2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vs 2026 Hyundai Palisade

$47,990 · Crossover

$39,435 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Trying to decide between a hybrid future and sheer size? That's the core conflict between the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade. The Sorento PHEV asks for an $8,555 premium, starting at $47,990, but delivers significantly better running costs with 33 MPG combined and an all-electric range of 30 miles, which the Palisade (21 MPG combined) cannot match. However, the Palisade pulls ahead in sheer capability, boasting a length of 199.2 inches compared to the Sorento's 189.6 inches, translating directly into a larger 19.1 cu ft of cargo space versus the Kia's 12.6 cu ft. While the Palisade offers 287 hp, the Sorento provides 261 hp and the advantage of electric assistance for city driving, making this a clear trade-off between daily efficiency and maximum utility.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The Sorento PHEV's 30-mile electric range drastically cuts down on fuel consumption for typical short commutes.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Hyundai Palisade

The larger 2026 Palisade provides superior interior volume with 19.1 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Sorento's 12.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Hyundai Palisade

The 2026 Palisade has a slight edge in raw power with 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque versus the Sorento's 261 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Palisade

The Palisade undercuts the Sorento by $8,555 MSRP, offering a lower entry price despite sacrificing hybrid economy.

Choose the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid if...

Your budget is secondary to lowering fuel expenses, leveraging the 33 combined MPG.
You drive short distances frequently and can utilize the 30-mile all-electric range daily.
You prefer the tighter dimensions (189.6 inches long) for easier city parking maneuvers.

Choose the Hyundai Palisade if...

You need maximum utility, as evidenced by its significantly larger 19.1 cu ft of cargo space.
You want the lowest initial outlay, saving $8,555 compared to the PHEV model.
You need the slightly greater straight-line power provided by its 287 hp engine.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	Hyundai Palisade
Length	189.6"	199.2"
Width	74.8"	78.0"
Height	66.9"	69.5"
Wheelbase	110.8"	116.9"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	1.6 L	3.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	V6
Base Engine Type	plug-in hybrid	gas
Horsepower	261 hp	287 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque	258 lb-ft	260 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	24
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Transmission Type	6-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	front wheel drive
Center Differential Type	Limited Slip	—
Hill Descent Control	✓	—

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	33/34 MPG	19/25 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	33 MPG	21 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	409.2/421.6 mi.	361.0/475.0 mi.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	77/71 MPGe	—
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	74 MPGe	—
EPA Electric Driving Range	30 mi.	—
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	45	—
Charging Time (240V)	3.4 hr.	—
Fuel Tank Capacity	12.4 gal.	19.0 gal.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	SAE J1772	—

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	1	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Front Head Room	40.3 in.	41.5 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	44.2 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.1 in.	61.4 in.
Front Hip Room	55.6 in.	58.8 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	39.1 in.	40.7 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.7 in.	43.0 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	61.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	55.1 in.	56.7 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	19 x 7.5 in	18 x 8.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/55R19	235/65R
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Underbody Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
EV Battery Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Hybrid Component Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and 2026 Hyundai Palisade.

How much more efficient is the Kia Sorento PHEV than the Hyundai Palisade?

The Sorento PHEV achieves 33 combined MPG, which is a substantial improvement over the 2026 Palisade's 21 combined MPG. This 12 MPG difference means lower long-term fuel costs for the Kia.

If I frequently drive on the highway, does the Sorento's electric range matter?

The Sorento has a 30-mile electric range, but on longer highway trips where the battery depletes quickly, you will rely on its 33/34 MPG gas efficiency. The Palisade only offers 25 MPG highway.

Which vehicle is better suited for a large family needing luggage space?

The 2026 Palisade is the clear choice for space, offering 19.1 cu ft of cargo capacity behind the rear seats, significantly more than the Sorento’s 12.6 cu ft.

What is the MSRP difference between the Sorento PHEV and the Palisade?

The 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV starts at $47,990, making it $8,555 more expensive than the 2026 Hyundai Palisade, which starts at $39,435.

Are these vehicles similarly sized for daily driving?

No, the Palisade is noticeably larger, measuring 199.2 inches long and 78.0 inches wide. The Sorento is shorter at 189.6 inches and narrower at 74.8 inches, potentially aiding maneuverability.

Which vehicle offers more immediate power output?

The 2026 Palisade has a slight advantage in peak performance, producing 287 horsepower compared to the Sorento PHEV's 261 hp, although the Kia benefits from instant torque delivery via its electric motor.