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Motor Trend
a day ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid Review: Expert Insights, Pricing, and Trims
The 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid provides six-seat versatility with the fuel-efficient benefits of a hybrid engine. Kia also sells the Sorento with non-hybrid gas engines and as a plug-in hybrid, but all have stylish design, high feature content, and a three-row seating layout. Introduced for 2021, this generation of Kia Sorento got its most recent update for 2024. Rivals to the Sorento Hybrid include the Toyota Grand Highlander, Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, and Mazda CX-90. What's New We expect the 2026 Sorento Hybrid will be mostly unchanged from the 2025 model. The Sorento got a major refresh for 2024, which brought updates including: New design details Larger standard infotainment touchscreen Revised interior controls and touchpoints Fresh paint and upholstery choices What We Think A Kia Sorento with better fuel economy—what's not to like? Well, not much. Although the 2026 Sorento Hybrid isn't as quick as Sorento models with the turbocharged engine, it's otherwise just as solid, versatile, and nice to drive. With its in-between sizing, the Sorento's third row isn't as spacious as in larger SUVs—yet the fact that the Sorento is smaller overall could be a perk. The Sorento isn't a three-row SUV for everyone, but for many drivers it's just the right size. The Sorento Hybrid's lack of power could be a concern, although we suspect that the SUV's improved fuel economy and long driving range will more than compensate for some buyers . Regardless of what's under the hood, though, the Kia Sorento is a great SUV. Performance and MPGs The Sorento Hybrid's powertrain consists of a 1.6-liter turbo-four paired with an electric motor. It makes 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That output is sent through a six-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and AWD optional. In MotorTrend testing, a Sorento Hybrid FWD accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. Fuel economy rates at 36/36 mpg city/highway with FWD, and 34/34 mpg with AWD. Regardless, driving range on a full tank of gas is over 600 miles—impressive. Is the Sorento PHEV Better? Kia also sells the Sorento as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). This powertrain also uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 but has a stronger electric motor that increases output to 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, which reduces the 0-60 mph time to 7.4 seconds. It comes standard with AWD. Power isn't the point, though—efficiency is. The Sorento PHEV has a 13.8-kWh battery, which can provide up to 30 miles of all-electric driving range. If you can charge at home, the Sorento PHEV could yield significant fuel savings over the Sorento Hybrid. Read all about the 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid here. Safety Ratings and Features When it was most recently crash safety tested for 2025, the Sorento Hybrid earned a five-star overall score, the best possible result, from NHTSA. Standard driver assist and active safety features in the Sorento Hybrid include: Front and rear automatic emergency braking Side cross-traffic alert Intersection collision avoidance Lane departure warning Lane keep assist Adaptive cruise control The higher-end SX Prestige model gains: Emergency evasive steering assist Blind-spot view cameras Low-speed collision mitigation Rain-sensing windshield wipers Semi-automated lane change functionality Cargo Space and Interior Room Part of the Sorento Hybrid's appeal is that it's not as huge as some three-row crossovers. Accordingly, however, it has less space inside than some other hybrid family SUVs. All Sorento Hybrid models are equipped in a six-passenger configuration with second-row captain's chairs. Technology The 2026 Sorento Hybrid is equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. It has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with multi-device Bluetooth connectivity. Over-the-air updates keep the system fresh. In the base EX trim, a 4.0-inch display is positioned between analog gauges, while the SX Prestige model upgrades to a 12.3-inch all-digital gauge cluster screen. A wireless charging pad is standard, along with USB ports in all three rows of seats. The Sorento Hybrid EX gets a six-speaker audio system, and the SX Prestige has a Bose 12-speaker premium setup. Other tech upgrades on the Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige include a digital rearview mirror and 360-degree camera. EX vs. SX Prestige: What's the Difference? The entry-level 2026 Sorento Hybrid EX is expected to cost approximately $40,000. It will come equipped with a variety of features and amenities including a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, 12.3-inch touchscreen, a wireless charging pad and USB ports in every row, and a powered tailgate. Choosing the 2026 Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige, which costs about $48,500, brings upgrades like a 14-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row captain's chairs, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, faux suede headliner, LED interior lighting, premium audio, and a 12.3-inch gauge display, among other changes. Other Competitors to Consider: Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Mazda CX-90 PHEV Volvo XC90 PHEV
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NHTSA resets fuel efficiency framework, rebuffs prior policy
