# 7 But then, it might not have need of diesel
There may be even more exciting possibilities on the road ahead. The upcoming fourth generation of the Sorento will, in North America, include a hybrid configuration, in which a 60-kW electric motor supports the work of a 180-hp 1.6L 4-cylinder turbo engine. It will be possible to enjoy the 227 hp combined output of this powertrain in either a plug-in or straight hybrid variety.
This move towards electric mobility is hardly a surprise given that Kia already produces electric versions of the Niro and the Soul. But if it happens, what will become of the 2.4L and 3.3L gas-powered engines? Speculation is that they could make way for a 2.5L 4-cylinder turbo (277 hp).
# 8 It’s well-conceived
The regular Sorento comes with seating for five, but if you go for the V6 engine option you increase that to seven. In that configuration, to provide non-cruel access to the third row, the Sorento features an ingenious system: press on one of the buttons located near the headrests on the second-row seats, and the proximate seat in the 60/40 split fold-down second row reacts instantly, the back folding down and the seat sliding forward. Voilà, two children (or if necessary, a couple of smallish adults) can clamber into the back.
