The 2022 Kia Sorento Just Gained 1 Much Needed Upgrade

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When the recently updated Kia Sorento came out, one model was missing a crucial upgrade. But the 2022 Kia Sorento has corrected this issue. There are also a few other notable changes for the 2022 model year. 

The 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid gains all-wheel drive 

2022 Kia Sorento PHEV | Kia

When the Kia Sorento Hybrid debuted in 2021, it couldn’t be paired with an all-wheel drive powertrain. This put a damper on things for those who wanted more fuel efficiency and needed to drive in slippery conditions such as snow, gravel, or dirt. 

Ideally, the most efficient model should also be equipped for off-roading, right? Well, Kia listened because the 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid is now available with AWD. It’s now better equipped to go camping and to face the elements. 

The Sorento Hybrid begins at about $33,990, and you can add AWD for $1,800. It has an EPA-estimated range of about 39 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. It has a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a 67 kW electric motor. It generates 177 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. 

The Sorento PHEV is here 

The 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV is officially here too. It’s a plug-in hybrid model, so it has a little more juice than the regular hybrid model, which doesn’t plugin. The Sorento PHEV is expected to begin at about $40,000, but the official price hasn’t been released. 

You can get the Sorento PHEV in the fall. It’s expected to get an estimated 32 miles of electric driving range with 460 miles combined on a single tank and full charge. Buyers will also be eligible for a $6,587 federal tax credit. 

The Sorento PHEV also has more power. It has a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine that’s paired with an electric motor and a 13.8-kWh battery pack to generate 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It may have a faster acceleration than the hybrid model. 

If you go for the PHEV, it comes standard with 19-inch wheels, second-row captain’s chairs, and synthetic leather upholstery. You can upgrade to genuine leather seats. It also has a rear charging port and model-specific badging. 

What else is new for the 2022 Sorento? 

2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid off-roading in water
2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid | Kia

The 2022 Kia Sorento only has one exterior update. The old Kia logo is being replaced with the new Kia badge, providing a fresh and sleek look. However, the Sorento was recently remodeled, so it doesn’t need exterior updates yet. 

You can now get the Kia Sorento X-Line package on the EX and S trims. It costs $2,000 and lifts the ground clearance to 8.3-inches and dark grey 20-inch wheels. It also provides beefier-looking bumpers and faux skid plates. 

The new 10.25-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation and telematics is now standard on all trim levels starting with the S trim. The top of the line SX Prestige trim now comes with 14-way power-adjustable memory seats with tight extends. Also, heated seats are in the second row. 

You can get started in a new Sorento for about $29,490. It costs about $100 more than the outgoing modeling. The prices don’t include the destination fees or dealership markups. We will keep you updated as we learn more about the new PHEV model.

RELATED: Is the 2021 Kia Sorento Better Than the Kia Seltos?

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Tragic Tell-Tale Signs Your Turbocharger is Toast

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many new cars are coming with smaller engines boosted by turbochargers for an extra edge, which is one way that manufacturers are making cars more efficient and sustainable for buyers who don’t want to switch over to electric cars quite yet. Smaller engines with turbochargers are also more fuel-efficient without compromising an enjoyable driving experience with snappy acceleration, making it a great option for many buyers and commuters, but adding another mechanical component to your vehicle isn’t without problems, and most owners don’t know how to recognize the signs of a failing turbo.

You’re seeing more smoke coming out of the exhaust

A turbocharged four-cylinder motor | Jonathan Fickies, Getty Images

Seeing smoke out of your exhaust is never a good sign, but it can be one of the most obvious hints that your turbocharger is no longer operating properly. Smoke can come out of your exhaust when your engine is leaking oil that is being burnt inside the compression chambers or for many other reasons, but if you see an iridescent blue/gray smoke and your vehicle has a turbocharger, chances are you’re looking at a blown turbo. Whether your vehicle is turbocharged or not, if you are ever seeing excess smoke coming from the exhaust, you should head to your mechanic as soon as possible.