This story was originally published on Trucking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Trucking Dive newsletter. Federal fuel efficiency standards for fleets can't be based on vehicles that only use alternative energy, such as EVs and hydrogen fuel cells, according to new oversight by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In an interpretive rule last week titled 'Resetting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Program,' the DOT agency weighed in on boundaries for setting average fuel standards for manufacturers' lineups. The interpretive rule described previous NHTSA regulations as policy never permitted by Congress in energy law. That law centers on the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. 'The statutory prohibition was clear at the time of enactment and has remained clear: it is impermissible for NHTSA to consider the fuel economy of dedicated automobiles in setting maximum feasible fuel economy standards,' the agency said. The maximum feasible level is determined by the DOT secretary and is based on four factors: technological feasibility economic practicability the effect of other government standards on fuel economy the nation's need to conserve energy Manufacturers can continue to make EVs and other alternative energy vehicles, but the interpretive rule clarifies how fuel efficiency standards are set. While there were no immediate changes, NHTSA 'will no longer regulate beyond its statutory authority,' according to the administration's interpretative rule. The new policy sets the framework for potential future changes to manufacturing regulations for autos and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The interpretive rule also prohibits a federal medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle program from fining vehicle or engine manufacturers for violating efficiency standards. Recommended Reading NHTSA seeks to fast-track AV deployment Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
a day ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
The Message Behind Toyota's Big Hybrid Achievement In Indiana
It has already been 30 years since Toyota debuted a hybrid concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show; testing following a year later. The very first Prius launched in Japan at the end of 1997, and the model became a symbol of fuel efficiency into the new millennium. Today, the words 'hybrid' and 'Toyota' are tightly intertwined. Listen and you'll hear the spaceship sounds of a Toyota hybrid rolling down the road with its distinct tone. Seventeen of the brand's models are hybrids, including the popular RAV4 (offered only as a hybrid for 2026 models). Its hybrids have been performing very well for Toyota. 'Toyota's stubborn focus on hybrids over EVs is part of a broader challenge by the world's biggest automaker to the prevailing industry and regulatory orthodoxy that all cars will be electric in the near future,' reported Reuters in August 2024. Indeed, Toyota chairman (and grandson of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda) Akio Toyoda has been often criticized by the media for the brand's slow approach to all-electric vehicles. Then the market for EVs started showing signs of slowing down, and the current administration's determination to eliminate the federal tax credit for EVs started to alter the trajectory of the battery-electric vehicle uptake. As it turns out, Toyota's approach to hybrids may have been the smartest move for them. In January and February, Toyota's U.S. sales rose 20 percent, powered by an 83 percent rise in sales of its hybrids and plug-in models. 'We're not saying EVs are not a good solution to carbon emissions,' Jack Hollis, executive vice president of Toyota North America told the New York Times in 2024. 'They are. They're just not the only solution, and a lot of our customers have been telling us they want choice — hybrids, plug-ins, and EVs.' Toyota Sienna hybrid on the line in Indiana. Toyota At Toyota's Princeton, Indiana plant on the southwest side of the state, the automaker's one millionth hybrid just rolled off the line on June 12. The facility employs 7,650 Toyota employees and they have been building the all-hybrid Sienna at the Indiana site since 2003. Going forward, the Princeton plant will prepare for assembly of an all-new, three row battery electric SUV. Toyota says Sienna sales were up more than 95 percent year-over-year in May. In total, its electrified lineup accounted for nearly half of Toyota's sales volume that month, indicting a solid appetite for fuel-sipping vehicles. The Sienna gets an impressive 36 mph combined rating from the EPA, and it's a comfortable family hauler for short and long trips alike. With current tariff fluctuations in the auto market giving automakers figurative whiplash, Toyota's Indiana plant is representative of the strong presence the brand has in the U.S. Including its new battery plant in North Carolina, Toyota has 11 manufacturing plants in the U.S. and a massive campus at its North American headquarters in Plano, Texas. As America figures out where it wants to be in terms of BEV charging infrastructure, cars, and energy, Toyota is hedging its bets wisely.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Startup JetZero to build $4.7B factory in North Carolina
This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter. Aerospace startup JetZero unveiled plans on Thursday to build its first manufacturing and assembly facility in Greensboro, North Carolina as it looks to break into commercial aerospace production. The $4.7 billion plant is expected to create 14,500 jobs, the largest job announcement in state history, according to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. JetZero aims to begin construction next year, and eventually produce 20 planes per month when at full capacity by late next decade. The startup plans to deliver its first commercial aircraft by the early 2030s. Founded in 2021, JetZero has garnered attention across the airline industry for its promise to build 'middle market,' more fuel efficient aircraft. JetZero is aiming to take on the market by offering a wider design that tackles what the startup says are some of the key pain points with current aircraft. Its signature Z4 plane will feature a wider boarding door and more passenger sections that prioritize personal space and individual overhead bins, according to a release. The startup also claims its planes will feature 50% better fuel efficiency as a result of its all-wing design. Each plane will