How does the Sorento's fuel economy hold up in real world driving as Kia claims?
The Sorento boasts impressive fuel economy figures, particularly for the hybrid and plug in hybrid models according to Kia. But official ratings are not always what you get in the real world, and often by a considerable amount. Actual fuel economy may vary depending on driving style, terrain, climate, and vehicle load factors. Some owners say they’re getting numbers that are almost exactly or even better than the official ratings, while others are disappointed with falling short. The debate frequently revolves around whether the Sorento's fuel efficiency is truly competitive in its class, and whether the fuel savings that are possible are worth the Sorento's premium price over nonhybrid alternatives. And there's talk about whether or not the plug in hybrid is practical in areas where the charging infrastructure isn't that robust.
In my hybrid Sorento I’m getting pretty close to the advertised numbers. It's not exact but I'm always in the ballpark. It really seems to shine in city driving.
I have a gas model and the fuel economy is decent, but nothing like what Kia is claiming. My sticker is usually about 3-4 mpg under that, which adds up over time.
I’m a PHEV owner and the efficiency is incredible. I can do my daily commute completely on electric, and even on longer trips I’m averaging over 40 mpg.
At best, I think Kia's numbers are optimistic. In mixed driving I get barely 22 mpg out of my 2.5T, a modern engine.
The key is to drive it right. You'll see great numbers if you don't constantly ride heavy on the throttle and do a lot of short trips. On longer routes, it can be surprisingly efficient, but only if driven gently.
In my hybrid, I actually get better mpg than advertised. This took some practice to get the most out of, but now I can hit 40+ MPG in mixed driving on a regular basis.
The economy is good, but not great in the real world. It’s better than my old SUV, but not the game changer that I was hoping for considering the price premium of the hybrid.
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Discussions and Questions How Does The Sorentos Fuel Economy Hold Up In Real World Driving As Kia Claims
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