‘HEV-ing’ the best of ICE and EV worlds
For three days last week, members of the local motoring media were seen filing in and out the private roads of the EvoCity by the Ayala residential and commercial estate in Kawit, Cavite. Peeps from Kia Philippines were about to come out with something big from the Korean carmaker. It would be taking the market by surprise, but it had to do so at the right time. So, while we were privileged to be the first in the country to lay eyes and hands on this newest “agi” from Kia, we were also told that what happened in Kawit stayed in Kawit, and we had to swear by our signatures that we would keep our mouths shut, which isn’t an easy thing to do for a group of professionals who are paid to break the news as swiftly as possible.
But today’s the day that all can be told. Kia Philippines will roll out the 7-seater Kia Sorento Turbo Hybrid EV. And based on our brief ride and drive experience in Kawit, the new Sorento will shake up the mid-size SUV category.
It’s not just about the Kia Sorento integrating its own electrified drive system (following the hybridization of the Kia Carnival), it’s also about timing. Industry analysts estimate that 40 percent of mid-size SUV buyers in the Philippines now prefer hybrids. Such buyers, most of them professionals or business owners with families—look for passenger comfort and fuel-efficient performance for their next SUV purchase.
The Sorento Turbo HEV fits into the market for a 7-seater mid-size SUVs that’s hungry for a hybrid option. A family man—or woman—whose main concern is the safety and comfort of his or her kin, and fuel costs would naturally look for an alternative that will tick all these in one SUV. The monocoque construction of the new Sorento also adds to the riding comfort and refinement, easier ingress and egress, and responsive driving dynamics. At the same time, this SUV fulfills the owner’s wish for some “oomph!” beneath that hood.
From now on, the Sorento will be offered only in its hybrid variants: The 1.6 EX Turbo Hybrid automatic transmission 4×2; the 1.6 SX Turbo hybrid AT 4×2 and the top-of-the-line 1.6 SX+ Turbo Hybrid AT 4WD.
Smart HEV
The Kia Sorento’s HEV system is smart. It can somehow sense the optimal balance of power and efficiency. The system decides when to activate the engine to charge the battery and when to operate it under EV-only mode to deliver ideal fuel economy numbers based on driving conditions. There’s no need for driver intervention. I didn’t have to push any buttons or switch anything on or off.
If the smart regeneration level is set to Auto, the system automatically monitors its speed, the slope of the road, and the vehicle’s distance between other vehicles ahead. With a smart turbo hybrid powertrain, the new Kia Sorento helps its driver obtain significant fuel cost savings. But since it’s a turbo engine with an electric motor-assisted powertrain, there’s instant power and acceleration at your disposal. But if you’re in no particular hurry and you’re stuck in slow-moving traffic, the Sorento can run in pure EV mode.
On many road and traffic conditions, the hybrid powertrain works to your advantage in terms of fuel economy, performance and refinement. ACMobility executive Mikko David shared his own fuel economy experience driving the new Sorento. In rush hour traffic in Metro Manila he got 12.8 km/liter (driving for 10 km for 56 minutes). At a highway run where he achieved a max speed of 80 kph, he got 21.4 km/liter (for 58.5 km and 55 minutes of driving).
On paper, the Sorento’s turbo hybrid powertrain churns out a class-leading 235 ps and 367 Nm of torque, while also being equipped with 1.49 kWh Li-ion high voltage battery with battery management system. Beneath the hood is the G4F III 1.6 T-GDI 6AT (the first mid-size SUV Turbo Hybrid engine in Kia); a hybrid starter generator, traction motor, and smart stream 6-speed HEV auto-transmission. The Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) regulates the duration of the valve opening according to driving conditions; the Low Pressure Exhaust Gas Recirculation (LP-EGR) recirculates exhaust gas to the combustion chamber for more fuel efficiency. The ICE system only requires a 91 RON gasoline (which means even lower fuel costs).
The top-of-the-line 1.6 SX+ Turbo Hybrid AT 4WD gets a new all-wheel-drive system, active airflow, E-Ride, E-Handling, and E-Evasive handling assist. For safety and convenience, there’s the Kia DriveWise Smart Cruise Control and Surround View Monitor. And since the SX+ has an AWD drivetrain, it can work in mud, sand and slippery conditions while offering safer and more dynamic handling versus ladder-frame based 7-seaters.
Moose test
Part of our drive experience with the new Sorento was to ride shotgun with the expert drivers from the Ramirez clan as they demonstrated the SUV’s E-Evasive Handling Assist feature.
In this so-called “moose test,” the driver performed a high-speed evasive steering maneuver to avoid a frontal collision, simulating a high-speed run where an obstacle suddenly appears ahead (in this case, a moose suddenly galloping onto the road). The E-Evasive Handling Assist maximizes the tires’ lateral grip, improving the vehicle’s agility and stability. It was explained to us that this feature also maximizes the performance of the autonomous emergency steering mechanism, which stabilizes the vehicle’s posture after the evasive maneuver.
And when there’s no imminent emergency maneuvers, and you’re just going by your usual drive, the E-VMC (electrification-vehicle motion control) improves responsiveness at the start of cornering, as well as improves safety when exiting corners.
New exterior, interior looks and touches
The new Sorento hybrid has a stylish exterior, a muscular build with a streamlined design. Up front, there’s the new iconic tiger nose grille, wide front fascia, a unique-in-class vertical 4-cube LED headlamps, signature star-map daytime running lights, a new 19-inch alloy wheel design (235/55 R19) and functional roof rails. The top-of-the-line SX+ variant offers the panoramic sunroof. It also has Surround View Monitor features. At the back, the new Sorento has hidden rear wiper, star map graphic rear LED lighting, new rear skid plate, and power tailgate with proximity function.
Inside, there’s the 12.3-inch cluster and infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Bluetooth hands-free with voice control; Bose 12-speaker sound system for the SX variants and 4 + 2 tweeters for the EX variant; mood lighting, power ventilated seats, and 2,139 liters of luggage capacity, when all two rows of seats are folded down.
Thankfully, the leather material wrapping the seats is not sourced from animals.
Its safety features include the Kia DriveWise ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems); surround view monitor, and 7-airbag system.
As for warranties and after-sales services, the new Kia Sorento Turbo HEV has an 8-year battery warranty and competitive preventive maintenance costs, and a nationwide network of 40 dealerships.
Is it worth having both ICE and EV systems in one car? Kia seems to be very confident when it says you can now enjoy the best of both worlds with its new Sorento Turbo HEV. Running as an ICE, you’re not limited by the charging infrastructure imposed upon pure EVs. Running as an EV, you won’t be tied down by steep gas prices. And when both work together, well, this Sorento Turbo hybrid can get you and 6 other members of your family, or 6 other friends, anywhere you need to go, and your butts and your wallets will all be the better for it.
So, the cat’s out of the bag. I think the new Kia Sorento Turbo HEV is worth a trip to your nearest Kia dealership for a test drive. Bring along your family, and take it for a spin. Unless your surname is Ramirez, just don’t suddenly run a moose test, okay?