You’re turbocharger is no longer building boost or is lagging more than normal

Turbochargers are designed to give your car an extra boost of power in a way that is more sustainable for your engine than drastic options like nitrous oxide, which can cause excessive damage. If you notice your car isn’t quite as peppy as it used to be, your turbocharger could be failing or blown altogether, and it’s worth checking out. This isn’t as obvious as smoke billowing out of your exhaust or a loud rattle, and chances are you may be second-guessing that there is a problem or how well you really know your car. If your vehicle is fitted with a boost gauge or a way to monitor your turbocharger’s health, it can help you verify that your turbo is not working properly.

Blown turbochargers make a lot of weird noises

Depending on how your turbocharger is potentially blown, there are several weird and annoying noises that it could make, including a loud rattling, a whining noise, or a whining noise. In most cases, you may not be able to identify exactly where the new unwanted noises inside your engine bay are coming from, but if you suspect that your vehicle is making any weird and bad noises in generally you should perform some diagnostics or bring it into a shop for inspection — because chances are, if it isn’t the turbocharger, it’s something else that needs attention, and the last thing you want is to ignore a loud and potentially catastrophic noise inside your engine bay.

Having a damaged or blown turbocharger isn’t necessarily the end of the world. In extreme circumstances, it can damage your vehicle’s engine, but that isn’t the common issue. Sometimes turbochargers can be rebuilt or repaired depending on the type and severity of the damage, and oftentimes they can be replaced altogether without totaling out your vehicle or costing too much to repair.

RELATED: Are Turbocharged Engines Less Reliable?

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Will the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan Cause a Problem for Gas Prices?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Gas prices fluctuate quite frequently, and sometimes it might seem like prices are controlled by what time the sun sets. No matter how great the gas mileage is on your vehicle, increasing gas prices still means less money in your wallet. So, besides the phases of the moon, what causes gas prices to increase? The news might seem just asinine a reason for price increases as the time the sun sets, but it is, in fact, a legit cause. That’s why drivers are thinking about all of the recent news out of Afghanistan regarding the Taliban.

Reports on the news that allude, or rather exaggerate, to a potential gas shortage cause customers to flock to gas stations, which causes prices to increase in an example of supply and demand 101. For example, while the coronavirus (COVID-19) Delta Variant is not expected to increase gas prices, news reports could potentially cause an increase if panic buying ensues. Now, with increasing tensions in Afghanistan in the wake of the takeover by the Taliban, will that news also cause prices to skyrocket?

The current situation in Afghanistan

An Afghanistan petrol gas pump station | WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images

On August 15, 2021, the Afghan government collapsed rapidly and was seized by the Taliban. American troops in Afghanistan have been pulling out over the last several months and equipping the Afghan military to defend against the Taliban, which largely proved ineffective. Currently, the deadline for all American troops to withdraw from Afghanistan is August 31st, and the Taliban has been vocal about not extending that deadline. Additionally, Afghan nationals have been fleeing the country amid fears of what will happen with the Taliban resuming control. 

Will the Taliban taking over affect gas prices?

The Taliban takeover should not affect gas prices because there is minimal oil production in Afghanistan and most of America’s crude oil comes from other Middle East countries. Additionally, according to Eurasianet, the Taliban have pledged to support a natural gas pipeline to be built across Afghanistan. This was not entirely expected, and in fact, security concerns about attacks by the Taliban have been one of the most common concerns for project developers. 

Lots of things have affected gas prices in the past

One of the biggest reasons for fluctuating gas prices is the price of crude oil. According to the BBC, after the global pandemic caused oil prices to fall, they are now rising again. The White House is asking oil-producing countries to increase production to stabilize increasing gas prices. However, crude oil prices are not the only factor in increasing gas prices. A shortage of materials can lead to prices skyrocketing as the supply cannot meet the demand. This includes a shortage of tanker drivers able to transport the gas to fuel stations. 

