Turns out Kia looked at the family rivalry with Hyundai and decided to go big. The hybrid Sorento for Europe just got a serious power bump, and the plug-in version is now a hair's breadth from the 300-hp mark. The new Sorento PHEV pumps out 288 hp, up from 252, and Spanish pricing starts at €61,913. The regular HEV climbs to 239 hp and starts at €53,593.
The current Spanish price list confirms it—these numbers aren't a typo. The gap between the two base hybrids is €8,320, or 15.5%. And here's where it gets interesting: for that money, buyers aren't just getting 49 extra horses. The PHEV comes standard with all-wheel drive and a 13.8-kWh battery capable of covering up to 55 km on the WLTP cycle without burning a drop of fuel.
The HEV, for its part, is available with either front- or all-wheel drive—take your pick. But the power gains have clearly outpaced the price hikes. When the updated Sorento launched in Spain back in 2024, the 215-hp HEV started at €51,570, and the 252-hp PHEV started at €60,860. Power is up 24 and 36 hp respectively, while starting prices climbed just 3.9% and 1.7%. Coincidence? Doesn't look like it.
The PHEV shows this shift most clearly: across two model cycles, it gained roughly 14% more power while its price barely moved. There's a catch, though. The economics only work out if you're actually plugging in regularly. Skip the charging and that extra battery and electric motor stop saving fuel—they just become a source of bonus horsepower. Nice to have, not necessarily a bargain.
The lineup still rests on the same foundation: seven seats and three trims—Drive, Emotion and Emotion Pack Premium. The priciest Sorento PHEV runs €69,863, while the top HEV with all-wheel drive costs €65,393. A 194-hp 2.2-liter diesel remains on sale too, though Kia is clearly shifting its focus toward electrified powertrains.
Meanwhile, competition inside the Korean group has gotten fierce. The Hyundai Santa Fe already offers the exact same numbers in Europe—239 hp for the HEV, 288 hp for the PHEV. So this Sorento update isn't just a chase for bigger numbers on a spec sheet. Kia is bringing its powertrains up to a new corporate standard—and the loudest win is the PHEV, edging toward 300 hp without a dramatic price jump.
