Overview
Kia Corporation, the South Korean automotive manufacturer is fast developing a portfolio of lower-emission ‘eco’ vehicles, to include, zero-tailpipe emission battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and mild hybrids. The Korean automotive company is headquartered in Seoul, and it is South Korea’s second largest automotive manufacturer after the Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai owns a 33.88% stake in Kia Corporation). At one point, the US automotive manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, also owned a stake in Kia.
Kia was found in June 1944, and was formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry. It has also been previously known as Kia Motors Corporation. The Kia name has been derived from the Sino-Korean characters, ‘ki’ (arise) & ‘a’ (Asia) to suggest ‘Rising from Asia’. The Kia Corporation has been active in the European markets since 1991. The Kia electric vehicle (EV) portfolio includes both, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models:
- The all-electric Kia Niro EV
- The all-electric Kia Soul EV
- The all-electric Kia EV6
- The all-electric Kia EV6 GT
- The all-electric Kia EV9
- The all-electric Kia EV3
- Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
- Kia XCeed Plug-In Hybrid
- Kia Ceed Sportswagon Plug-In Hybrid
- Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid
- Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid
Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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Read MoreSign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter
The Kia Sorento PHEV SUV
The Kia Sorento mid-sized SUV has been manufactured since 2002. The current fourth-generation Sorento was unveiled in February 2020. The Kia Sorento is also available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
For larger families or company-car drivers that need more passenger seats, the 7-seater Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is an option worth serious consideration. Moreover, despite the increase in the availability of electric vehicles (EVs), the availability of seven-seater electric cars still remains limited.
The Kia Sorento PHEV pairs a 1.6-litre T-GDi ISG petrol engine with an electric motor, powered by an onboard EV battery. The automotive manufacturer claims a fuel economy up to 176.6 mpg for the electric vehicle (EV). Of course the real-world fuel economy will depend on a number of factors, but none as influential as using the e-mode.
Bottom-line, to increase the fuel economy of the vehicle and lower the driving costs, the PHEV should be driven as much as possible on the electric mode. If the e-SUV is driven with limited use of the pure electric mode, expect a fuel economy closer to 40 mpg.
Given the WLTP certified emission-free electric range is 35 miles, and most commutes are short, there is much scope for taking advantage of electric driving to save money. The PHEV has a 13.8 kWh onboard EV battery, which is reasonably standard for a PHEV of this size.
However, expect the real-world electric range to be closer to 30 miles. The EV range is impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, speed, load, regenerative braking, road condition, weather, wheel size and a lot more.
Taking advantage of the EV range will also require inculcating a habit of charging the EV on a regular basis, which again is as easy as charging a smartphone. We at e-zoomed recommend the use of a dedicated EV charging station, like easee to charge the EV. We do not encourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug.
Charging the EV using a single-phase EV charger will take up to 3 hours 25 minutes (0% → 100%). Of course, if you top up on a regular basis, the charging time will be faster. If you insist on using a domestic 3-PIN plug, it will take over 5 hours to charge up to 100%. The EV incorporates a 3.3 kW AC onboard charger and is not capable of DC fast charging.
In terms of practicality, the EV has much to offer. The interior seven-seater cabin is spacious, with ample headroom and legroom for front and rear seat passengers, to include the third row. Despite the placement of the onboard EV battery, the boot space has not been impacted (604 L).
The standard level of technology is decent, to include: 10.25″ touchscreen satellite navigation, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, reversing camera, blind-spot monitor camera, highway driving assist, remote smart park assist and more. The EV has been awarded a Five-Star NCAP Safety Rating.
The performance of the electric SUV is reasonable. The all-wheel drive Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can achieve 0-62 mph in 8.7 seconds, also benefiting from instant torque. The hybrid drivetrain (1.6-litre T-GDi/electric motor) delivers a maximum power of 261 bhp (torque 350 Nm), sufficient for city and motorway driving. The top speed is 119 mph.
The Kia plug-in hybrid is also an option for company-car drivers, given the reduced tailpipe emissions (38g CO2/km) of the hybrid and lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-12%) tax charge, compared to the conventional petrol variant (168g CO2/km).
The PHEV does not qualify for the UK government plug-in car grant (PiCG). Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A seven-seater with ample space. Practical for families | Not as affordable. Other better priced alternatives available |
| Cheap to run on electric mode | Ride quality not as refined |
| Good standard specifications | Onboard charger limited to 3.3 kW. DC charging not available |
Gallery
The Kia Sorento PHEV SUV (credit: KIA)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG): | Not Available |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In UK: | Yes |
| Variants (3 Options) |
|---|
| Kia Sorento PHEV ‘2’ (from £46,445) |
| Kia Sorento PHEV ‘3’ (from £50,345) |
| Kia Sorento PHEV ‘4’ (from £54,695) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 13.8 kWh |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. On board charger: 3.3 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3 hrs 25 mins) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 38g (CO2/km) |
| EV Battery Warranty: | 7 years or 100,000 miles |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | £1.27 |
| Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | £1.67 |
| Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | £1.73 |
| Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | £1.89 |
| Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | £2.03 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in the UK varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for the UK is 14.40 p/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1700 |
| Width (mm): | 1900 |
| Length (mm): | 4810 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2815 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.6 |
| Boot Space (L): | 604 |
| 1.6 T-GDi PHEV | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 13.8 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 35 miles |
| Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | N/A |
| Fuel Consumption (mpg): | 176.6 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger: 3.3 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3 hrs 25 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 119 mph |
| 0-62 mph: | 8.7 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Max Power (bhp): | 261 |
| Torque (Nm): | 350 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 7 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 2,099 |
| Colours: | 6 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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