Kia Sorento Hybrid Launches in Pakistan: Price, Specs & Features

May 12, 2025 8:43 pm

Kia Sorento Hybrid in Pakistan: A countdown that matters

Tonight marks the official public debut of the Kia Sorento Hybrid in Pakistan, as Lahore’s Expo Centre opens its doors for this highly anticipated launch. Although Kia Lucky Motor Corporation (LMC) officially unveiled the facelifted Sorento range in early May, the hybrid variants have yet to meet a live Pakistani audience. That changes in just a few hours when Hall‑3 of the New Wheels Expo goes dark and the seven‑seat SUV drives out beneath flood‑lights and tickertape. LMC has teased the moment relentlessly on social media, promising “a new chapter” and “Pakistan’s most powerful, most luxurious hybrid SUV”

Why the Kia Sorento Hybrid launch matters for Pakistan

Pakistan’s auto market is pivoting toward electrification faster than many analysts predicted. A year ago there were only two locally available hybrids in the midsize SUV segment; by Q4 2025 there will be at least five, thanks in large part to generous hybrid‑specific tax incentives announced in Finance Act 2024. For LMC, bringing the Sorento Hybrid now is about staking territory before Toyota introduces the Fortuner Mild Hybrid and before Hyundai ramps up local assembly of the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The hardware: a closer look

Both Sorento Hybrid trims are powered by Kia’s 1.6‑litre SmartStream turbo‑petrol engine paired with a permanent‑magnet synchronous motor. Combined output is an eyebrow‑lifting 238 hp and 367 Nm, channelled through a six‑speed automatic gearbox operated by a rotary “shift‑by‑wire” dial. The FWD model uses a single electric motor; the AWD adds an e‑coupling rear axle for torque‑vectoring capability. Kia claims average fuel economy of 18 km/l in mixed driving, a leap from the 8‑10 km/l you’ll coax from the outgoing 3.5‑litre V6.kia-

Key mechanical highlights

Component	Hybrid FWD	Hybrid AWD
Combined Power	238 hp	238 hp
Combined Torque	367 Nm	367 Nm
Drive modes	Eco / Sport / Smart	+ Snow / Mud / Sand
Battery warranty	8 yr / 160 k km	8 yr / 160 k km

Exterior design: global parity at last

The facelift finally brings Pakistan in line with Kia’s global “Opposites United” design language. Slim, vertically stacked LED headlights bracket an enlarged tiger‑nose grille trimmed in satin chrome. The bonnet sits flatter, giving the SUV the squared‑off stance buyers crave. A new character line runs from the DRLs to the tailgate, where boomerang LED clusters echo the Sportage and EV6. Nineteen‑inch machined alloys tuck into subtly flared arches, while functional vents on the front bumper reduce drag and route cooling air toward the battery pack.

Kia Sorento Hybrid Interior Features: A tech-heavy cabin

Step inside and you’re greeted by a dual 12.3‑inch panoramic curved display: one panel for the instrument cluster, the other for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard; so are eight speakers (FWD) or a 12‑speaker BOSE® system (AWD). Quilted leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and a colour head‑up display tick the luxury boxes, while family‑friendly touches—second‑row USB‑C ports, retractable window shades, and a motion‑activated tailgate—remind you the Sorento is still a people‑mover at heart.kia-

Safety: ADAS finally arrives in force

LMC has had to play catch‑up on advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS). The new Sorento Hybrid makes amends with a Level 2 suite that includes:

Forward Collision‑Avoidance Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection
Lane Keeping & Lane Following Assist
Smart Cruise Control with stop‑and‑go
Parking Collision‑Avoidance Assist (reverse)
Blind‑Spot Collision‑Avoidance Assist with rear cross‑traffic braking

These features bring it on par with the Santa Fe Hybrid and ahead of MG’s HS PHEV, which still lacks adaptive cruise control.