seat 250 passengers and be able to fly routes up to 5,000 nautical miles. Both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have invested in the company, as well as signed conditional purchase agreements. JetZero is partnering with Siemens to integrate digitial and industrial artificial intelligence tools across the new factory. The two companies will also work together to build JetZero's prototype, set to take flight in 2027. The startup also plans to work with the state's community college system to create a talent pipeline for the thousands of jobs it promises to spur. "We've already discussed the company's unique workforce needs and outlined a detailed customized training plan which will be developed through our NCEdge program," John Loyack, vice president of economic development for the North Carolina Community College System, said in a statement. "In a joint effort with Guilford Technical Community College and other colleges in the region, we're excited to move forward into implementing a customized program.' The project will be aided by a sizable state grant that spans the next 37 years. JetZero, which is calculated to grow the economy by $259.4 billion over that time, could then receive more than $1 billion in state incentives, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The Southeast is becoming a growing hub for aerospace manufacturing. Boeing, which has produced its Dreamliner planes in South Carolina since 2007, is in the midst of a $1 billion expansion to the campus as it looks to ramp production of the planes. Boeing supplier Williams International is expanding further south in Florida, where it's building a $1 billion gas-powered turbine engine manufacturing site. Finally, fellow startup Archer Aviation began production at its Georgia factory in January. The air taxi manufacturer hopes to produce 650 electric takeoff and landing aircraft a year by 2030. Recommended Reading Williams International to build $1B aviation engine plant in Florida Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Top Gear
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Skoda Superb Estate - long-term review - Report No:3 2025
But the 2.0-litre diesel suits this work. It's been refined and sorted for years. It might only have 190bhp (193PS in European), but there's 295lb ft of torque (400Nm) on offer between 1,750 and 3,250rpm, which is exactly where you need it. A 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds is in the sweet spot of fast enough, and although a top speed of 142mph is largely irrelevant, it means that a continental cruise on an Autobahn or 80mph Autoroute will be easy pickings. A fact reinforced by 57mpg if you're doing UK 70mph speeds. The Superb is supposed to get 47mpg combined, but in a big turn up for the books, and a devastating indictment of my grandparent-style driving, I'm actually getting over 50. I don't really use Sport mode and have a habit of clicking the car into Eco for the 50mpg per tank extra that it provides. Sorry, but when you pay for your own diesel… It's funny, but when you actually look forward to doing a bit of driving or using a car to its fullest, you know something's going well. And yes, I'm fully aware that constantly singing the praises of a 2.0-litre diesel estate car is a bit dull, but age is knowing what's good and caring less about what's supposed to be cool. Although saying that in a world of MHEVs and hybrids, electric SUVs and small-capacity turbo engines is lauding what appears to be a throwback. The seven-speed auto works very well, sorting gears with minimum fuss, even if it's not the absolute last word in deftness on the odd upchange. You can use the paddles - which I do on the odd cross country lope - but really, it's more about sitting back and letting the car take the strain. And again, the four-wheel drive system only kicks in with any authority when the front wheels have raised concerns, be that off-road or on. Saying that, I've been consistently surprised that the Superb can find a bit of grip on a wet grass field without any trouble. If you're on-road, you'll find that the whole thing is stable and consistent, but tends towards early onset understeer and a gentle kind washing out, like it's forgotten where the apex of a corner once was. Nothing to be concerned about, but the racier humans in the office would call it boring. Boring is good - boring is what you want on late night drives in the rain. Interestingly, the 'progressive dynamic steering' seems to blend very nicely - you rarely notice much difference unless you concentrate. There's enough feel at speed and no muscle required when parking, so something's right. There's a slight raised eyebrow at the ride at times, mind. We've got this car on the smaller wheels and Pirelli Sotto Zero winter tyres - and yes, I'll run them in warmer weather and don't care - so there's a touch more sidewall. But get a big enough pothole or series of lateral ridges and you'll still get a proper jiggle from the suspension. More a commentary on my local roads, but it's wise to note that this isn't limo-like at all times. It does stay level and true no matter what's in the back though, and I've had it absolutely stuffed full of gear thanks to university-bound spawn. Have to say though, it's the little things. The multiple hooks in the boot, plus 12-volt charging points both sides, the ability to drop the rear seats from the boot via the levers in the same panel. The actual spare wheel. The extra nets for stowage. The little umbrella in the door cubby, the centre console that houses a sunglasses holder and screen wiping block, the clear tag in the windscreen that holds a parking ticket. The fact that you can switch off the speed limit warning bongs and lane-keep assist quickly and easily through the steering wheel clickwheel. The fact that the LED Matrix lights on the L&K are absolutely spot-on, and the CarPlay/Android is wireless and automatic. There are 5 USB-C ports in the cabin, and the voice control actually works. It's a good basic car with attention to detail that makes it a great one.
