Latest news with #Telluride
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Sussex country festival building momentum in third year: organizers
The third annual edition of the Sussex Fundy Fest country music showcase got good weather and good reviews, organizers say. The festival drew 1,531 country fans to the Sussex Drive-In grounds on Friday and Saturday, according to festival president Jamie Brymer. Gord Bamford anchored the lineup on Friday and Jade Eagleson closed out the festival on Saturday night. Brymer said that the weekend went very well, saying weather is always a 'key component' and that ticket sales were 'quite busy' leading into the event. 'Everyone had a great time, it was a good vibe,' Brymer said. 'The artists were happy, the attendees were happy, and all the sponsors who made this show a reality, they were all happy ... Definitely everyone wants us to do year number four.' The festival started in 2023, and Brymer said they have a 'long-term vision' for the event that includes at least five years to 'achieve full fruition.' That made this year the 'hump day of the week,' Brymer said, in terms of 'getting over Wednesday,' which he said they did with the help of the headliners and a larger stage. 'We went with the bigger stage to give a different experience, so our production and artist costs were up for year three,' he said. 'That's what we used to magnify the spotlight on the festival, so that people realize, wow, these guys are here to stick around, they have serious talent ... let's go next year.' Attendance was about the same as the estimate from 2024, which Brymer said last year was about 1,500. Brymer said organizers would 'let the dust settle' and finalize the numbers for making choices about next year's lineup and strategy for the festival. The festival is part of a country music summer schedule that includes established festivals like YQM and the Boxcar festival in Saint John. Brymer said they've had to focus on what makes them unique. 'It's really about making sure that we have own unique identity, and I think we've done that,' Brymer said. 'We want to be the sweet spot, that you can get to a festival, you're not ... tight in constricted spaces, and it's an affordable venue that's strategically located of the province. Brymer said that utilizing the Drive-In screens at dusk offers a 'wow factor' and experience 'nobody else can offer.' He also noted that the artists they bring to the province have then showed up at other events in subsequent years. 'I think we've ... positioned Sussex Fundy Fest as a growing and have-to-go-to event and happening in the area,' he said. 'We just have to continue that momentum.' Bamford, a Juno nominee from Australia via Lacombe, Alta., was the headliner on Friday along with Burton, N.B.'s Riley Taylor, Halifax band The Right Good, and Blackville, N.B.'s Amber Walls. Eagleson, from Bailieboro, Ont., has five No. 1 country hits in Canada, including 2024's 'Telluride,' and headlined with Peterborough, Ont.'s Elyse Saunders, Upper Miramichi's Josh Norrad, Steve Maillet, Riverview's Sean Michael Ryan, and Halifax's Taylor Jensen. Bamford was 'amazing, the crowd was rocking,' with a great encore Brymer said. Eagleson impressed, playing an extra half hour and inviting a 'young lad' on stage, Brymer said. 'He was enjoying the crowd, he was enjoying the atmosphere, and he wanted to give the folks ... something to remember,' Brymer said. He said Walls, Ryan and Taylor were also highlights as great local artists going places. He also said that they had influencer Larry Canam, known as the 'Milkshake Man,' on site making cocktails both days, including with Coldstream Clear Distillery on Saturday and making cocktails with Sussex Craft Distillery on Friday. Feedback has been 'fantastic,' and they're still going through comments, Brymer said. 'People loved the event, there was a lot of people where it was their first time ... It's rewarding to see that level of positivity,' he said. 'There's a lot of legwork that goes into these two-day events, so it's nice to see... It gives us a carrot to carry on for year four.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Burning Oscars questions heading into Venice, TIFF, and Telluride
As fall festival lineups are revealed, the awards race comes into focus. This week saw major announcements from the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, making the rest of the year for Oscar watchers a bit clearer on which movies will be vying for the top awards. But some mysteries remain. As release dates loom and Telluride remains tight-lipped as usual, a number of presumed Oscar contenders are question marks at the moment. More from Gold Derby 'Freakier Friday' director on Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan's bond on and off set and why the body-swap sequel is 'a fantasy-slash-nightmare' Remembering Ozzy Osbourne: How 'The Osbournes' made him more palatable for awards voters Here are the questions we're asking as we look ahead at