Hyundai Motor Group is reportedly working on a next-generation plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain for the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento SUVs which will have an all-electric range of up to 100km.
As reported by South Korean publication ETNews, which claims to have spoken with industry sources, this new PHEV powertrain will first debut in 2025 in the flagship Hyundai Grandeur sedan. This car is built on the same N3 platform as the current Santa Fe and Sorento.
The publication doesn’t provide any further details surrounding this new PHEV powertrain besides saying it will offer up to 100km of electric range.
It’s unclear when this new PHEV powertrain will be introduced to the Santa Fe and Sorento. A new generation was recently revealed of the former, while the a mid-life update was just revealed for the latter.
Hyundai Grandeur
The new PHEV powertrain mightn’t debut in the Sorento until the next-generation model, or in the Santa Fe until a mid-life update.
The current Kia Sorento PHEV is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a 67kW/304Nm electric motor, a 13.8kWh water-cooled lithium-ion battery pack, and a six-speed automatic. Total system outputs are 195kW of power and 350Nm of torque.
It has an all-electric range of up to 68km according to WLTP testing.
This PHEV powertrain is understood to be carrying over in the Sorento with the facelift that’s due locally during the fourth quarter of 2023, along with the petrol V6, turbo-diesel, and petrol-electric hybrid engine options.
Kia Sorento 
Hyundai Santa Fe
A boxy new generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe was recently revealed.
Globally the new Santa Fe is available with a 1.6-litre turbo petrol-electric PHEV powertrain, though it’s understood to not be coming Down Under. We’re expecting to see the 2.5-litre turbo petrol and 1.6-litre hybrid engine options in Australia.
This new-generation Hyundai Santa Fe is due in Australia during the first half of 2024 and be the first Santa Fe to be sold without a diesel engine option.
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