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When Value Meets Velvet: Rethinking Family SUV Hybrids · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to another In Wheel Time Podcast.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, time now for this hour's car review.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: I had a chance to drive the 2025 Kia Sorrento.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: Final assembly location is Wasong, Korea.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: Available trim levels, two of them, the EX and the SX Prestige.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: I had the hybrid SX Prestige all-wheel drive.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: This is called a small SUV, although it certainly doesn't seem small.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: Three rows with six seats in it, all new in 2021.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: Exterior features include a signature Kia grill with orange daytime running lights.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, kind of unusual there, most of them today are white.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: Quad vertical tail lights, sunshade over the rear glass, and fake dual exhaust.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: Straight horizontal side sculpturing and attractive, unique wheels.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: What I liked, this is one of the sharpest looking SUVs on the market today in my opinion.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: What could use improvement?
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe some more wheel options?
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: It seems pretty complete the way it is.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: Interior highlights, optional big screen for driving and infotainment, twelve point three inches to be exact.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: Quilted seat accents in this upscale model with a sculpted dash.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Very nice.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Dial shifter with a knob on the center console.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of people don't like it.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's perfect.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: It works great.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: Cargo and trunk room.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it's got a small area with the third row up, with the third row down, no big deal.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: It's got plenty of room for all the groceries and plenty of luggage.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: What I liked?
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: The near luxury feel of the interior.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: It really is a nice vehicle.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think anything could use improvement.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: It has a 1.6 liter turbocharged engine with a hybrid battery.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: Turns out in total, 227 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: Through a six-speed automatic transmission.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: This one was all-wheel drive.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: You can get this in front-wheel drive only.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: Tower rating?
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: 1654, so a couple of jet skis back there would be just fine.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: As far as miles per gallon are concerned, this is where it really shines.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: 34 City, 34 highway for combined to 34.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: I got 32.8 miles per gallon over 429.7 miles.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: Most of that is going to be on the highway.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: But I liked about it, the mileage and the engine.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: A fine marriage with the transmission.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: What could use improvement?
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I don't know because it all seems to work so good.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: Ride and handling, very smooth.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: This is a luxurious ride for an SUV.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know how they do it, but it really works.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: What could use improvement?
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: Nada.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: This SUV hits all the right notes.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Be sure to check it out if you're in the market for a small three-row SUV.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Here's the pricing.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: The base trim price is$46,890.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: Now remember, this is the top of the line trim.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: Prices tested with a few options.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: $49,130.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: And remember, overall, the average price of a vehicle these days is$50,000, so that hits the sweet spot.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: But get this.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: The base model price on this is$38,690.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: And that could be in a lot more people's budget.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: Competitors, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid for$46,820.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: That's where it starts.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: The Toyota Rav 4 hybrid starts at$32,850.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: And the Honda CRV hybrid, which I haven't had a chance to drive but would like to,$30,920.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: Overall, this is a great vehicle.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: I give it high marks.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: If you're in the market for an SUV of any kind, I want you to check out this one.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: Even though it says it's a small SUV, it acts like a big one and it acts like and looks like a luxury SUV, the 2025 Kia Sorrento.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: This is the SX Prestige all-wheel drive version.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: And that's my review for this week.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and our InWheeltime.com website.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.