the end-of-the-year film festival line-ups. Will A House of Dynamite blowup? The fall release with equal amounts of buzz and mystery surrounding it has to be Kathryn Bigelow's first film in eight years, A House of Dynamite. The movie, which stars Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, and Greta Lee, was announced by its distributor, Netflix, a little over a month ago with a teaser poster and a logline — and since then, not a peep. No trailers, no stills, nothing. But now the film has a premiere. A House of Dynamite will roll out at the Venice Film Festival. So what does the return of the first female Best Director look like? Is her next film destined for another showdown at the Oscars with ex-husband James Cameron and Avatar: Fire and Ash? Will One Battle After Another and Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere screen anywhere? Two of the big presumed players of this awards season have yet to announce festival berths. An 11-time nominee, Paul Thomas Anderson has been an automatic entry into the conversation, but he has been skipping festivals as of late. The last film of his to debut at a fest was 2014's Inherent Vice, and with One Battle After Another's Sept. 26 release date quickly approaching, a last-minute Telluride premiere looking like the only possibility. The same question applies to Scott Cooper's biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, which has a bit more time to roll out thanks to a late October release date. If the inevitable Jeremy Allen White campaign for Best Actor is going to launch at a festival, Telluride is where it will start rocking. Is The Testament of Ann Lee the next Brutalist? Last year, Brady Corbet's The Brutalist came out of Venice with major awards heat. This year, that film's cowriter Mona Fastvold is looking to follow that same trajectory with The Testament of Ann Lee, a period musical shot in 70mm about the founding of the Shakers starring Amanda Seyfried that was also penned with Corbet. And like The Brutalist, The Testament of Ann Lee will be seeking a distributor at the festival. Could multiple Oscar nominations be the films' next similarity? Is Gus Van Sant back? It's been seven years since Gus Van Sant's last feature directorial effort, but you would be forgiven for thinking it had been longer. The two-time Oscar nominated director is returning to material more in the vein of 2008's Milk, his last well received film, with Dead Man's Wire, a true-crime story starring Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, and Colman Domingo. Is Daniel Day-Lewis back-back? Another title missing from festival slates is Anemone, the feature directing debut of Ronan Day-Lewis, whose last name is not a coincidence. The project brought Ronan's dear-old dad, Daniel — missing from screens since Phantom Thread — out of retirement for a second time. But will one of the greatest actors of his generation stay back? Can Steven Soderbergh out-Soderbergh himself? Releasing two movies in a single year is old-hat for Steven Soderbergh. He's done it a few times, and in one of those cases — 2000 with Traffic and Erin Brockovich — went up against himself for Best Director (and won). With the announcement of The Christophers, starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel and premiering at TIFF, that will bring Soderbergh's 2025 total to three (after Presence and Black Bag). Could the Oscars bring about Soderbergh v. Soderbergh v. Soderbergh? (Almost definitely not, but it's fun to imagine.) Best of Gold Derby Everything to know about 'The Batman 2': Returning cast, script finalized Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked worst to best 'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin') Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
Auto Blog
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Mazda Drops Snazzy 2025 CX-90 Lease Deal for July
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. A generous incentive makes one CX-90 trim level particularly worthwhile Having replaced the Mazda CX-9 for 2024, the CX-90 has upscale aspirations despite its mainstream price, a goal shared with the enormously popular Kia Telluride. This is nothing new for Mazda, which continually builds vehicles that possess a certain je ne sais quoi. As you might expect for its largest model, Mazda's CX-90 offers three rows of seats with 143 cubic feet of passenger space, although the third row is a bit of a tight squeeze. Fold it, and you'll expand the CX-90's 15-cubic-foot cargo hold to 40 cubic feet or about the same as the CX-70, which lacks a third row but is otherwise just as large and has a higher starting price. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and charging are standard on most trims, with a 12.3-inch infotainment display operated by a dial on the center console. When it comes to power, most CX-90s come equipped with a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder engine mild-hybrid system generating 280 horsepower, or 340 horsepower on top-of-the-line S models. There's also the CX-90 2.5-liter four-cylinder Plug-in Hybrid that produces 323 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard on all models. Towing is rated at 5,000 pounds with the Towing Package, 3,500 pounds without it. For July, this massive Mazda has an equally attractive lease. Mazda CX-90 — Source: Mazda The Mazda CX-90 lease deal, July 2025 You can be driving Mazda's largest, roomiest, and most luxurious three-row SUV for as little as $384 a month for 36 months with 10,000 miles a year. In all, you'll need $3,999 at lease signing for a 2025 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo Select with an MSRP of $38,045 and a $1,530 destination charge, based on a capitalized cost of $36,110. Don't have that kind of cash to put down? Your monthly payment will be a bit higher, at $495. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Prefer the 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Preferred Plug-In Hybrid? It's offered at a very affordable $429 a month for a 36-month/30,000-mile lease with $3,999 due at lease signing. Given it has an MSRP of $49,945 plus $1,530 destination charge, it's a great deal. But why so cheap? Check out its capitalized cost of $40,555, which includes a $7,500 Lease Customer Cash offer not offered on other CX-90s. You'll even get the same 10,000 miles a year. Want a no-cash-down deal? It'll run about $540. If you're a current Mazda owner, you'll also get $1,000 towards the lease of a new 2025 Mazda CX-50, while those in the military, including their spouse or children, get a $500 cash bonus towards a new lease. All lease payments include a $650 acquisition fee, but exclude tax, title, license, and dealer options and charges. No security deposit is required. Keep in mind that, when leasing, consider the monthly payment cost, taxes, and fees before signing. Lease offers vary by metro market. Check your local pricing here. Mazda CX-90 — Source: Mazda Final thoughts If you're considering leasing a CX-90, it's well worth going for the Plug-In Hybrid, which has an incentive that brings it close to the cost of conventional CX-90 models. It allows you to run solely on electricity for an EPA-rated 26 miles, or as a conventional hybrid, saving you money at the pump, too, although it does require premium fuel. Regardless of which CX-90 you choose, you'll have the chance to enjoy Mazda's biggest and best for a reasonable price. *Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle. About the Author Larry Printz View Profile
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital Nomads Are Getting Caught in the War on Tourism
This is part of Reason's 2025 summer travel issue. Click here to read the rest of the issue. "It was a grueling three-hour commute to my Colorado office this morning. I left Telluride with a yellow day pack strapped to my back, and climbed north into the mountains through the golden glow of early-October aspens," wrote Steven K. Roberts in his 1988 book, Computing Across America. Roberts made his way through the remnants of a mining camp before settling at the desk he'd cobbled out of industrial junk the day before. "My chair is an old dynamite crate; my computer a Hewlett-Packard Portable. I flipped open the display, fired up Microsoft WORD, and here I am at work—pattering into a mountainside text file," he wrote. "No, I'm not on vacation. I am a high-tech nomad—pedaling a recumbent bicycle around the United States with a portable computer while funding the journey with a sporadic outpouring of words." A year and a half earlier, Roberts had decided to leave behind his stationary life in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He built a bicycle that doubled as a mobile office—"an eight-foot-long machine bedecked with solar panels and enough state-of-the-art gizmology to start an engineering school"—and embarked on a yearslong 17,000-mile journey throughout the United States. Roberts worked as a computer consultant and freelance writer from the road, filing articles via pay phone. Roberts' lifestyle was completely foreign in the 1980s. People were fascinated by the pioneering digital nomad, whose story landed him on The Phil Donahue Show and the front page of The Wall Street Journal. And it raised big questions about the future of work. Before email, Zoom, and Slack became fixtures of everyday work life, the vast majority of the world's white-collar workers were bound to physical offices. Truly remote jobs were scarce. Slowly but surely, technological innovations allowed more people to work from an entirely different city or state than their coworkers. Then the COVID-19 pandemic showed that millions could work remotely and effectively, thanks to increasingly accessible and functional digital services. From 2019 to 2021, the number of Americans primarily working from home tripled from 9 million to 27.6 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Also during the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world