MotorTrend

Do We Have Buyer’s Remorse About Our 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV After Driving Its Rivals?

Exploring how our yearlong review Sorento stacks up against its closest competition.
WriterMotorTrend StaffPhotographer

After driving the refreshed 2024 Sorento and a fully redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, I realized a few things about our yearlong review 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV.

A comfortable SUV can quickly feel like a second home you don’t want to leave, as is the case with my Sorento PHEV. But when I swapped it for a week with the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy then spent another week in the updated 2024 Kia Sorento SX Prestige, I gained a healthy new perspective on my long-term test vehicle. All three vehicles are fully loaded six-seater models, which meant I had every available feature to examine and compare. Despite being the oldest of the trio, my yearlong Sorento still boasts unique characteristics I appreciate in a family SUV.

Capable Cabin

One look at the Hyundai Santa Fe, and you can immediately tell it’s a next-generation vehicle. Its Land Rover–like exterior complements a stunning interior with bold ambient lighting, decadent seats, and high-quality materials. It’s an upgrade from my more subtle tester and the face-lifted 2024 Sorento, also plush but with some lower-quality touchpoints. Delightful storage solutions give the Hyundai a further edge: an upper glove box with a UV sanitizer, cargo hooks on the front seat backs, and a center console box that opens up to rear passengers.

The Santa Fe Hybrid offers more first- and second-row legroom, as well as more overall headroom than my long-termer. It also has more cargo space, complemented by a wide-opening cargo hold. Yet in practice, I can fit my family of five pretty much as comfortably in our 2023 Sorento.

My yearlong Sorento has room for two car seats in any configuration I choose, and when folding down one of the third-row seats, there’s enough room for a week’s worth of groceries. The third row is comfortable for short adults and may even be more pleasant than in the Santa Fe. Sitting in the way back of the Hyundai, I noticed a somewhat prominent hump in the floor in front of me intruding into my foot space. If you’re looking to stretch your legs out, one leg will sit higher than the other due to this hump. However, as I appreciated in the Santa Fe, I could really use more illumination in the third row of my long-term Sorento.

Tech Is Behind the Times

My long-term Sorento’s age reveals itself most in its touchscreen tech. Both the Santa Fe and the refreshed Sorento feature much more responsive infotainment systems and crisper 360-degree cameras, which make it just a little easier to navigate out of a parking spot. Yet compared to the 2024 Sorento’s pesky dual-function climate and infotainment touch panel, which often resulted in accidentally changing the temperature when I intended to change the volume, I appreciate my long-termer’s much simpler controls.

Hitting the Road, and the Charger

Although the 2023 Sorento PHEV exhibits a comfortable ride around town and on the highway, I have wondered if the grass is greener on the other side when it comes to NVH. It turns out none of these vehicles is particularly quiet on the open road. Both the Santa Fe Hybrid and 2023 Sorento shield occupants from rough impacts on the road. (The particular 2024 Sorento I drove delivered a slightly harsher ride on its 20-inch wheels.)

I enjoyed living plug-free for a few weeks, almost as much as I missed my Sorento PHEV’s 32 miles of pure electric range. This advertised electric range holds up well in real-world driving. After the swap, I also better appreciated the Sorento PHEV’s handling. Around turns and curves in the road, it feels like a smaller SUV compared to the Hyundai. I also gained a new affinity for the Sorento PHEV’s power after driving the steady but leisurely Santa Fe Hybrid.

A Good Alternative to New

Yes, the top-trim Santa Fe has superior amenities and style. As is the case with the updated Sorento, its tech represents a major upgrade. Despite not feeling quite as spacious, my 2023 Sorento performs well in the fundamentals of three-row hauling. It benefits from ample power, feeling like a smaller SUV, and an upscale cabin that belies its age. It’s still a fine choice for those seeking a comfortable three-row SUV.

More on Our Long-Term 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV: 

  

Kelly Lin

When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.

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