Kia Sorento Hybrid performance, top speed & engine
The latest Kia Sorento is an undeniably large and heavy car, but the petrol engine and electric motor in the Hybrid work together to deliver decent performance
| 0-62mph | Top speed | Driven wheels | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.7s | 119mph | Four | 227bhp |
There's only one engine available with the Sorento Hybrid – a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol. It's paired with an electric motor and 1.49kWh battery pack. Combined, these give total outputs of 227bhp and 350Nm of torque, which is fed through a six-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. For those who need to tow, the hybrid Sorento has a maximum braked towing capacity of 1,650kg. For a big SUV, that isn’t much to write home about – especially considering the 2.2-litre diesel Sorento is rated at 2,500kg.
Kia Sorento Hybrid 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration
Despite weighing more than two tonnes, the Sorento is quite sprightly off the mark. From a standing start, the Kia takes 8.7 seconds to haul itself to 60mph. It's worth noting that sharp acceleration brings with it a harsh engine note, so it's often best to take things easy in the name of peace and quiet.
Handling
One area where the Sorento struggles is ride quality: it isn’t as smooth as you’d expect a large family SUV to be. Even with the smallest (17-inch) available wheels fitted, the Sorento fidgets over the kind of broken road surfaces that are commonplace in the UK. Many rivals perform much better in this regard, including the Skoda Kodiaq and Land Rover Discovery.
There's a silver lining, though, as that firm suspension translates to good handling on twisty roads. In addition to this, body lean is managed well (for a car of this size at least) plus the steering is quick and direct. While this is all impressive, we can’t help thinking few typical Sorento buyers will prioritise focused handling over comfort.
