2026 Kia Sorento PHEV

Smartstream

1.6L Turbo I4 Plug-in Hybrid

A smooth, quietly muscular electrified four that leans on its electric motor for instant low-speed shove and settles into seamless turbo-petrol cruising once the battery tapers off, prioritizing refinement over drama.

Built around Hyundai-Kia's Smartstream architecture, the brand's umbrella name for its efficiency-focused engine generation, and shared across the Sorento and Sportage PHEV lineups for Korean, North American and European markets.

• Unlike most hybrids that pair the engine to a CVT, this PHEV uses a conventional six-speed automatic, giving it a more traditional stepped-gear feel.
• The lithium-ion battery enables roughly 30 miles of all-electric driving before the gasoline engine ever needs to wake up.