buttoned up their borders and told their citizens to stay home. As the pandemic receded and international travel restrictions began to lift, many newly remote workers were keen to live and work beyond their countries' borders—and foreign governments began to notice. Looking to capitalize on an unprecedentedly mobile work force, countries rushed to create visas tailored to so-called digital nomads. Since summer 2020, dozens have unveiled programs designed to entice remote employees to work from their soil. These programs grant legal status for longer than the typical tourist visa, which may be as short as 90 days. That longer term gives digital nomads the chance to build deeper connections in their host countries and have a wider range of experiences than a tourist might. The benefits to remote workers are obvious, but countries benefit from digital nomad arrangements too. Some collect tax revenue from visa holders. Those that don't still reap the benefits of remote workers spending their foreign incomes and sharing their cultures and skills with neighbors. But not every kind of visitor is welcome in digital nomad–friendly countries these days. Even as governments set up visa programs specifically to attract the world's mobile employees, they're cracking down on tourists and the amenities they enjoy. Digital nomads may soon find themselves in cities and countries that have heavily restricted their Airbnb markets or imposed daily fees on tourists. Can these two approaches coexist? Even though countries don't treat digital nomads as tourists, they don't treat them as permanent residents either. Digital nomads are bound to be caught in the tourist battles. If legal digital nomad status comes with enough downsides, remote workers won't want it—and countries risk missing out on travelers who could help address tourism-related worries. Digital nomadism was already on the rise before COVID-era remote work freed more people to do their jobs from far-flung places. The term digital nomad predates the pandemic by more than two decades. Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners' 1997 book Digital Nomad "predicted a future workforce of globe-trotting travellers logging in from abroad" thanks to "technological advances and humanity's will to explore," reports the BBC. The idea gained more traction in "the 2010s, largely among young people looking for an early-career escape from the decades of 9–5 office work they saw looming before them." Estonia was the first country to unveil a formal digital nomad visa program after the pandemic began, doing so in summer 2020. Since then, dozens of countries have followed suit. More than 20 European nations offer digital nomad visas or other visas that are accessible to remote-working professionals. So do such expat favorites as Panama, Bali, Thailand, and Colombia. Tiny Caribbean island nations, bustling Asian economies, and some of the world's most populous countries have all joined in. Most of those visas allow remote workers to live in a country for at least a year. Most require an application fee and proof of regular income or available funds. Jobs must generally be based outside of the visa-issuing country. Beyond those basics, there's quite a bit of variation. For example, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Georgia allow applicants to bring their families. Digital nomads who live in Panama can apply for tax residency and may be able to avoid paying taxes at home. (Unfortunately for Americans working abroad, the IRS views "worldwide income" as "subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you live.") Belize lets visa holders' kids attend the country's schools. Dominica offers the nomads duty-free goods and various discounts. In 2023 the World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation projected that the global number of digital nomads would reach 40 million by the end of that year and 60 million by 2030. But it's hard to say how large this globe-trotting work force is—is someone a digital nomad, or is he just working on vacation?—and not every digital nomad has a digital nomad visa. It's also difficult to quantify digital nomads' economic power; some put their global economic value in the hundreds of billions. Digital nomad visas are a way for countries to regularize a quasi-illegal practice. Someone who wants to stay in a country on a medium- or long-term basis but isn't able or willing to get an immigrant visa or a work visa might decide to work under the radar. They might be there on a tourist visa and resort to border runs—i.e., quick trips abroad to restart the clock on a limited visa. Working in a local job on a tourist visa is illegal, and the law isn't settled about working in a home country–based job from abroad. Border runs are risky and encourage shorter-term thinking: There's always a chance that someone will be denied reentry. Digital nomad visas can provide more certainty to federal authorities—and to nomads, who can build