A real-life example shared by ashishmasih1 with the brand new Kia Sorento Hybrid showed that the car can go 1,000 kilometers on a single tank of petrol under favourable conditions, and the owner even provided proof. But how many diesels or petrols would be able to reach such a feat without stopping to recharge? Of course, your experience and driving style, as well as the terrain and the load you carry, will determine the outcome. However, the combination of a large fuel tank and the impressive real-world economy of the hybrid powertrain make such a result possible for a careful driver.
The hybrid powertrain will let the car maximize its efficiency on highways and mixed routes most of the time, surpassing the distance travelled by a standard petrol or diesel-powered vehicle in a similar three-row, five-seat SUV size. A fuel tank with a capacity of 67 liters would allow for a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers in most countries.
That would imply a consumption of 15 km per liter or higher on average, and a careful but determined hybrid driver would be able to achieve such a result on a long-haul highway trip. Most petrol or diesel SUVs in a similar size would struggle to achieve a driving range of 1,000 km on mixed routes with frequent stops and starts without having to stop to recharge.
The example serves to highlight one of the main drawbacks of battery electric cars, which is the reduced driving range compared to conventional powertrains. While they are much more energy-efficient than internal combustion engines and have lower operating costs, most battery electric cars have a driving range of less than 1,000 km on a single charge, and careful route planning is necessary for long road trips.
For someone who prioritizes long-haul driving performance and wants to limit the number of charging stops, a hybrid such as the Kia Sorento would be a better choice. If you are considering buying a family SUV and want to be able to cover long distances without having to stop to recharge, the example from the Kia Sorento shows why you shou