Kia released plenty of details about its new 2022 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid last month — but not the model’s price. Now, we know the plug-version of the redesigned SUV will start at $46,165 before any applicable tax credits. Since Kia is still eligible for federal EV incentives, the automaker said the plug-in’s price could go as low as $39,578 with the full federal tax credit applied (all prices include destination).
The new plug-in model joins the regular gas version and hybrid version of the three-row SUV, which were both redesigned for model-year 2021. The plug-in’s base price is for the SX trim; it will also be available in the SX Prestige trim starting at $49,065.
The Sorento PHEV uses a version of the hybrid’s turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. It adds a 13.8-kilowatt-hour battery and 66.9-kilowatt electric motor for 261 combined horsepower, more than the hybrid model’s combined rating of 227 hp. All-wheel drive is standard. The plug-in has an EPA-estimated range of 32 miles of all-electric driving and a projected rating of 79 mpg-equivalent.
Compared with a base hybrid model with optional AWD (the hybrid is only available in lower S and EX trims, and AWD is standard on the EX), the plug-in will cost around $3,000 more — after the tax credit.
Like the other Sorento models, the plug-in will also come loaded with standard safety and driver-assist tech. On the plug-in, that includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-centering steering, a blind spot warning system with side-view monitors, and cyclist detection integrated into its automatic emergency braking.