Another cause of increasing gas prices is panic buying. After the Capitol Pipeline was hacked in early May, a “perceived” gas shortage prompted not only panic buying but hoarding as well. In fact, over-reporting on the pipeline being hacked fueled (pun intended) consumers to flock to gas stations and ultimately caused a completely unnecessary and avoidable gas shortage. Unfortunately, there is still the potential for a similar situation occurring with the situation unfolding in Afghanistan. 

Gas prices will always fluctuate, similar to the stock market. However, drivers can keep prices from skyrocketing out of control by avoiding gas shortages induced by unnecessary panic buying. Additionally, remember that hoarding gas is never a good idea, as one woman found out after her car burst into flames during a police chase. Hopefully, the situation in Afghanistan can be resolved quickly and peacefully, and the Afghan people can return to their lives in peace and safety.

RELATED: Gasoline Has a Shorter Shelf Life Than You Think

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Speed Limit in This Major City Now Just 18 MPH

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Would lowering the maximum speed limit in midtown Manhattan to 18 mph make any difference? Traffic is so bad that 18 mph sometimes isn’t achievable. How about downtown Los Angeles? And the same could be said of Paris, France. That is where today, the maximum speed limit has been set at 18 mph. 

60% of Parisians approve of the 18 mph speed limit

Commuters ride on their bicycles as cars stop at the traffic light in Paris on May 11, 2020 | THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images

Polling shows that almost 60-percent of Parisians approve of the new speed limit. There will be some exceptions, like the Champs Elysées and the Boulevard Périférique. This isn’t even the first city in France to drop the speed limit.

According to the BBC, Grenoble, and Lille, both have 18 mpg speed limits. And Bilbao in Spain, and Brussels in Belgium, have the lower speed limit as well. This is all in an effort to minimize accidents, and to lessen pollution and noise. 

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has taken this latest step to help fulfill her mandate to lessen traffic in the city. She was re-elected just last year partially for her efforts towards this end. And she’s just getting started. All cars In the city center be banned next year.

The speed you can actually drive in Paris is below 18 mph anyway

Paris traffic
Traffic jam in Paris, France on January 16, 2021 | Adnan Farzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Some of these measures are with an eye toward the Olympics, which Paris will host in 2024. Cycling lanes are being added and parking spaces have been cut in half. And many don’t feel it changes Paris at all because the maximum speed you can actually drive is way less than 18 mph already. 

But as you can expect, not everyone is happy about these changes. “There is no reduction in sound, there is no reduction in pollution and there is no reduction in accidents, except for a reduction in accidents which is the same as in all the other communes,” Pierre Chasseray told AFP news agency. He heads the 40 Million Motorists group that is opposed to what is happening. 

Then there is the SaccageParis, or Trash Parris group. They say the city is deteriorating because of all of the cycling lanes. Increased trash and large concrete barriers make the city uglier, they point out.

Lowered speeds come as the highest temperatures in Europe were recorded in 2020

Paris traffic on Champs Elysses
Illuminations on the Champs Elysees Avenue at night and Arc de Triomphe in Paris on December 10, 2020, in Paris, France | Frédéric Soltan/Corbis via Getty Images)

All of this comes as 2020 became the warmest year on record. The long-term average temperature over previous years was 35 degrees. That is translating to more extreme weather events not only in Europe but around the world. In all, Europe has broken temperature records five times since 2014. 

Even with the COVID pandemic reducing traffic and economic activity, 2020 recorded the highest numbers for carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. CO2 levels were the highest going back 800,000 years. This information comes largely from ice core sampling. 

So what seems like the rushed transition to electric vehicles may have actually come too late. With sea levels rising and hotter temperatures every year, we are in uncharted waters. 

RELATED: Are Cars Unfairly Blamed for Pollution Levels?

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