Kia Sorento hybrids in short supply

Hybrids and EVs appear to have become victims of their own success in Australia, where demand continues to exceed supply and finding one in a showroom is harder than getting into Ferrari’s future model orderbook.

The new Kia EV6 is sold out until 2024 and now we’ve been told that only around 20 of the new ‘plugless’ Kia Sorento Hybrid vehicles will arrive on Aussie shores each month, alongside about 10 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions.

So if you want one and you haven’t placed an order, you might want to get your skates on.

Kia Australia today announced its second petrol-electric Sorento Hybrid model has finally touched down in local showrooms after several delays, and the new top-spec plugless hybrid is priced at $66,750 plus on-road costs, so it’s likely to attract a lot more customer attention than the $80,330 Sorento PHEV.

Kia says the Sorento now has Australia’s most diverse powertrain line-up, including petrol, diesel, series/parallel hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.

However, stock shortages for the Kia Sorento – which we named carsales Car of the Year in 2020 – have seen sales slump by almost 50 per cent in the first three months of 2022.

This has given its arch-rival, the Toyota Kluger, and many other seven-seat large SUVs a leg up in the sales race, but vehicle supply issues are expected to plague customer delivery times across all mainstream brands and models for much of this year.

Like the PHEV version, the new Kia Sorento Hybrid will be offered exclusively in top-spec GT-Line trim, which means it comes with lots of fruit, including 19-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with live blind-spot camera feeds, plus heated and cooled power-adjustable quilted Nappa leather front seats.

An 8.0-inch head-up display, 10.25-inch infotainment touch-screen, a 12-speaker Bose audio system featuring Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and an in-car intercom is also part of the package, along with 360-degree parking camera, remote engine start, a panoramic sunroof and ‘fast’ wireless smartphone charger.

Unlike the AWD-only PHEV model, the Sorento Hybrid is offered in front- and all-wheel drive configurations, the latter adding $3000 to the price for a grand total of $69,750.

Compared to regular petrol-powered Kia Sorento GT models, the hybrid attracts a premium of just over $4000, and adds an advanced powertrain comprising a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine (132kW/265Nm) hooked up to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all of which are also present in the PHEV.

But instead of the PHEV’s expensive 13.8kWh battery pack, the Sorento Hybrid has a 1kWh battery and together with an electric motor (44kW/264Nm) the family SUV bangs out a combined 169kW and 350Nm.

The vehicle can drive in petrol mode, electric mode, or combined, with the engine and brakes recharging the battery pack. Combined fuel consumption is claimed at 5.3L/100km for the FWD model and 5.8L/100km for the AWD vehicle.

The Sorento Hybrid AWD is not quite as economical as the Toyota Kluger AWD based on the latter’s claim of 5.6L/100km, but the Sorento is more affordable when lined up against the Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid’s $75,700 (plus on-road costs).

“Sorento already provided one of the most versatile, practical and spacious large SUVs on the market and now in an industry first, it also offers Australian buyers the most diverse powertrain line-up to choose from within a model range,” said Kia Australia’s chief operating officer, Damien Meredith.

How much does the 2022 Kia Sorento cost?
S petrol – $47,650
S diesel – $50,650
Sport petrol – $50,270
Sport diesel AWD – $53,270
Sport+ petrol – $54,850
Sport+ diesel AWD – $57,850
GT-Line petrol – $62,070
GT-Line diesel AWD – $65,070
GT-Line Hybrid – $66,750
GT-Line Hybrid AWD – $69,750
GT-Line PHEV AWD – $80,330
*Prices exclude on-road costs