Kia is set to launch its first hybrid car in its line-up, here’s what we know so far.
Read more about the New Kia Seltos.
Kia Hybrid Car India:
while internationally, the Sorento Hybrid has been around since 2020 and received a noticeable facelift in 2023, making it a modern and well-updated SUV for today’s market, and in terms of design, the Sorento Hybrid follows Kia’s “refined boldness” theme, which means it looks strong and tough without being flashy,Kia is getting ready to take a big step forward in India’s electric and hybrid car space, and after already planning to expand its EV range to four models with the addition of the upcoming Syros EV in the next few months, the company now wants to focus on hybrids as well, mainly to attract more buyers and increase overall sales, and as part of this strategy, Kia is expected to launch its first hybrid car in India by the end of the year, with the Sorento Hybrid being the most likely candidate, since Kia usually follows a top-down approach and starts with larger, more premium models, just like it did with its battery electric vehicles, and the Sorento Hybrid fits well into this plan because it belongs to the global D-segment, a category that Indian buyers are already familiar with thanks to models like the Hyundai Santa Fe that was sold here earlier.
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Featuring a confident front end with vertical headlights inspired by the Kia EV9, star map-style LED daytime running lights, a high and muscular bonnet, a large grille with a 3D mesh pattern, big 20-inch alloy wheels, raised roof rails that add to its SUV character, and vertical tail lamps with matching star map graphics at the rear, all of which come together to give the SUV a mature and premium road presence, while stepping inside, the cabin continues this upscale feel with a clean and modern layout that focuses on comfort and technology, highlighted by a wide horizontal dashboard that houses a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system placed together in a curved display, along with neatly placed vertical and horizontal air vents and a smart dual-function touch panel that allows the driver to control both the climate system and multimedia functions easily, and adding to the premium touch are elements like a stylish three-spoke steering wheel with a unique squircle-shaped centre, along with wood grain and metal-style inserts on the dashboard and door panels that give the interior a rich and sophisticated look, and since Kia offers the Sorento Hybrid in both six-seat and seven-seat layouts in international markets, it is very likely that the more practical seven-seat version will be introduced in India to appeal to families looking for space and comfort, while under the hood, the Sorento Hybrid uses a combination of a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine and an electric motor, where the petrol engine produces 177 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque, and the electric motor adds another 64 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, drawing energy from a small 1.49 kWh battery pack, with the entire system working together through a smooth 6-speed automatic gearbox, and buyers in some markets also get the option of an all-wheel-drive system for better grip and stability, and when both the engine and motor work together, the total output reaches 236 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque, allowing the SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 9 seconds, which is impressive for a large family SUV, while the top speed is close to 196 km/h, and even in electric-only mode, it can be driven at speeds of up to 120 km/h for short distances, and when it comes to efficiency, the Sorento Hybrid manages a fuel economy of over 15 km per litre in its two-wheel-drive version as per European testing standards, which shows that Kia is aiming to offer a balance of power, comfort, space, and better fuel efficiency, making the Sorento Hybrid a strong and sensible option for Indian buyers who want a premium SUV with modern hybrid technology without fully switching to an electric vehicle.