2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid now on sale from $66,750

UPDATE, April 29: Kia Sorento Hybrid now on sale from $66,750

The 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid is now on sale in Australia, more than a year since the electrified SUV was first intended to launch.

Local features and specification for the Kia Sorento Hybrid GT-Line were confirmed earlier this year (below), with the Hybrid variant now bolstering the model line-up with a fourth engine and drivetrain combination.

At a $1000 premium over the equivalent diesel, the Hybrid GT-Line is available in front- and all-wheel drive guise, both of which are around $10,000 less than the range-topping plug-in hybrid.

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2022 Kia Sorento Australian pricing

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March 16: Kia Sorento Hybrid pricing confirmed ahead of launch

Pricing for Kia's new Sorento Hybrid has been confirmed with the new model appearing on the manufacturer's Australian website.

As previously reported by Wheels, the conventional hybrid Sorento will go on sale in range-topping GT-Line guise only, with the front-wheel-drive variant setting buyers back $66,750 before on-road costs.

Stepping up to the all-wheel-drive Sorento Hybrid incurs a $3000 premium, bumping its list price up to $69,750 – sitting below only the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Sorento which is on sale from $80,330 before on-roads.

Read on below for the full features of Kia's electrified Sorento.

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February 28: Kia Sorento Hybrid pricing leaked in dealer document

A leaked dealer bulletin has outlined local pricing details for the 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid, as customer deliveries begin to take place almost one year after its first planned launch date.

Just like the recently-launched Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) GT-Line, the regular Kia Sorento Hybrid will be initially exclusive to the range-topping variant, priced from $66,750 before on-road costs with front-wheel drive, the brand has confirmed to Wheels.

An all-wheel-drive version is also available, which adds an additional $3000 to the list price at $69,750 before on-road costs. This equates to a $10,580 saving over the PHEV GT-Line AWD that now retails for $80,330, following a recent price hike of between $800 and $1700 across the Sorento range.

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In comparison to the GT-Line petrol FWD ($62,070) and diesel AWD ($65,070), opting for the petrol-electric Hybrid with either drivetrain will set buyers back an additional $4680.

Specification for the Hybrid GT-Line is expected to remain identical to the petrol and diesel variants, albeit with the omission of remote smart parking assist and smaller 19-inch alloy wheels shared with the Sport+ and PHEV GT-Line.

As such, standard equipment includes; a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch infotainment system, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, quilted Nappa leather seats, blind-spot view monitor, 12-speaker Bose audio system, head-up display, wireless phone charging, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, and a 360-degree camera system.

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Under the bonnet, the Sorento Hybrid shares its 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with the PHEV. However, the Hybrid features a smaller 1.5kWh battery pack, 40kW electric motor and is self-charging only, rather than the plug-in’s 14kWh unit, 60kW electric motor and dedicated EV charging port.

The combined system power output is 169kW, sent to either the front or all four wheels through a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. An official combined fuel economy of approximately 5.4L/100km is expected – compared to 6.1L/100km for the diesel and 9.7L/100km for the V6 petrol.

Set to compete against the Toyota Kluger Hybrid, the Sorento Hybrid GT-Line is poised to go up against the flagship Grande eFour AWD variant, priced from $75,400 before on-roads.

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Above: Kia Sorento PHEV GT-Line

More affordable versions of the Sorento Hybrid are currently off the table, with Kia’s local arm hampered by supply issues caused by the semiconductor chip shortage and greater demand in the eco-friendly European market.

Initially earmarked for a local launch in the first half of 2021, the Sorento Hybrid was delayed until late 2021, and again to the first quarter of 2022.

Speaking with Wheels at the Australian launch of the Sorento PHEV, Kia Australia product general manager Roland Rivero said “demand in Europe, in particular, is quite high and because they’ve got CO2 regulations and obviously there are tax penalties in Europe for that, priority will go to them first and foremost.”

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Above: Kia Sorento PHEV GT-Line

“If you’re hearing dealers telling you it’s a six-to-eight month wait, they’re not lying. We’ve got some challenges ahead.

“In a perfect world where we had more supply we might have looked at more variants just to give customers greater choice, but what’s interesting is 60 per cent of our mix at the moment is looking at GT-Line anyway.

“You can argue that the majority of customers, when they’re looking at a Sorento, are effectively looking at the top of the range – particularly in the private space.”

Pricing and specification details for the 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid GT-Line are yet to be formally confirmed by Kia Australia, with official details expected in the coming weeks.