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The Toyota Prius is arguably the most impactful hybrid vehicle on the market. The Prius paved the way for countless hybrid vehicles. Its gas mileage grants the compact car over 600 miles of driving range. Only one Kia SUV on the market has more driving range than the Toyota Prius.

This Kia SUV has more driving range than a Toyota Prius

A red 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid midsize SUV is parked outdoors.
The 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid | Kia

What is driving range? Driving range is the total distance a vehicle can travel on a full tank of gas. Vehicles with above-average driving ranges tend to be fuel-efficient. Thanks to advances in hybrid technology, a handful of hybrid vehicles can travel for over 600 miles on a single tank of gas. This is fairly common with hybrid cars, but it’s rare for hybrid SUVs.

The 2023 Toyota Prius gets 57 miles per gallon combined. It has an 11.3-gallon gas tank. So, a 2023 Prius with a full tank of gas should be able to travel for roughly 644 miles. That’s an astonishing amount of driving range for any vehicle, regardless of its size.

A higher driving range means fewer trips to the gas station to refuel. Best of all, the Prius is inexpensive to refuel because of its relatively small gas tank. Most small SUVs don’t get anywhere near 600 miles of range. One midsize Kia SUV gets more driving range on a full tank than the Toyota Prius.

According to Cars.com, the 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid gets 39 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway. It has a 17.7-gallon gas tank. Thanks to the Sorento Hybrid’s great fuel economy for its size and fuel capacity, it’s able to travel for around 654 miles on a full tank of gas. The Sorento Hybrid is much more expensive to refuel than the Toyota Prius, but it’ll take you further on a single tank of gas.

Why driving range matters to midsize SUV drivers

The 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid | Kia

Most consumers that are looking to purchase a midsize SUV aim to regularly accommodate a large number of passengers. Midsize SUVs could be costly to owners and families because heavier vehicles tend to be less fuel efficient. Midsize SUVs are often used for road trips because they can seat more passengers than small SUVs. Driving range is especially important for road trips because less driving range means more money spent refueling between your starting point and destination.

A midsize SUV with under 400 miles of total driving range may not be appealing for drivers who regularly take road trips or drive long distances. So, a vehicle like the 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid is especially appealing to folks who plan on spending plenty of hours on the road.

Should you get a 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid?

A red 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid midsize hybrid SUV is parked.
The 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid | Kia

The 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid starts at $36,590. It uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor to make 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

The Sorento Hybrid comes standard with SynTex seat-trim with heated front seats and a wireless phone charger. It also includes front and rear parking sensors, smart cruise control with stop and go, and a driver attention warning.

The 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid is a great midsize SUV for the money. It’s praised for its classy interior, roomy cargo area, and powerful hybrid powertrain system. If you value fuel economy and plan to regularly seat three to five passengers, the Sorento Hybrid is one of the best midsize SUVs on the market.

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