You don’t usually associate seven-seat SUVs with hybrid drivetrains and head-turning design, but Kia thinks it’s time we do. Enter the 2025 Kia Sorento Turbo Hybrid AWD – midsize three-row crossover that aims to prove you can have brains, beauty, and a little eco-consciousness, all without giving up family-hauling utility or driving comfort.
We recently took Kia’s newest hybrid up to Baguio and beyond, along with other media personnel, and after several days on the road, I came home with plenty of thoughts – some glowing, some grumbly. Long story short, the Sorento SX Turbo Hybrid AWD is a top-spec machine that’s part suburban shuttle, part mountain crawler, and part tech lounge. For the rest, read along.
Generally Good-Looking Without Looking Generic
Let’s start with the obvious: the Sorento is a looker. While technically a facelift of the previous-gen model, it doesn’t look like one. With a reworked front end and bold Starlight LED lighting signatures, the Sorento looks modern and upscale. Our tester came in a moody shade called Volcanic Sand Brown, which catches the light in all the right ways. It’s a refreshingly original paint job in a sea of white, black, and grayscale SUVs.
At a glance, the Sorento doesn’t scream “off-roader,” and to be fair, it’s not trying to be one. Ground clearance is modest, which pays dividends in easier ingress/egress but limits its rock-crawling credibility. That said, don’t count it out when the pavement ends – this AWD hybrid proved more than capable on loose rocks and unpaved roads on within the Cordillera highlands, but more on this later.
The 19-inch alloys wrapped in highway tires add a sporty touch, though some more rugged rubber would have added confidence on the bevy of rough terrains we tackled.
Comfortable, Thoughtful, Mostly Practical Cabin
The Sorento’s interior feels like it was designed by someone who has taste and is tech-savvy. The high-rise center console gives it a cockpit-like vibe, and the rotary shifter, while unconventional, is intuitive enough after a few hours behind the wheel. Materials feel upscale across the board. Our unit had white leather upholstery – a pleasure to look at, but you’ll think twice before letting your kids climb in with ice cream cones.
The driver gets a clean, digital gauge cluster and a responsive infotainment screen, both housed under a single glass panel for a premium, seamless look. Storage is excellent with multiple cubbies, cupholders, and USB-C ports spread across all three rows.
The second-row seats are plush and roomy for two. Fitting three adults is doable, but the middle passenger will have to deal with a sizable hump. The third row is surprisingly easy to access thanks to one-touch folding seats. It’s not exactly palatial back there, but kids will be more than happy, especially with their own A/C vents and fan control.
Behind the third row, there’s enough cargo space for a decent grocery haul or a couple of overnight bags. Fold it down, and you’ll have no problem hauling your Landers loot—or a couple of folding bikes, if you’re feeling outdoorsy.
High-Tech Vibes With One Odd Omission
Kia packed this thing with tech. From the massive infotainment display to the booming Bose sound system, the Sorento feels like it was designed for road trips with a Spotify playlist on blast. Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard, though we ran into some annoying glitches with connection stability—particularly when switching between users.
The advanced driver assistance systems are top-notch. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot cameras that appear in your gauge cluster when signaling, and a super crisp 360-degree camera made city parking and mountain maneuvering far less stressful. We also appreciated the Smart Cruise Control, which smoothly adjusted to traffic flow even on curvy roads.
Oddly though, there’s no tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) – or we had a hard time finding it, which shouldn’t be the case – which feels like a bizarre oversight at this price. In a vehicle this sophisticated, we shouldn’t be whipping out manual tire gauges.
Smooth Moves On And Off-Road, But a Few Quirks
Under the hood, the Sorento gets a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, putting out a combined 235 horsepower and 367 Nm of torque. That’s more power than most diesel rivals like the Fortuner or Montero Sport, but less torque. Still, the power delivery is smooth and confident, even at speeds and with five adults on board and some luggage in the back.
What impressed me most was how well it handled the climb to Baguio. There was minimal engine strain and almost no high-rev drama, which is rare for a non-diesel SUV on steep gradients. The ride was firm yet compose – perfect for carving through twisty mountain roads without tossing your passengers like salad. The all-wheel-drive system helped the Sorento feel planted no matter what the situation dictated.
It’s the same AWD that we think what made the Sorento survived the grueling off-road task. On the way to Lubo Lake, we spent around an hour slowly traversing through loose rocks and bumpy surfaces within narrow lanes just enough for a single vehicle, and we didn’t feel the Sorento was going to fail. It didn’t feel like it’s home, either, but think of it as a friend who frequently visits – he already knows where to get the utensils to make himself a nice omelette even when you’re not around.
Braking, however, presented a learning curve, I must say, especially on our way down from Baguio. The Sorento offers three levels of regenerative braking, including a smart mode that adjusts based on traffic. It’s fun to use – until the battery tops off. Once it’s full, regenerative braking shuts off completely, leaving you with engine braking that feels insufficient, especially on steep downhill sections. For a hybrid, this was a head-scratcher.
EV mode is present, but a bit of a wallflower. It rarely engages on its own and is mostly limited to crawling speeds. Fuel efficiency over 300 kilometers of driving averaged out at 11.9 km/L – not record-breaking, but understandable given the route and load.
Pricey, But Worth It for the Right Buyer
At P2,888,000, the Kia Sorento Turbo Hybrid AWD sits in a tricky position. It’s more expensive than many traditional ladder-frame SUVs, but it also offers a very different proposition: comfort, style, and tech-forward features that many of its rivals just can’t match.
If you’re in the market for a seven-seater and you’re tired of the bouncy, diesel-clattering ride of traditional SUVs, the Sorento might just be your escape plan. It’s not perfect – connectivity could be smoother, downhill braking needs improvement, and the lack of TPMS still bugs me – but it’s undeniably refined, capable, and (dare we say) cool.
Beyond a family car, the refreshed Sorento is a statement that practicality and personality can go hand in hand. Just maybe ignore those drive-thrus and wait until you get home.
