LOOKS 

The 2025 Sorento is basically a slightly smaller version of the popular Telluride — another three-row offering from Kia with similar design language, sharp looking grille and lighting setup. The Sorento’s wheels have a bold design, the overall vehicle looks sleek and attractive from all angles, and my test vehicle had a sharp Snow White Pearl paint color.

The Sorento also features an optional panoramic sunroof with power sunroof, and power-folding mirrors. Other features on my test vehicle included:
— 19-inch alloy wheels
— Smart power liftgate
— Automatic LED projector headlight
— LED taillights
— Heated outside mirrors w/LED turn signals
— Roof rails

Moving inside the Sorento, all three rows feature quality materials, especially on higher trim levels. The leather seating looks and feels truly high-end, and the second row comes with comfortable Captain’s Chairs in the PHEV.

Seating arrangements will top out at 6 total passengers in the PHEV, due to the Captain’s Chairs, but non plug-in versions of the Sorento can be had with 7 seats (and a bench seat in the middle row).

In both setups, you’ll find plentiful leg room in the first and second rows and a family friendly interior. The third row is tight, so save it for the kids if possible.

If you want more room, you’ll have to upgrade to a Telluride, but most families should be perfectly happy with the space offered by the Sorento,

There’s also decent cargo space in the Sorento PHEV, as it offers 75 cubic feet of storage with the back two rows down, 45 cubic feet with the third row down, and 12.6 cubic feet with all rows up. By comparison, the Telluride tops out at 87 cubic feet.

Additional interior features include:
— Dual-zone automatic climate control
— Wireless phone charger
— Multiple USB charge ports
— Heated and ventilated front seats
— Heated second-row seats
— Heated steering wheel
— Retractable rear door sunshades

HOW’S THE RIDE? 

Performancewise, the 2025 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid delivers 261 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, courtesy of a 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. This is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and both trims of the Sorento PHEV come in AWD.

Paddle shifters are included for those who want to control the gears more closely, and drive modes offered include: Eco, Sport, Smart and Snow mode.

You can set the Sorento PHEV to EV mode if you want to use purely electric power, or AUTO mode to alternate between hybrid and electric modes. Sport mode is the most fun, Eco will stretch your fuel farther. Snow mode is a welcome feature in winter weather climates.

I found the Sorento PHEV to have solid acceleration and strong overall drive quality. It’s quiet inside, smooth as you travel, and agile on twisty roads since it’s smaller than the Telluride and other larger three-row SUV options.

The 0-to-60 times in the Sorento plug-in hybrid are decent, but not spectacular — coming in at the mid 7-second range. This is slightly slower than the standard hybrid version, due to the weight of the battery.

It’s not the most powerful driving experience, but is strong enough for most potential buyers in this segment. Sorento buyers are typically not a crowd that’s looking for hot rods, They just want a family friendly ride — and this fits the bill.

In terms of towing, capacity is minimal on the Sorento PHEV, topping out at 2,000 pounds.


TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY 

Technology is one area where Kia delivers a strong overall package.

The 2025 Sorento’s infotainment system is controlled through a customizable 12.3-inch touchscreen, which I found both easy to master via touch controls, and responsive to voice commands.

There’s also a large information screen in front of the driver, and both screens are part of the same long glass panel. Overall it’s a pleasant look.

The only downside of the tech design is the odd setup that makes you toggle between climate controls and radio controls in a touch-controlled strip below the main screen.

For music lovers, the Sorento also features high-end sound systems (including an optional 12-speaker Bose system).

Other tech features include:
— Navigation system
— Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
— Kia Connect (app allowing you to start car, unlock/lock car, control climate, and more)
— Satellite radio (3-month subscription included)
— Smartphone Digital Key
— Digital rear view mirror with HomeLink
— 115V power adapter

On top of the usual tech, the Sorento is also loaded with safety features.

The Highway Driving Assist, a basic self-driving system that keeps you within your lane and uses adaptive cruise control to adjust speeds based on traffic in front of you, worked impressively.

Other helpful features include:
— Automatic emergency braking (warns of impending front impact and applies brakes if needed)
— Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts driver to vehicles in blind spots for safer lane changes)
— Driver attention monitor (monitors for driver drowsiness or lack of attention)
— Full array of airbags throughout the vehicle
— Surround View Monitor (helpful in parking situations)


MPG, ELECTRIC RANGE

The plug-in hybrid version of the 2025 Kia Sorento is rated at 74 MPGe (combined electric and gas rating). This includes an estimated 32 miles of electric range, and after that is exhausted the vehicle is rated at 33 miles per gallon.

These numbers are impressive, as key PHEV rivals to the Sorento deliver both significantly lower MPGe numbers and lower gas-only mileage numbers.

In terms of charging time, if you opt for the PHEV and want to charge your vehicle at home with a Level 2 charger, it will take you just over three hours.

If you don’t want to pay the premium to upgrade to a plug-in hybrid and choose the standard hybrid instead, you’ll average either 36 MPG (on FWD version) or 34 MPG (AWD version). 

The difference of course is that with the PHEV, if you often drive shorter distances and charge regularly at home, you can go long periods without using any of the gas tank, which will mean fewer fillups overall at the pump. For scenarios will less than 32 miles driven per day, and regular charging, you may even forget what a gas pump looks like between your visits.

Gas-only versions of the Sorento are less fuel-efficient, coming in between 23 and 26 miles per gallon.

The simple way to look at the Sorento lineup: The more you pay up front for the vehicle, the more fuel-efficient the vehicle you take home will be. Pay less up front, and fuel costs will be higher.


PRICE 

The 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV I tested was priced just under $56,000, and the base price on the PHEV starts about $48K.

If you opt for a standard hybrid setup on the Sorento, pricing starts around $39K and tops out around $47K. Finally, a standard Sorento with no hybrid component will start as low as $32K.

So depending on your powertrain preferences and budget, Kia has you covered with the Sorento.

The biggest question here is whether potential buyers will be willing to take on the price hike from the standard hybrid to the PHEV version, which some may find a bit steep.

Compared to other similar sized SUVs with plug-in options, the Sorento is more expensive than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, but about the same price as the Mazda CX-90 PHEV, and less expensive than Volvo’s XC90 plug-in hybrid. 

Improving the value proposition on any version of the Sorento is the class-leading warranties from Kia, including:
— 10 Year/100,000 Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty
— 10 Year/100,000 Mile Limited Battery/Hybrid Components Warranty
— 5 Year/60,000 Mile Limited Basic Warranty
— 5 Year/60,000 Mile Roadside Assistance

The only thing missing is complimentary scheduled maintenance.

BOTTOM LINE

The 2025 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid is a strong option for SUV buyers who want a roomy, three-row vehicle that features excellent fuel mileage, an enjoyable driving experience, and some electric power to limit trips to the gas station. 

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AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Follow AutoTechReviews on Instagram at @Autotechreviews or on TikTok at @AutoTechReviews.. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.