SOMETIMES WE MISS THE simple old days when your choice of model was Standard, Special or Premier. Every model now seems to be offered in a bewildering range of model variants, and that’s not even taking into account sub-variants and options packs.
Kia Australia has just announced the Hybrid (HEV) GT-Line FWD and AWD has joined the Sorento range locally. This addition sees Sorento as the only vehicle available in Australia to offer naturally aspirated petrol, diesel, PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid) and HEV variants.
“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’s Chief Operating Officer, Damien Meredith.
“The addition of PHEV and HEV options to the popular Sorento range is another example of Kia’s progress in vehicle electrification. Along with the recently launched and award winning EV6, and the next-generation Niro range of electric vehicles arriving in the very near future, Kia Australia is offering a variety of choices in its contribution to a greener future.”
The Sorento Parallel Hybrid System is comprised of a Smartstream 1.6 litre turbo petrol engine offering optimal fuel efficiency with impressive power (132kW) and torque (265Nm).
An electric motor producing 44kW and 264Nm of torque is mounted between the petrol engine and transmission. This arrangement allows the full output of both the petrol engine and/or electric motor to be transferred in parallel through the transmission, with minimal energy loss.
Combined Petrol and Electric output is 169kW and 350Nm.
Combined Fuel Consumption is 5.3L/100km (FWD) and 5.8L/100km (AWD) respectively on the ADR 81/02 combined fuel cycle.
Energy storage is managed by a high voltage 1kWh Lithium-Ion polymer battery located under the vehicle floor.
Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Sorento HEV FWD and AWD are available in GT-line specification only and offer a wide array of safety, comfort and convenience features, including an intelligently designed, customisable 12.3-inch Driver Digital Cluster providing the status of the hybrid charging system. Its high-resolution screen makes it easy to read with a wealth of information at a glance.
Designed to improve visibility for blind spots, the Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM) uses the side cameras so that when you indicate left or right, the cluster will show the view of the road in your blind spot.
The 10.25-inch Audio Visual Navigation unit displays charging station locations and information. The screen can be split in two for easy access to different apps, vehicle information and multimedia content, and allows the control of the 12-speaker BOSE premium surround system, which is compatible with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
| Features | |
| HEV
GT-LINE FWD & AWD
(1.6 T-GDI Smartstream with 6AT) |
|
| Body Style | Trim | RRP | Drive Away |
| Diesel AWD | S | $50,650 | $53,790 |
| Sport | $53,270 | $56,790 | |
| Sport+ | $57,850 | $61,390 | |
| GT-Line | $65,070 | $68,990 | |
| Petrol FWD | S | $47,650 | $50,790 |
| Sport | $50,270 | $53,790 | |
| Sport+ | $54,850 | $58,390 | |
| GT-Line | $62,070 | $65,990 | |
| PHEV AWD | GT-Line | $80,330 | N/A |
| HEV FWD | GT-Line | $66,750 | N/A |
| HEV AWD | GT-Line | $69,750 | N/A |
Due to the complexity of drive away pricing which varies state by state, particularly when it comes to electric vehicles, national drive away pricing is not available on Sorento HEV and PHEV variants. A drive away price estimation, calculated by state, is available on the Kia website.