The 2022 Kia Sorento is an intriguing replacement for the bigger Kia Telluride, thanks to additional powertrain options and smaller dimensions. Both Kia vehicles are attractive and feature three rows, but adults will not want to spend much time in the Sorento’s far-back seats, limiting cargo capacity when upright. However, if the third row is stowed, the cabin’s tastefully fitted cabin becomes a suitable spot for a small family.
The Sorento, unlike the Telluride, is available as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, which helps enhance fuel efficiency. Whatever motivates you, the Kia features a smooth ride and pleasant handling qualities. The overall package is coherent and filled with popular standards and extra features, making the 2022 Sorento one of the better selections in its class and a winner of the Editors’ Choice award.
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What is New in 2022 Kia Sorento?
For the 2022 model year, Kia will add a plug-in hybrid vehicle to the Sorento range. It combines a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic gearbox and an electric motor to produce 261 horsepower. Kia says the Sorento has a combined fuel-economy rating of 79 MPGe and an electric-only range of 32 miles. Kia says it will be available in two top-tier trims: SX and SX-P.
The EX trim level appeals to us. It costs more than the bottom two variants but has the more powerful 281-hp turbo four as standard. It also boasts more luxurious options than the S model below, such as leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, remote start, and snazzier aesthetics like 18-inch wheels and black exterior elements.
All-wheel drive with the EX specification costs an additional $3700, or $1900 more than the previous model year. The update includes the X-Line aesthetic package’s content, including a 1.0-inch higher ride height, 20-inch wheels, a bridge-type roof rack, and other unique external elements.
Is the 2022 Kia Sorento a Stylish Car?
What was once a mini-M-Class has undergone a stylistic transformation: The new Sorento is awash in stylistic touches that work better on the outside than the inside. We give it a six since its body is one point above average. The 2018 Sorento has abandoned its calmer and more premium aesthetic elements in favor of a furrowed hood, a sharp nose, narrow LED headlamps, and an electric-razor grille. It no longer wants to be a Mercedes, which is OK; we simply don’t know what it wants to be.
The projecting chin provides a traditionally beautiful appearance, but the Sorento loses its train of thought down its body, sides, and tail. The matte plastic trim pieces on its fenders appear to stick like Band-Aids, and the tabs protrude into the roofline at the rear. Twin LED bands to peel off the Sorento. The Sorento would be highly appealing if they decluttered it.
The new design concept for the cockpit might go a different path, one with fewer coffee stops. It goes above and beyond, with batwing-style air vents framing the central console like a gaming controller. From the outside, the touchscreen resembles an MP3 player.
The dash has too many competing plastic trim textures depending on the Sorento, and it may have a shift lever or a rotary shift control. When contrasted to the perfectly balanced Telluride in the same showroom, it’s perplexing and a bit of a face plant.
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Is the 2022 Kia Sorento comfortable?
The Kia Sorento can seat seven people and has more space than ever. Make four full-size ones if you like; the rest should be mediums or smaller. It gets an 8 for comfort and usefulness because of its comfortable seats and ample cargo capacity.
The Sorento is 189.4 inches long and has a wheelbase of 110.8 inches. It comes standard with three rows of cloth-covered seats. All models above the Sorento LX include a power driver seat and synthetic or genuine leather upholstery, and most may be equipped with a power front passenger seat.
The front seats in the 2022 Kia Sorentos we’ve driven are supportive, with a decent blend of firm bolsters and long-distance comfort, a solid driving posture, and adequate lumbar cushioning. Most people will fit in front with 41.1 inches of leg room and plenty of headroom, surrounded by large storage bins in the console and doors.
Row two has 40.7 inches of leg room with either a sliding bench seat or a pair of captain’s chairs, allowing 6-foot-tall passengers to sit behind equally tall passengers, with net pouches and USB plugs nearby to carry their carry-ons.
The pushbutton that allows access to the third row shows a space with just 29.6 inches of leg room and a low-mounted seat bottom. It is only ideal for small individuals and short vacations. Better still, fold it down to increase the crossover’s 12.6 cubic foot storage capacity to 45.0 cubic feet behind the back seats or 75.5 cubic feet behind the front row.
Kia hasn’t improved the fit and quality of the Sorento this time. Even the most expensive models have hard plastic, and the powertrains are noisier. Previous versions felt fuller and more solid.
How Safe is 2022 Kia Sorento?
The Sorento receives four stars overall from the NHTSA, including a four-star rating for front-impact protection. However, when equipped with optional headlights, the IIHS rates it as a Top Safety Pick; regular headlights have a “Poor” rating.
Automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control are standard on all Sorento models. Parking sensors, blind-spot monitors with brake support, and a surround-view video system are optional on most models. We’d accept them because the third-row seat and roof pillars obscure part of the back vistas.
How does the 2022 Kia Sorento handle on the road and in the turns?
The 2022 Kia Sorento is a comfortable car to drive both on the highway and in town. The cabin is almost always peaceful; however, I noticed wind noise on the road—otherwise, luxury-SUV levels of silence- surprised me. I even put the Sorento through its paces on a tight, curving route, and it handled it admirably.
There are four driving modes to select: comfort, sport, smart, and snow. However, they primarily affect the steering and throttle responsiveness of the vehicle. Because of the faster steering reaction, the Sport option helped the car “feel” better on the canyon road.
2022 Kia Sorento: What’s Under the Hood?
The Sorento is available with front- or all-wheel drive and various engine choices. A 191-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine is standard, while a 281-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is optional. Both have an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid has a six-speed automatic.
Unleash the weekend. #KiaSorentohttps://t.co/Rd7i8gZom4 pic.twitter.com/xWJrVak408
— Kia America (@Kia) November 5, 2021
We drove a top-of-the-line SX version with the turbo four and liked its noticeable oomph, although we wished the engine felt more responsive immediately. The same model had composed handling, a well-isolated ride, and brake-pedal solid input.
The eco-friendly Sorento hybrid has a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine and a 44.0-kW electric motor, producing 227 horsepower.
The plug-in hybrid has the same engine and gearbox as the standard hybrid but produces 261 horsepower, has a bigger 66.9-kW electric motor, and is only available in all-wheel drive. The Sorento can tow up to 3500 pounds when equipped with the towing kit.
2022 Kia Sorento: What is the Fuel Economy?
The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder 2022 Kia Sorento is expected to get up to 24 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is at 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The hybrid Sorento is the most fuel-efficient, with an estimated city and highway fuel economy of 39 mpg. Although the plug-in hybrid has a combined rating of 79 MPGe, city and highway estimations are 35 and 33 mpg, respectively.
Kia further says that the PHEV can drive up to 32 miles solely on electricity on a single charge. We can evaluate the SUV’s real-world mpg once we get the opportunity to run these powertrains on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our thorough testing process.
Final Verdict
The editors of GudStory give the 2022 Kia Sorento a 7 out of 10 rating. The fresh design and opulent facilities of the 2022 Kia Sorento make it a serious rival in the market. Furthermore, its price structure makes it a fantastic deal for anybody looking for a three-row mid-size SUV.
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