2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Hybrid Review

Sitting as the company’s largest hybrid SUV in the lineup, the Sorento GT-Line HEV Hybrid promises family-friendly practicality and exceptional fuel economy.

For 2024, Kia has updated the family-friendly Sorento with a new styling package and updated equipment and technology lists, making it far more competitive than its predecessor.

How well does the Sorento GT-Line Hybrid stack up against its rivals and justify its lofty price tag over non-hybrid members of the range? Let’s look at the cheapest front-wheel drive hybrid Sorento variant to find out.

Kia Sorento Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

For now, Kia reserves its hybrid engine for the flagship GT-Line variants of the Sorento.

This means that sticker prices are steep, with prices for our test vehicle, the Sorento GT-Line HEV FWD, standing at $70,330.

There’s also an all-wheel drive version of the Sorento HEV Hybrid which sits at the top of the range with a price tag of $73,330.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

@onlineauto.com.au Take a look at the ultra-modern exterior of the 2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Hybrid, combining sleek design with eco-friendly efficiency. For a complete overview of this hybrid marvel, click the link in bio to read our OnlineAuto review. #KiaSorento #CarReview #OnlineAuto #TestDrive ♬ Vibes - ZHRMusic

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Kia Sorento GT-LINE HEV FWD Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid Have?

Sitting at the top of the range, the Sorento GT-Line Hybrid comes jam-packed with premium touches.

A set of 20-inch alloys headlines the list, projector LED head & tail lights, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, quilted Nappa leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated second-row bench, a panoramic sunroof and ambient interior lighting.

The Sorento GT-Line HEV also picks up adaptive cruise control, a surround-view monitor, a remote parking assistant, a digital rear-view mirror, a suede headliner, a wireless charging pad, side parking sensors, a head-up display, keyless entry & start and a power-folding second row.

Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Connectivity & Infotainment Features

One of the major updates for the MY24 Sorento range has been an update for the infotainment system, aimed at making the technology suite more competitive with its rivals.

The Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid receives a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system sitting atop the dashboard, paired seamlessly with the digital instrument cluster that gives the driver’s seat a high-tech feel.

Hi-fi enthusiasts will also love the 12-speaker sound system courtesy of Bose.

Kia’s 12.3-inch display is bright, responsive to inputs and is quite easy to use thanks to a simple menu layout and shortcuts to access Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on the move.

There’s also a touch-sensitive display that toggles between the climate and media control homepage which is a great use of space and keeps things clean in the front of the cabin.

Sorento buyers also pick up a subscription to the Kia Connect service that offers over-the-air software updates for the vehicle, remote locking and climate control settings, vehicle monitoring and location tracking, a voice assistant, valet mode and real-time traffic information.

Does the Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Hybrid Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

While the previous Sorento range was limited to a wired connection to smartphones, Kia’s updated technology suite has seen wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay make their way to the Sorento GT-Line Hybrid.

This is an essential upgrade for buyers in 2024 which, combined with the wireless charging pad, means you can charge your phone and access your media, contacts and navigation apps without touching your device.

All up, Kia’s technology updates for the Sorento are significant and will be very much welcomed by family buyers and tech heads alike.

Is the Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid Comfortable to Drive?

On the road, the Sorento is a super smooth and comfortable family all-rounder on everything from a hop around town to a long-distance burn up the highway.

It’s not exactly a heavy-hitter when it comes to power, though that’s hardly the point of a fuel-conscious family wagon.

Instead, motivation from the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and electric motor is modest, though undeniably smooth in its delivery, with 169kW of power and 350Nm of torque thrown to the front wheels.

Most of the time, the electric motor takes care of initial acceleration off the line, which means there’s a nice sense of urgency when turning at an intersection or navigating a roundabout.

Around town, the Sorento glides comfortably and, importantly, remains easy to pilot thanks to its lightweight, responsive steering; for such a large package, this is a particularly nice touch.

Kia allows you to change the level of regenerative braking via wheel-mounted pedals which, once you’re familiar with the system, becomes almost addictive as you approach any incline and try to re-capture as much energy as possible.

Better yet, Kia’s attention to detail with the Sorento’s suspension package means its a truly versatile family SUV on silky-smooth roads around town and rougher country roads alike, even with the large 20-inch alloys.

The high-speed ride is supportive and keeps the Sorento feel planted, negating the need for most buyers to upgrade to the all-wheel drive variant.

At highway speeds, the Sorento is quiet, with the electric motor kicking in often to keep your pace steady, with the Sorento confidently asserting itself as one of the most versatile large SUVs on the market.

Is the Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Fuel Efficient?

It absolutely is - a feat made more impressive when you consider its size, weight and seven-seat capacity.

Officially, the Sorento GT-Line HEV FWD is rated at 5.4L/100km on a combined cycle, while its four-paw AWD sibling is slightly thirstier, drinking 5.7L per 100km.

