For 2021, the Kia Sorento 3-Row SUV Gives You the Choice of Electric, Hybrid Or Turbo Driving
Elizabeth Blackstock
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It was already all that, and now, it’s even more.
Kia has looked to the future with its 2021 Sorento, so there are four engine options available: two internal combustion engines and two electrified engines. So, if you’re looking at the benefits of electrification, Kia is giving you a chance to evaluate all your options.
The base option is a 5-liter combustion engine, which offers 27 mpg and will serve more of your basic commuting needs. The next step up is the 5-liter turbo, which provides a slight downgrade in fuel mileage in exchange for 3,500 lbs of towing capacity.
If you’re interested in a much greater range, though, you’ll want to look at the 6-liter turbo hybrid, which combines an internal combustion engine with a small electric motor to get the best of both worlds. By using gasoline and electricity in tandem, you should be able to get 37 mpg.
The final option is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that won’t be available until next year. A PHEV is similar to a hybrid in that it includes both a gasoline engine and an electric motor, but it uses up all the energy from the battery first. Gasoline becomes a backup plan. In this instance, Kia says that the 2021 Kia Sorento will have an all-electric range of 30 miles. So, that’s 30 miles you can travel before your car swaps to gasoline power.
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The 2021 Kia Sorento offers a far more spacious interior than ever before. ? Kia
Space For All Your Needs
This is a big one for all the growing families: the 2021 Kia Sorento offers a ton of different seating options along with improved legroom and cargo space. There’s a combination for just about everyone.
The wheelbase has been expanded by 1.4 inches on the new model, which basically means that Kia has provided an opportunity for more interior space. The three-row format comes with 4+2 or 5+2 seating—or, four or five seats for backseat passengers—depending on your needs. If you’re transporting a lot of people, you’ll want to opt for the 5+2 arrangement, which offers seating for seven: two in the very back row, three in the middle, and two in the front seats.
There are options for leather fabric as well as captain’s chairs in the second row as opposed to the traditional bench seating pattern.
Related: Kia Telluride Wins 2020 World Car of the Year, and We’re Not Surprised
2021 Sorento X-Line
Even More Technical Prowess
The 2021 Kia Sorento is loaded with handy technical features that will make your driving experience all the more comfortable. The biggest features here are the driver assistance systems. There are a grand total of 16 different systems that will do everything from detecting pedestrians and cyclists to helping you park to making sure your attention isn’t drifting behind the wheel.
Alongside those features are Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant integration, user profiles to allow for driver customization, a digital cluster for viewing your traditional dials, SiriusXM radio, eight USB charging ports, and a premier Bose sound system.
Related: Why Aunt Jean Leased a 2019 Kia Sorento ES After Visiting Her Niece
The panoramic sunroof in the 2021 Kia Sorento. ? Kia
“Find My Car” and “Last Mile Navigation:” Help Even When You’re Not in the Car
There are also two new features being debuted in the Sorento, courtesy of its UVO Intelligence connectivity. This is an app that connects right to your car and provides you with tons of data, but for the first time ever, it will include something called “Find My Car” and “Last Mile Navigation.”
Find My Car uses the vehicle’s multiple exterior cameras to show you the car’s surroundings. Not only is it a handy way to remind you where you’ve parked if you’re someone prone to forgetting, but it can also double as a safety feature. If you’re about to walk to your car at night, Find My Car can let you inspect your Sorento’s surroundings before heading out to the parking lot.
Last Mile Navigation is also handy. If you’ve had to park farther away from your destination than intended, the UVO app will give you walking directions for destinations up to 1.2 miles away.
The 2021 Sorento SX offers extra storage space under the cargo floor. ? Kia
All Wheel Drive Option for Off-Road Readiness
If you have a specific vision in mind for what your Sorento needs to be, then you’re in luck: there will be five different trims that each provide different features and include either AWD or FWD capabilities, depending on what you need.
While Kia hasn’t shared details about the specifics of each trim, it has clued us in on what we can expect from its range-topping X-Line SX-Prestige AWD trim: a roof rack, increased ride height, and downhill descent control. If you’re someone who likes to hit the trails or who lives in a hilly area, this might be a great option for you.
Kia has not yet announced pricing, but when it was released, the 2019 Sorento started at $26,690 with the range-topping version nearing $40k.
Off-roading is made far more comfortable with the 2021 Kia Sorento. ? Kia
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