Kia Sorento Charging Cable
Quick recommendation
Check the badge before you order. Only the Sorento 1.6 T-GDi PHEV, built from 2021 onwards, has a charging port. The 1.6 T-GDi HEV self-charging hybrid tops its own small battery up from the engine, the 2.2 CRDi diesel has no traction battery at all, and no Sorento built between 2015 and 2020 was offered as a plug-in. If your car is one of those, no cable will help, because there is nothing to plug into.
For the PHEV, buy the Type 2 to Type 2 16A cable. That is the honest recommendation and it also happens to be the cheapest tethered option we list. The reason sits in the onboard charger. The Sorento PHEV accepts 3.3 kW on AC, which is modest for a 13.8 kWh battery and lower than the charger Kia fits to the Sportage PHEV. A 16A cable carries 3.7 kW, comfortably more than the car will ever draw, so it is never the thing holding you back.
That is also why the 32A cable is not an upgrade here. A 32A single phase lead can pass 7.4 kW and the three phase version can pass 22 kW, but a car charges at the lowest of three limits: itself, the supply and the cable. The Sorento's own 3.3 kW ceiling is the lowest figure in every combination, so the dearer leads deliver the same energy over the same hours. Buy one only if a faster charging EV is due to replace the Sorento, otherwise put the money into length instead.
Length is the decision that actually changes daily life with this car. Measure from the socket on your wallbox to the point where the charge flap sits when the Sorento is parked, then allow slack for the cable to turn rather than pull. Five metres suits a driveway with the charger on the same wall. Ten metres covers a car parked nose out, a shared bay, or a wallbox in the garage with the Sorento on the drive.
Every cable is built to IEC 62196, CE certified, with Type 2 to Type 2 rated IP55 and Type 2 to 3 Pin rated IP67. All come with a 2 year manufacturer's warranty and same-day dispatch on working-day orders placed before 2pm.
Kia Sorento Charging Times
Sorento 1.6 T-GDi PHEV, 2021 onwards, 13.8 kWh battery, 3.3 kW maximum AC charge speed.
| Cable Type | Max Charge Rate | Empty to Full | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 to 3 Pin, 2.3 kW (5m / 10m) | 2.3 kW | 6h 45m | Backup only, when no wallbox is available |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 16A (5m / 10m) | 3.3 kW, limited by the car | 4h 45m | Best buy for the Sorento PHEV |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 32A (5m / 10m) | 3.3 kW, limited by the car | 4h 45m | No quicker, only useful for a future car |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 32A three phase (5m / 10m) | 3.3 kW, limited by the car | 4h 45m | No benefit on this car |
Kia Sorento Charging Cable FAQs
Which cable does the Kia Sorento PHEV need?
The Sorento 1.6 T-GDi PHEV takes a Type 2 to Type 2 cable, and the 16A version is the one to buy. Its onboard charger accepts 3.3 kW, so a 16A lead rated at 3.7 kW already has headroom over what the car will pull. Pick 5m or 10m to suit where you park.
Is the 32A Sorento cable worth the extra?
No. The car caps AC charging at 3.3 kW, so a 32A lead capable of 7.4 kW hands over exactly the same energy across the same 4 hours 45 minutes as the 16A does. The one sensible reason to spend the difference is a faster charging EV arriving in the household soon.
How long does a Sorento PHEV take to charge?
About 4 hours 45 minutes from empty on any Type 2 wallbox, because 13.8 kWh at the car's 3.3 kW ceiling always works out the same whichever Type 2 lead you use. A three pin plug at 2.3 kW stretches that to roughly 6 hours 45 minutes, which still fits inside an overnight stop.
Does the self-charging Sorento hybrid plug in?
No. The 1.6 T-GDi HEV keeps its small battery topped up from the engine and from braking, and it has no charging port anywhere on the body. The 2.2 CRDi diesel has no traction battery either. Neither can use a charging cable at all, so look for a charge flap before ordering.
Was a plug-in Sorento sold before 2021?
No. Kia introduced the plug-in hybrid Sorento with the fourth generation car in 2021, and nothing built between 2015 and 2020 was offered with a plug. A 2019 Sorento is diesel whatever the trim, so it cannot take a charging cable. Check the year and the badge together.
Should I buy a 5m or 10m Sorento cable?
Five metres works when the wallbox is on the wall your Sorento noses up to. Ten metres is the safer pick if the car parks nose out, sits on a shared bay, or the charge point lives inside the garage while the car stays on the drive. Both carry the same 3.3 kW.