more permanent lives and deeper connections in their host countries. While digital nomad visas allow foreigners to stay in a country for longer than a tourist visa would, that doesn't mean they have an easy path to permanent residency. Looking at digital nomad schemes in 65 jurisdictions, the migration consultancy firm Global Citizen Solutions found that "three grant direct access to citizenship for time spent as digital nomads"—Spain, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic—"while 15 offer pathways to permanent residency, paving the way to eventual citizenship." Not exactly immigrants and not just visitors, digital nomads occupy a strange legal and social space. That has left them vulnerable to nearby battles. "We think tourist demand is unstoppable," a Barcelona deputy mayor told CNN in March. "Everyone is welcome. But there's a limit. The only possibility is to control the supply." The number of tourists staying overnight in Barcelona just about tripled between 2000 and 2016, jumping from 3.1 million to 9 million. Over 15 million overnight tourists stayed in Barcelona in 2024. While tourism is an important part of Barcelona's economy, many locals are concerned about how the growing number of visitors is changing their home. The city made international headlines last summer when thousands of locals took to the streets chanting, "Tourists go home." Things escalated when some protesters squirted water guns at tourists sitting at outdoor cafés. CNN called it "the water pistol shot that echoed around the world." That episode was a hyperliteral version of the tourists vs. locals debate, but it captured feelings that have been bubbling up in the world's hottest vacation destinations. In many of those places, governments are taking measures to crack down on what they see as excessive or undesirable tourism. Amsterdam directed a "stay away" ad campaign toward British men ages 18–35 who searched terms like stag party, cheap hotel, or pub crawl Amsterdam. Dubrovnik, in Croatia, banned tourists from rolling their wheeled suitcases down cobblestone streets in some parts of the city. Travelers visiting Venice's historic center in spring and summer 2024 faced a daily entry fee of 5 euros. Bali, Indonesia, introduced a 150,000 rupiah ($9.18) entry fee for international visitors last year, and local officials are reportedly considering raising it. Destinations such as Santorini, Greece, and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, have tightened regulations on daily cruise ship arrivals. Critics of "overtourism" say it's about bad tourist behavior. It's also about sheer numbers—the idea that too many people are flocking to too small a space. Some borrow environmentalist language about "carrying capacity" and sustainability when talking about overwhelmed destinations. The world does have plenty of disrespectful tourists and packed city centers. But discussions of overtourism often minimize the economic symbiosis between tourists and locals (or even view it as a negative). The sheer-numbers approach paints all visitors with the same brush, and the government policies stemming from it are likewise broad. Perhaps the most common and disruptive antitourism measure is banning short-term vacation rentals such as Airbnbs. The practice of converting long-term apartments into short-term rentals, which can be a lucrative option for property owners, is often blamed for raising housing costs and shutting residents out of desirable central neighborhoods. That's the argument behind New York City's de facto Airbnb ban, which has driven up hotel prices for travelers. Barcelona has stopped issuing short-term rental licenses and won't renew existing ones, aiming to phase out short-term rentals by 2029. (In May, the Spanish government demanded that Airbnb remove 66,000 rental listings from its site.) Vienna allows homeowners to rent out short-term units for only 90 days per year. Athens is in the middle of a one-year ban on new short-term rental registrations in several city districts. Several digital nomad visas require applicants to secure a 12-month lease (Portugal's and Italy's, for example), but digital nomads nonetheless make heavy use of short-term rentals. A digital nomad might want to live in a country for a year but not in just one city—something that's easier through Airbnb than a traditional lease. Short-term rental services also allow visitors to vet units via reviews from abroad rather than risking signing a lease for a unit that may or may not match online descriptions. Daily entry fees, sightseeing restrictions, and tighter Airbnb markets might seem like minor inconveniences, especially for digital nomads who are ostensibly living beyond day-to-day tourist experiences. But they help create the impression that visitors aren't traveling somewhere to experience a place but to impose upon it. And they eliminate some of the amenities that make the digital nomad lifestyle attractive in the first place. It's been over 40 years since