Pricing and booking

LMC surprised no one by positioning the hybrids at the top of the Sorento line‑up:

Variant	Ex‑factory price (PKR)
3.5 L V6 Petrol	13,499,000
1.6 L Turbo Hybrid FWD	14,699,000
1.6 L Turbo Hybrid AWD	15,999,000

Bookings opened on 11 May 2025 with a refundable deposit of Rs 2 million. Early adopters get an eight‑year battery warranty, free roadside assistance, and a “Key‑to‑Key” trade‑in scheme that lets existing Sorento owners upgrade without losing resale value.

Competitors in the crosshairs

Model	Powertrain	Power/Torque	Price (PKR)	Edge
Kia Sorento Hybrid AWD	1.6T + e‑motor	238 hp / 367 Nm	15.99 m	Highest power
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid	1.6T + e‑motor	227 hp / 350 Nm	13.90 m	Cheaper
Haval H6 HEV	1.5T + e‑motor	240 hp / 530 Nm	12.55 m	Best torque
MG HS PHEV	1.5T + e‑motor	258 hp / 370 Nm	14.20 m	Electric‑only mode

Toyota’s Fortuner Mild Hybrid remains “under evaluation”, but sources inside Indus Motor Company say a Q1 2026 launch is on the table. For now, Kia’s biggest threat is Hyundai’s Santa Fe, priced two million rupees lower yet light on creature comforts such as ventilated seats and adaptive cruise.

Local assembly and the path to localisation

LMC’s Port Qasim plant recently added a dedicated hybrid sub‑line that welds battery casings, calibrates high‑voltage electronics, and pressure‑tests cooling jackets. Local content sits at 24 % for the hybrid, down from 36 % on the petrol Sorento, because components like the lithium‑ion polymer pack and e‑motor are still shipped from Kia’s Hwaseong facility in South Korea. Company engineers say localisation could climb to 40 % by 2027 once domestic suppliers gear up for high‑voltage wiring and cooling plates.

The economics of a hybrid today

At current fuel prices (Rs 305 per litre for petrol) a driver covering 20,000 km a year will spend roughly Rs 338,000 less on fuel than a V6 Sorento owner, assuming Kia’s claimed 18 km/l holds in the real world. Even with a sticker‑price premium of Rs 2.5 million over the petrol variant, the payback period is about seven years—shorter if petrol subsidies shrink or if the owner logs higher annual mileage.

Consumer sentiment: social media buzz

Unlike the low‑key rollout of the diesel Sorento in 2021, the hybrid has generated a #SorentoHybridReady hashtag on X (formerly Twitter) that trended locally for six hours after last month’s teaser. Pakistani automotive YouTubers such as Wise Wheels and Mythical Motors have racked up over half a million combined views on walk‑around clips of camouflaged test mules spotted in Karachi Kia Sorento Hybrid in Pakistan.

Kia Sorento Hybrid in Pakistan What to expect at tonight’s event

Live‑streamed reveal with in‑depth Q&A featuring LMC COO Faisal Yousuf.
Test‑drive loop inside Expo Centre grounds for pre‑registered media and influencers.
Interactive battery teardown booth explaining hybrid safety protocols.
Instant booking kiosks offering a Rs 200,000 early‑bird cashback credited toward accessories.
Music performance by electro‑fusion band ‘Khwaab’, underscoring the eco‑tech vibe.

If history is a guide, Kia will announce first customer deliveries for late July, three weeks after the first CKD kits clear customs.

Kia Sorento Hybrid in Pakistan Looking ahead

The Sorento Hybrid isn’t just another product; it’s LMC’s statement of intent. By stepping into the hybrid arena ahead of most Japanese incumbents, Kia signals confidence that Pakistani buyers are willing to pay a premium for tech and efficiency. Success could accelerate localisation, push competitors to up their game, and—most importantly—give consumers real choice in a segment long dominated by thirsty petrol SUVs.

Bottom line: If you’ve been eyeing a three‑row family SUV but balk at 8 km/l fuel bills, the Sorento Hybrid deserves a spot on your shopping list. Whether you pull the trigger tonight or wait for test‑drive reviews, one thing is certain: Pakistan’s hybrid race just found a new frontrunner, and the starting gun fires in a matter of hours.