How the 2027 Kia Sorento PHEV’s Sliding Second Row Changes Cargo Space

Group photo one weekend, hardware store run the next: the same three-row cabin needs to flex both ways without a trip to the dealer for a different vehicle.

Ontario families juggle a lot in one vehicle: car seats, hockey bags, a stroller, a last-minute grocery run. The 2027 Kia Sorento PHEV is built around a second row that slides, so the cabin can lean toward passengers or cargo depending on what the day actually needs.

What the Sliding Second Row Actually Does

The Sorento PHEV’s second-row bench isn’t fixed in one spot. It slides forward and back, which is why cargo volume behind that row isn’t a single number: it ranges from 1,090 L to 1,274 L depending on where the seat sits.

Slide the second row forward and you gain cargo room right behind it, at the cost of some second-row legroom. Slide it back and passengers get more space, with cargo volume settling near the lower end of that range.

With all three rows in place, cargo space behind the third row is 357 L, enough for a few bags of groceries or a couple of duffel bags. Fold the second and third rows down and that opens up to 2,139 L behind the front seats.

How the Second Row Slides and Folds

The mechanism behind that range is straightforward. The second row rides on rails, so it moves independently of the third row, and an Easy Walk-In feature tilts and slides the seat out of the way for third-row access without wrestling a fixed bench.

A 2nd Row Remote Folding function lets the seats fold flat from outside the cabin, useful when your hands are already full with grocery bags or gear. Behind it, the second and third rows fold in a 50:50 split, so you can carry one rear passenger and still open up a long, flat load floor on the other side.

Why This Matters for Everyday Hauling

The practical benefit shows up in ordinary errands. A stroller and a week of groceries fit behind the third row without folding anything. A bigger haul, camping gear or sports equipment, calls for sliding the second row forward or folding it flat.

That flexibility pairs with how the PHEV itself drives day to day. Its 13.8 kWh battery delivers 55 km of electric range, which covers most short commutes and errands before the 1.6 L turbo engine steps in. Combined gasoline-only fuel economy is 6.9 L/100 km, so longer trips with the cargo bay loaded don’t come with a fuel penalty most PHEV owners would notice.

The Sorento PHEV also carries a standard towing capacity of 1,650 lbs (748 kg), rising to 2,000 lbs (907 kg) when properly equipped. That’s worth knowing if a small trailer or a set of bikes on a hitch rack occasionally competes with the interior for cargo duty.

Who Gets the Most Out of This Layout

Every 2027 Sorento PHEV trim seats six, arranged across three rows. That six-passenger layout is the tradeoff behind the sliding second row: families who need a fixed seat for a seventh passenger every trip should weigh that against the load-flexibility gains.

For families who more often carry four or five people and shift between passenger and cargo needs week to week, the sliding second row solves a real problem. Weekday school runs and weekend loads to the cottage or the ski hill don’t need two different vehicles.

Buyers who tow occasionally, haul strollers regularly, or need the third row folded flat for a bigger project will notice the range between 1,090 L and 1,274 L the most. It’s the difference between a cramped trunk and a cabin that adjusts to the job.

Seeing the Sorento PHEV’s Cargo Flexibility in Richmond Hill

The 2027 Sorento PHEV’s sliding second row turns one cabin into several configurations, from a six-passenger layout to a long, flat cargo floor, without swapping vehicles for the job at hand.

Visit Plaza Kia in Richmond Hill to slide the second row yourself, check third-row access through the Easy Walk-In feature, and see how the load floor handles your own gear.

To learn more about the 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV, visit Kia.ca