Singapore - Cycle & Carriage, KIA’s distributor, will launch a hybrid variant of their seven-seater Sorento SUV here on 4 February. The Sorento Hybrid joins the rest of the lineup, which are currently powered by 2.2 litre turbo diesel engines.

The 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, paired with an electric motor delivers 230hp and 350Nm, the same power and torque rating as its cousin, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Fuel numbers from the factory stand at 5.4l/100km, which are near the diesel’s 5.7l/100km. The advantage over the diesel variant, is the hybrid’s neutral VES B rating, as opposed to the VES C1, and also the road tax at $1,116 per year, which is approximately half that of its diesel counterpart.

On the inside, the Sorento Hybrid matches the current diesel SX Tech Pack trim, which means that you get a premium BOSE entertainment system, paired with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen (boasting both Android and Apple connectivity), and a wireless mobile phone charger. You also will get those all-important heated and ventilated front seats.

The Sorento Hybrid is equipped with smart features, like a Blind-Spot View Monitor, which projects the blind area of the side you are indicating to turn onto the instrument panel. It is also equipped with Smart Cruise Control and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist which are among some of the goodies you can expect.

The Sorento Hybrid is already the second vehicle Korean brand KIA has launched here this year, the first being the Sonet small SUV, and is priced at $205,999, inclusive of COE.