Americans tend to shop for a single vehicle that can meet every need they can imagine having. There may be no better fit for that description than a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 3-row SUV.

As a PHEV, a vehicle like that can use either electricity or gasoline – electricity for about 30 miles and gasoline after.

As a 3-row SUV, it can carry seven adults or haul everything needed to move a freshman into a dorm room in one trip.

There aren’t many 3-row PHEVs on the market. But there are a few, and they’re immensely flexible vehicles. The newest is the Mazda CX-90 PHEV – an elegantly tailored near-luxury ride for a lower-than-luxury price. The Kia Sorento gives it a run for its money with a long warranty and a longer electric-only range. Let’s compare them.

Note that this comparison uses the 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV and the 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV because those are the models currently found on showroom floors.

2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV

Mazda has an impressive new flagship to show you, and it includes the first PHEV powertrain in the brand’s lineup. The 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV boasts tasteful lines inside and out, 323 horsepower, and Mazda’s trademark great handling. Prices start at $47,445.

Mazda CX-90 PHEV Highlights

Elegance: The CX-90 is probably the best-looking 3-row PHEV. That’s true if you’re looking out the window at it in your driveway, where its long hood and reared-back stance make it look stunning. It’s true if you’re sitting inside, where details like stitches drawn from traditional Japanese bookbinding techniques make it feel like a more expensive vehicle.

More power: The CX-90 PHEV makes 323 horsepower. The Kia Sorento PHEV makes just 261. That’s a pronounced difference you’ll feel in the merge lane.

Mazda’s signature – fantastic handling. Mazda builds its unique torque vectoring system into almost every product, and it feels great behind the wheel. The CX-90 gets an added trick — Kinematic Posture Control borrowed from the little MX-5 Miata – to enhance the agility. It will leave you surprised that such a big vehicle can feel so nimble.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CX-90 PHEV models for sale near you.

2023 Kia Sorento PHEV

The 2023 Kia Sorento PHEV checks a lot of boxes with its seating for seven, 32-mile all-electric range, and decade-long powertrain warranty. It’s an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick, too. Prices start at $49,990.

Kia Sorento PHEV Highlights

Longer all-electric range: The CX-90 can travel 26 miles on electricity alone before using any gasoline at all. But the Sorento can travel 32. For many shoppers, the point of considering a PHEV is to go gas-free most of the time. The Sorento lets you do that more reliably.

Savings when fully loaded: We were a little surprised to note that the base model of the CX-90 PHEV is less expensive than the base model of the Sorento PHEV. But that reverses when you start climbing the trim ladder. A fully-equipped CX-90 PHEV costs almost $59,000. The top-of-the-line Sorento runs under $50,000 before destination charges.

The longest warranty in the business: Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile comprehensive warranty remain the longest in the automotive industry. Your investment is protected longer this way.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sorento models for sale near you

Similarities

Three rows of seating, PHEV flexibility, close starting prices

Conclusion

The Mazda CX-90 PHEV is lovely inside and out and offers 323 horsepower and fantastic handling. It’s a little hard to believe it’s the less expensive option of these two, at least as far as base models go. But it gets more expensive as you start to add features.

The Kia Sorento PHEV has a longer all-electric range, a longer warranty, and costs less when fully loaded. It lacks the Mazda’s elegance, but practical considerations will outweigh that for some buyers.

Specifications