When Value Meets Velvet: Rethinking Family SUV Hybrids

Looking for a family SUV that doesn’t force you to choose between comfort, efficiency, and price? We dive into the 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige and unpack how this three-row “small” SUV manages a big presence, refined ride, and impressive mpg without blowing the budget. From first impressions to real-world numbers, we bring a driver’s-eye view of what stands out and where it lands among the best hybrids on sale today.

We start with design: a crisp Kia grille, distinctive orange DRLs, quad vertical tail lights, and straight-line sculpting that reads clean and upscale. Inside, the tone shifts to near-luxury with quilted seat accents, a sculpted dash, and an available 12.3-inch screen that keeps driving info and entertainment simple and sharp. The dial shifter frees up space on the console, and the three-row, six-seat layout offers flexibility—small cargo hold with the third row up, generous room when it’s folded.

Then we get into the hardware. The hybrid pairing of a 1.6-liter turbo and electric assistance delivers 227 hp and 258 lb-ft through a six-speed automatic, skipping the drone of a CVT for a more traditional feel. All-wheel drive confidence, a 1,654-pound tow rating for weekend toys, and real-world efficiency of 32.8 mpg over 429 miles underline its breadth. On the road, ride quality is a standout: smooth, quiet, and composed, the sort of tuning that keeps everyone relaxed over long stretches.

Finally, we tackle value and rivals. With a tested price of $49,130 and a hybrid starting point at $38,690, the Sorento sits below today’s average new-car price while looking and riding like more. We stack it against the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, and Honda CR-V Hybrid to show where the Sorento’s extra row and upscale feel pay off. If you need space for six, crave low fuel bills, and appreciate a cabin that feels a class above, this is one to drive.

Enjoyed the breakdown? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend who’s SUV shopping, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find us. Your feedback keeps us rolling.

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Transcript

Review Setup And Model Overview

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to another In Wheel Time Podcast. Alright, time now for this hour's car review. I had a chance to drive the 2025 Kia Sorrento. Final assembly location is Wasong, Korea. Available trim levels, two of them, the EX and the SX Prestige. I had the hybrid SX Prestige all-wheel drive. This is called a small SUV, although it certainly doesn't seem small. Three rows with six seats in it, all new in 2021. Exterior features include a signature Kia grill with orange daytime running lights. Yeah, kind of unusual there, most of them today are white. Quad vertical tail lights, sunshade over the rear glass, and fake dual exhaust. Straight horizontal side sculpturing and attractive, unique wheels. What I liked, this is one of the sharpest looking SUVs on the market today in my opinion. What could use improvement? Maybe some more wheel options? I don't know. It seems pretty complete the way it is. Interior highlights, optional big screen for driving and infotainment, twelve point three inches to be exact. Quilted seat accents in this upscale model with a sculpted dash. Very nice. Dial shifter with a knob on the center console. A lot of people don't like it. I think it's perfect. It works great. Cargo and trunk room. Well, it's got a small area with the third row up, with the third row down, no big deal. It's got plenty of room for all the groceries and plenty of luggage. What I liked? The near luxury feel of the interior. It really is a nice vehicle. I don't think anything could use improvement. It has a 1.6 liter turbocharged engine with a hybrid battery. Turns out in total, 227 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque. Through a six-speed automatic transmission. This one was all-wheel drive. You can get this in front-wheel drive only. Tower rating? 1654, so a couple of jet skis back there would be just fine. As far as miles per gallon are concerned, this is where it really shines. 34 City, 34 highway for combined to 34. I got 32.8 miles per gallon over 429.7 miles. Most of that is going to be on the highway. But I liked about it, the mileage and the engine. A fine marriage with the transmission. What could use improvement? Again, I don't know because it all seems to work so good. Ride and handling, very smooth. This is a luxurious ride for an SUV. I don't know how they do it, but it really works. What could use improvement? Nada. This SUV hits all the right notes. Be sure to check it out if you're in the market for a small three-row SUV. Here's the pricing. The base trim price is$46,890. Now remember, this is the top of the line trim. Prices tested with a few options.$49,130. And remember, overall, the average price of a vehicle these days is$50,000, so that hits the sweet spot. But get this. The base model price on this is$38,690. And that could be in a lot more people's budget. Competitors, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid for$46,820. That's where it starts. The Toyota Rav 4 hybrid starts at$32,850. And the Honda CRV hybrid, which I haven't had a chance to drive but would like to,$30,920. Overall, this is a great vehicle. I give it high marks. If you're in the market for an SUV of any kind, I want you to check out this one. Even though it says it's a small SUV, it acts like a big one and it acts like and looks like a luxury SUV, the 2025 Kia Sorrento. This is the SX Prestige all-wheel drive version. And that's my review for this week. That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show. I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and our InWheeltime.com website. Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music. Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.