If fuel economy is the benchmark by which you’ll choose your next SUV, then the 2025 Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid should surely be on your shopping list. Delivering 5.4-litres/100km in real world testing, the 7-seat SUV is impressive.
Drive is smooth and responsive from the combination of a Smartstream 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor, delivering a combined 169kW of power and 350Nm of torque. The transition between the two is seamless.
Featuring suspension tuned specifically for Australian roads, and a multitude of drive modes, the Sorento GT-Line Hybrid (the only trim level available in this variant) is offered in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive. It’s the former we’re testing.
On the road, it rides incredibly well, and you almost don’t notice that it’s only the front wheels being driven by the impressive powertrain. Things are just as good inside, where you’ll find a spacious and well designed cabin.
The seats are comfortable and supportive, with the front pews offering powered adjustment. There’s plenty of head and leg room in row two, and even the third row is decent. Accessing the latter is easy too.
That’s thanks to push button access which automatically sends the middle row forward so your passengers can climb in. There’s a powered tailgate, and remote smart parking assist (which lets you use the key to get in and out of tight spaces).
Dual 12.3-inch screens and a colour head-up display provide crucial driving information and intuitive infotainment controls, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both connected flawlessly, every trip, ensuring staying connected on the road is effortless.
Wireless charging is on hand too, while those front seats we mentioned are both heated and ventilated. It certainly feels luxurious inside too, with a black suede headliner, sun visors and A and B pillars, along with leather seating.
There’s a metric tonne of safety tech too, including ABS and stability control, hill start assist, downhill brake control, multi-collision braking, front, rear and side parking sensors, a reversing camera with dynamic parking guides and a 360-degree surround view monitor.
A digital centre mirror and blind spot monitoring with instrument cluster displays to help you see what’s beside you when changing lanes also features, as does LED daytime running lights, headlights, tail lights, and front and rear fog lights.
Rear cross traffic collision avoidance, lane keep and follow assist, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning (with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction assist), and parking collision avoidance in reverse enhance an already impressive package.
Driver attention alert and intelligent speed limit assist round things out, while for those with young children, there’s safe exit assist and a door open warning on the driver’s display. There are five top tether and four ISOFIX anchor points too.
Kia Connect adds remote start, remote locking and a number of other functions, while over-the-air updates ensure your car’s software and mapping is always up-to-date. All-in-all, it’s a well rounded SUV that combines efficiency, performance and comfort.
Great for families, it blends eco-friendliness and practicality and is priced at $76,151 drive away. Some might consider that a little hefty but in reality, the Sorento GT-Line Hybrid feels genuinely luxe and is well worth the price of admission.
It’s also backed by a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty and available in a range of colours that includes Clear White, Silky Silver, Steel Grey, Mineral Blue, Aurora Black, Gravity Blue, Snow White Pearl, Volcanic Sand Brown and Cityscape Green.
You can find out more about the 2025 Sorento GT-Line Hybrid on the Kia Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One.
To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au. For those interested, the Kia Sorento is also offered in traditional petrol and diesel variants, and for 2025, a plug-in hybrid.
Our test vehicle was provided by Subaru Australia for independent review purposes. Images supplied.
