtedly be the Sorento Hybrid. It gets up to 39 mpg in city driving and 35 mpg on the highway, with a lower starting price than the plug-in and a long feature list.
Two Trims, One with Everything
Kia offers the Sorento Hybrid in two trim levels – a well-equipped EX model starting at $36,590 and a near-luxury SX Prestige starting at $42,390. Kia also charges a $1,295 destination fee on its 2023 SUVs. That’s a reasonable figure in a year when many competitors have increased delivery prices to account for the rising cost of the diesel fuel used in transport.
You’ll need to add just one option package to get to the absolute top-of-the-line 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid. The Panoramic Sunroof Package adds a large sunroof with a power sunshade and LED interior lighting. It pushes the starting price to $44,985.
Kia offers a short list of options, including a rear seat entertainment system, side steps, and the usual carpeted floor mats and cargo cover. It also charges a $445 fee for two preferred paint colors – Runway Red and Snow White Pearl.
Should you choose every last one of them, counting an added-cost hue, you could push the MSRP as high as $50,250.
2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige Features:
Other features you’ll find on the fully loaded 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige include:
- A 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 gas engine mated to a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor for a total output of 227 horsepower
- Torque vectoring all-wheel-drive with a center-locking differential
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Perforated leather seating
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Heated second-row seats
- A 14-way power adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support and thigh extension
- A 10-way power adjustable front passenger’s seat with power lumbar support
- A heated steering wheel
- A smart power tailgate with adjustable height that will open if the driver stands behind the car with the smart key for 3 seconds
- Power-folding side mirrors
- A 12.3-inch digital driver’s instrument display
- A 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation and SiriusXM satellite radio
- Kia Connect remote services, allowing you to control some car functions from your smartphone
- Surround view monitor
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- A wireless phone charging pad
- A 12-speaker Bose premium audio system
- 8 USB chargers and a 115-volt power inverter
- Smart cruise control with stop & go
- Kia’s Drive Wise suite of driver assistance systems, including
- Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection
- Blind-spot collision avoidance assist
- Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist
- Lane-keeping & following assist
- Safe exit assist
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Driver attention warning
- Highway driving assist
- Rear occupant alert
Kia Connect
Pictured here on the 2023 Kia Telluride, the Kia Connect app is free for the first year to 2023 Sorento Hybrid buyers.
We’re fans of the Kia Connect app, which extends control of some car features to your smartphone. It’s free for the first year to all Sorento Hybrid buyers. After the first year, buyers can extend their subscription with packages ranging from $5.99 to $19.99 per month. Kia Connect lets you control functions like pre-setting the cabin temperature — a great benefit in both summer and winter.
Second-Row Captain’s Chairs
Many competitors build in rear bench seats as standard equipment and make buyers pay extra for the more comfortable captain’s chairs. With the Sorento Hybrid, Kia goes straight for the more comfortable option. This has the added benefit of making the third row easier to access.
More 2023 Kia Sorento
Read our full review to learn more about the Sorento Hybrid or see Sorento Hybrid models for sale near you.
