The Kia Sorento PHEV is the plug-in hybrid version of the South Korean brand’s smaller midsize SUV. Kia also offers standard gas and hybrid variants. Rivals include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot, though none of those offer a plug-in hybrid.
2026 Kia Sorento PHEV Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV
For 2026, the Sorento PHEV adds the X-Line trim to the top model, while all versions get a standard Terrain drive mode, a new steering wheel, and a combined Level 1 and Level 2 charging cable. The X-Line is an appearance package that applies a gloss-black finish to the lower front and rear trim, front air intake, grille surround, window surround, and wheels.
Design
Kia gives the Sorento PHEV a familiar look influenced by the Telluride, the larger of the brand’s two midsize crossover SUVs. Up front, a wide version of the corporate “tiger” grille is flanked by vertical headlights. The sides are sculpted to alleviate visual weight, and black wheel arches lend a rugged appearance. A side window line that tapers at the rear provides a sense of motion, and the largely unadorned rear end is topped by a spoiler and bracketed by “n”-shaped taillights that also wrap around to the fenders. It all sits on 19-inch wheels that are black on the X-Line trim.
Powertrain
The Sorento PHEV’s powertrain starts with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. A more powerful electric motor than the Hybrid model is mounted between the engine and the six-speed automatic transmission. Total output is 261 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
A 13.8-kWh battery adds 31 miles of electric range. After range is depleted, the Sorento PHEV is EPA-rated at 33 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. Like the Sorento Hybrid, the Sorento PHEV can tow up to 1,654 pounds.
The Sorento PHEV comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), though the system is designed for foul-weather traction rather than off-road performance.
Interior
Kia equips the Sorento PHEV with three rows of seats and standard second-row captain’s chairs for a six-passenger capacity. The base version includes synthetic-leather upholstery with heated, power-adjustable front seats. Move up to the top trim, and leather upholstery comes standard, along with more front seat adjustments, driver’s seat memory, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.
The Sorento PHEV’s cargo space tops out at 75.5 cubic feet behind the first row. With all the seats up, it has 12.6 cubic feet behind the third row.
Technology
The Sorento PHEV comes standard with a 4-inch digital information center in the instrument panel, and buyers who step up to the top model get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. No matter the model, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen comes standard, as do navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and satellite radio. The base audio system is a six-speaker unit, and the top trim includes a 12-speaker Bose system and a digital key.
