A few times a week, I get a message that starts like this, “I hate to bother you, but…” Yes, this is my friends, family, and former colleagues asking me what SUV (or car) they should buy. I write these words to you now, knowing I’ll regret it: I HONESTLY DON’T MIND. I love giving people car-buying advice. The insights I gain from these interactions are what keep me honest, inspire me, and prevent me from getting too caught up in my own bubble. However, the Kia Sorento PHEV presents a significant issue in these discussions.
It’s Not Sexy
As I was test-driving the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV AWD around town this spring, I had zero flex. My neighbor said to me, “No Aston Martin this week?” The guy helping me load my stuff into the trunk at Home Depot, who normally grills me about every vehicle, said nothing about the car. I got zero thumbs up at the gym and no one rolled down their window to tell me about my beautiful car while stuck in traffic on the 405. Why? Because the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV AWD isn’t designed to turn any heads, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your hard-earned dollars.
It’s Attractive, But Not Stunning
At the same time, shortly after getting this car delivered, my husband and I had this interaction.
Husband, “I thought you were getting a Kia this week.”
Mama, “Yup, it’s the Kia Sorento.”
Husband, “That’s a Kia?”
Mama, “Yup.”
Husband, “You sure?”
Now, if you’re a doctor, lawyer, or other professional, perhaps you suffer from this too–the spouse who second-guesses your professional opinion? It’s infuriating. It’s also how I ended up with a Tesla Model Y in my driveway, but that’s a post for another day. The point is, the 2025 Kia Sorento looks terrific. Like, good enough to get a back-handed compliment from my Scandinavian car snob of a spouse.
But That’s Exactly What Makes It Great
For my purposes, it is so fun to drive cars that are fast, exciting, and sexy. If that fails, I’d prefer a car that’s awful, weird, or just useless. Both of these give me something to say. The 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV AWD, on the other hand, is neither of these. It’s good-looking, drives really well, is wonderfully practical, and has all of the safety features available in its luxurious competitors. What a bore! Wake me when it’s over! It even does the impossible–it’s an affordable plug-in hybrid in a sea of overpriced competitors–oh great, what now? Affordable health care? Geez.
Which SUV Should You Buy? Ask At Your Own Risk!
So when you text me, message me, and ask for my “honest opinion” about which affordable SUV you should consider, and I say this one, don’t get annoyed. Don’t start in on the “yeah but”s. Don’t tell me about your friend who “just loves” their overpriced SUV. Don’t write me a paragraph about your “guy” who can “get (you) a killer deal” on a different car. All of that is great. But so is the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV AWD. If you’d like to know more, watch my video review.