Beware Toyota Kluger! Australia's 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid pricing and specs revealed for one-class electrified SUV

For now, the Sorento Hybrid will be offered exclusively in the GT-Line version.

Kia is looking to take a bite out of Toyota Kluger sales with the introduction of the Sorento hybrid in Australia this month.

It will be the latest addition to the Sorento SUV range, which added a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) late last year. It is the only range in Australia available with petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

From launch, the Sorento self-charging hybrid series will be available in one special model class, the GT-Line, in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) versions.

Pricing starts at $66,750 excluding FWD touring costs, while the full paw version adds a $3000 premium for the price of $69,750.

It's over $10,000 cheaper than the flagship Sorento PHEV, but for now, Toyota has a price advantage.

The Kluger Hybrid starts at $54,150 for the entry-level GX AWD and goes up to $75,700 for the Grande AWD.

For now, the Sorento and Kluger are the only two offerings in the sub-$70,000 large SUV segment with a hybrid option. However, the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee will be offered as a five-seat PHEV later this year.

At the moment, the Sorento hybrid is only available in the top-end GT-Line configuration. This is due to production constraints caused by semiconductor shortages and problems with the global supply chain.

This was announced by the chief product planner of Kia Australia Roland Rivero. Cars Guide in October last year, the company initially aimed to offer more varieties, but this was prevented by the global situation.

“We have a few issues with semiconductor shortages,” Mr. Rivero said. “We would have explored the full range of hybrids – given the acute shortage, we didn’t want more complexity in the Sorento line.”

It is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine coupled with a 1.49 kW battery pack and a 44 kW electric motor, resulting in a total system output of 169 kW/350 Nm. It drives either the front or all wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel economy is believed to be rated at 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers, which is a sip more modest than Kluger's claimed 5.6 liters.

GT-Line Hybrid comes standard with a 14-way power driver's seat, quilted Nappa leather seats, dual-zone air conditioning, ambient lighting, wireless charger, power tailgate, 12.3-inch color digital instrument cluster . up to a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

Safety gear includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and crossroads detection, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor and lane keep assist with lane change assist.