Roberts pioneered the high-tech nomadic lifestyle. The oldest postpandemic digital nomad visa programs turn 5 this year. They came at a unique time in both remote work technology and global mobility, offering an office abroad to anyone with wanderlust and a Wi-Fi connection. Or at least that was the promise. What's been the payoff? By some estimates, it's been minimal. Nomads Embassy, a company that assists digital nomads, aggregates visa approval numbers from some of the top destinations for mobile workers. As of February 2023, Croatia had approved 680 digital nomad visas; Estonia had granted 535 by February 2024; and Malaysia had approved 1,506 by July 2024. In the first year of its digital nomad visa scheme, Portugal granted 2,600 visas. Thailand "has approved approximately 1,200 of its Destination Thailand Visas," reports Centuro Global, a company that helps businesses expand globally. According to Euronews, Spain "granted almost 7,500 digital nomad visas in the first 10 months following its introduction." That's a tiny fraction of the world's digital nomads. There are a few reasons for this. Many digital nomads can get by without visas; not everyone who wants to work remotely abroad wants to do so for a year. Complicated tax situations, scarce or expensive lodging, and doubts over the portability of benefits all might keep someone from making a long-term leap. Then there are all the bureaucratic hoops. That raises the question: What are these visas for? Governments across the world are still trying to figure that out. They talk about "transforming how people in the world choose to work," enabling "a lifestyle that allows you to explore incredible places," and attracting "highly qualified" and "top" professionals in desired fields. But if hardly anybody is taking advantage of the visas, what are those talking points good for? Countries hoping to lure digital nomads "will need to consider both what type of remote worker they wish to attract and how proactive they wish to be," explained the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) in a 2022 report. They might "develop a remote work strategy that integrates immigration priorities with economic development and inclusive growth objectives," it noted. Governments could also "create temporary-to-permanent pathways so that some remote workers on visitor and nomad visas can transition to more permanent residence." "To truly reap the benefits of remote work, governments need to understand that this is about more than generating revenue from digital nomad visa programs," the report continued, "but also making a country an attractive environment for temporary visitors." Visas haven't been necessary to legitimize the digital nomad lifestyle. But they could be an antidote to overtourism. Digital nomadism "offers a steady income stream throughout the year, reducing dependence on peak tourism seasons," wrote Cabo Verde's secretary of state for digital economy last year. "Digital nomads often stay longer and spend more locally than traditional tourists, creating a more sustainable economic model." Making it easier for remote workers to settle abroad in the medium to long term means that more people will have access to a slower, more deliberate way of experiencing a foreign country. Not all will flock to metropolises like Lisbon and Barcelona. Some entrepreneurial digital nomads are setting up co-living spaces in European villages facing depopulation, coming to agreements "with the town hall, with local associations, with businesses, with the community itself," Juan Barbed, co-founder of the co-living company Rooral, told Euronews last year. Countries have much to gain by introducing desirable digital nomad visas or improving existing ones. Digital nomads will never outnumber tourists, but they will suffer if they become collateral damage in a war on tourism. The post Digital Nomads Are Getting Caught in the War on Tourism appeared first on
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Auto review: Bolder Kia Sorento PHEV boosts luxury, technology
If anyone wondered why the Sorento hybrids were left out of Kia's midcycle refresh last year, the carmaker wasn't playing favorites. Those hybrids join the others with the new look and extra goodies for 2025. The Sorento hybrid and PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric) now have the same bolder styling, attractive cabin laden with new tech features, and an extra dose of luxury in the renamed top-trim, the SX Prestige. There's also a new ground-floor trim, the EX, which is comfortably equipped and nearly $15,000 under the "prestigious" one. Perhaps less sexy but no less important is Sorento's growing list of safety features, including Kia's superb driver-assist package - among the best in this midsize, three-row segment. Sorento's new face sports vertical rows of LED headlamps framed by amber running lights on top and side. Together they flank a restyled gloss-black grille with satin chrome beneath. Strong creases on the hood