Our time in the Sorento GT-Line Hybrid saw us tackle everything from highway stints to country driving and stop-start traffic around town, averaging 6.2L/100km with quite the heavy right foot.

On the highway, we saw figures dropping below the 5L/100km mark, with Kia’s fuel-efficiency figures for the Sorento GT-Line Hybrid remaining a realistic and attainable claim.

Is the Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Practical and Spacious?

The Kia Sorento commands a large footprint on the road, with its bulky stature making it a great venue for large families to sprawl out.

In top-spec GT-Line trim, the Sorento also offers a premium nature that makes it feel mighty competitive with some of its premium rivals, while retaining the practical touches that have made it a hero with families.

Step into the pilot’s seat and you’re treated to great headroom and soft Nappa leather finishes for all the important touchpoints, with the digital instrument cluster keeping things modern up front.

The driver and front passenger are separated by a substantial centre console that houses a storage tray behind the rotary gear dial, a pair of cup holders, a small stash for keys and added storage inside the folding armrest.

Move to the second row and there’s enough legroom for us behind a 185cm driving position, with acres of headroom and creature comforts like a sliding bench and reclining seat for long trips.

The second row picks up cleverly positioned cupholders on the doors, USB-C charging ports on the side of the front seats, air vents and a folding centre armrest.

Access into the third row is made easy with a click of a button that folds and slides the seat forward, while a pair of buttons in the boot allows you to fold them flat with a single touch.

It’s these little touches that make a world of difference for family buyers, so too will the pair of ISOFIX anchors in the second and third row, bringing the Sorento’s total to four ISOFIX anchors for child seats.

The third row itself offers a tonne of room for kids to get comfortable in the third row, who also pick up cup holders, USB-C charging ports and air vents to keep everyone in the family happy.

How Big is the Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV’s Boot?

The Sorento’s substantial footprint lends itself nicely to the task of accommodating cargo, though with three rows standing, capacity is limited.

In seven-seat mode, the Sorento has a boot measuring 179L which isn’t huge, but pretty much on par with key rivals, allowing for a moderate run to the shops or school run, but not much more.

Fold down the third row, however, and the Sorento’s boot offers a much healthier 608L of cargo capacity, increasing once again to 1,996L with both rows folded.

This means there’s a tonne of space for sports gear, surfboards and bulky cargo with both rows folded.

The Sorento’s third row of seats folds up and down manually with a grab handle, while the second-row seats can be conveniently folded via a pair of buttons inside the boot in a very convenient manner.

Is it Safe?

Safety is another strong selling point of the latest Sorento range, which boasts a comprehensive list of safety technologies.

As standard, the Sorento picks up autonomous emergency braking with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as junction assist and a clever blind-spot view monitor that is activated when you hit the indicators.

There’s also a highway driving assistant that combines the adaptive cruise control, lane-follow assist for easy highway driving, as well as rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, safe exit warnings, front, side and rear parking sensors, a surround-view monitor with adjustable views and tyre pressure monitoring.

As a result, the Sorento GT-Line HEV offers every bit of active safety gear that you could hope for, which is one upside of Kia offering it solely in range-topping trim.

Does the Kia Sorento Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Hybrid wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating after testing conducted on the regular Sorento by EuroNCAP saw it score the following marks.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 82%

• Child Occupant Protection: 85%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 63%

• Safety Assist: 89%

What Warranty Does the Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Come With?

Another feather in the Sorento’s cap is the outstanding warranty coverage on offer, though service intervals are short and pricing for the services is quite sharp for the segment.

The Sorento is backed by Kia’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, with a seven-year/150,000-kilometre warranty for the battery and high-voltage components.

There’s also seven years of capped-price servicing for the Sorento which totals $4,545 in FWD variants, increasing to $4,581 in the Sorento GT-Line HEV AWD.

Service intervals stand at a relatively short 12-months or 10,000-kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Hybrid Worth it?

The Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV is a great family all-rounder that successfully addresses one of the biggest pain points of owning a large, seven-seat SUV - their thirst.

With impressive fuel efficiency, some much-needed technology updates and a spacious interior absolutely brimming with family-friendly, practical touches, the Sorento GT-Line HEV is a great way for large families to lessen the hit to their back pocket.

We think that this, the front-wheel drive variant is sure-footed enough that it negates the need to upgrade to the AWD version, and we hope that Kia will transport its fuel-efficient hybrid tech to more affordable members of the Sorento range in the future.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new family SUV or a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help take the stress out of the buying process.

@onlineauto.com.au If you’ve got a large family and are searching for an SUV that will help to trim down the fuel bills, the all-new Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Hybrid SUV may be the seven-seat answer. Read more via the OnlineAuto website today. #CarReview #KiaSorento #OnlineAuto ♬ Hundreds & Thousands - lowfidoo

Five Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. 5.4L/100km claimed fuel economy (6.2L/100km tested)

3. 1,650kg braked towing capacity

4. 179 - 1,995L boot space figures

5. Seven-year/150,000-kilometre battery warranty