and sides show its kinship to the larger Telluride. At the rear Kia narrowed the tail lights and linked them with a thin light bar. The rear wiper is tucked neatly under the spoiler. The conventional hybrid and PHEV have similar setups but the PHEV offers a bigger (13.8 kWh) battery that enables 32 miles of electric-only driving. After that, the engine kicks in seamlessly. If you plug in nightly and have a short commute, you could go weeks before seeing a fillin' station. The EPA estimates a combined gas-electric outcome of 74 MPGe (equivalent). On gas only, expect around 33 mpg combined. Plug in at home to charge the battery in about eight hours, but a Level 2 charger can get it done in less than four. Regenerative braking helps reenergize the battery, too. Each hybrid system has a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine paired to a single electric motor. The PHEV delivers more power with 262 horsepower (34 more than the standard hybrid) and 258 pound-feet of torque. Power is delivered to all four wheels by a six-speed automatic transmission - no CVT, thankfully. Despite the PHEV's extra horses, acceleration is similar to the regular hybrid because of the heavier battery. Zero to 60 mph comes in an unexciting 8 seconds, though it can do 7.2 in Sport mode. Other drive modes include Electric, Hybrid and Automatic, which switches as warranted. There's a Smart mode which finds a happy balance. There's also a Snow mode and Eco which saves energy but drops performance significantly. Overall ride quality is good and it remains quiet enough and stable on the highway. While it's not especially quick, the plug-in hybrid handles well for a 5,600-pound crossover. It is well composed on corners, with partial credit to the heavy battery. That battery also takes a bite out of towing ability. The tow rating for the PHEV is just 1,654 pounds, compared to 4,000 for the nonhybrid. The cabin is a world apart from last year. The upscale SX Prestige has a clean, sophisticated look with suede headliner, ambient lighting, and leather-trimmed seats with stitching detail. The six-seater also is comfortable and plenty roomy from head to legs. Front seats are heated, ventilated and have 14-way power adjustments for the driver, 10-way for the passenger. Second-row captain's chairs are heated and have even more legroom than some of the two-row crossovers. And they get window shades. The third row, as is typical, is best left for kids with only 29.6 inches of legroom. The cockpit technology is super impressive. The SX Prestige now has a curved panoramic display featuring dual 12.3-inch screens, one for navigation and infotainment, the other for a digital instrument cluster. It marks a giant improvement over last year in appearance, ease of use and response times. A touch panel here also displays controls for climate and a 12-speaker premium Bose audio system. It includes wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless phone charger is stationed up front, too, and USB-C ports are available in all three rows. There's no shortage of storage cubbies, a must in any family hauler, and a panoramic sunroof with power sunshade brightens the ride how you like it. Cargo capacity is meager with all seats in use at 12.6 cubic feet, but flip down the 3rd row with the push of a button to unveil 38.5 cubes. With both back rows down there's a generous 75.5 cubic feet. Kia's "Smart" lift back is great when your hands are full: Just stand behind it for a few moments and it opens automatically. Kia also added safety features and driver assists to the SX Prestige PHEV. A navigation-based "Smart Cruise Control" has intersection assist, detects pedestrians and cyclists, and can automatically slow the vehicle on curves. The intuitive system also learns your driving habits and adapts to them over time. On the open road, Kia's Highway Driving Assist 2 enables hands-free driving and changes lanes. The top-tier SX Prestige plug-in runs a few thousand dollars more for 2025, but you get what you pay for. It's a major step up in technology, has edgier looks and a more refined cabin. 2025 Kia Sorento SX Prestige PHEV MSRP: $53,090 AS TESTED: $54,690 (All inclusive with features like panoramic sunroof, leather seats, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bose premium audio, rear sunshades, Highway Driving Assist 2) What's all the excitement about? Edgier look, more power, dual curved screens for infotainment and gauges, a bevy of safety and driver-assist features. Powertrain: 1.6-liter turbocharged engine paired with 91-hp motor for total 262 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque; 13.8-kWh battery enables 32 miles of electric-only driving How's the performance? Not fast but lower emissions, remember, and good enough with 0-60 mph in 8 seconds; Ride quality is good, well composed on corners Fuel economy: EPA-estimated 74 MPGe with electric-gas combined; 33 mpg combined when gas-only in use Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
