Kia’s all-new third generation Sorento SUV has bowed in Korea and boasts a sophisticated new look, a much more stylish interior, a choice of five petrol and diesel engines and chassis/technical changes claimed to deliver superior driving dynamics.
Kia says Sorento’s new look (a combined effort from its studios in Korea and Frankfurt, Germany) has been tagged ‘Streetwolf’ and although far from wild – in fact it’s an evolution of the previous generation model - there’s no doubt Sorento gets a premium look thanks to the smoother, swept-back profile and some significant sculpturing.
Up-front is Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger-nose’ grille, wraparound headlights and prominent fog-lights.
While the rear sees the usual Sorento thick D-pillars but this time there’s a much more muscly rear three-quarter thanks to that lower roofline and higher beltline. New laser welding techniques have permitted a much more tidy finish for the tailgate.
Dimensionally, the all-new Kia Sorento is 15mm lower (1,685mm) but is 95mm longer (4,780mm) and is 5.0mm wider (1,890mm).
Inside the influence of Kia’s European styling team can be seen in the all-new Sorento’s much more upscale look – better materials, including more leather, and increased use of soft-touch finishes just for starters.
‘Modern and wide’ was the theme and we can see the wider instrument panel, wraparound dashboard plus the Swiss watch-inspired user interface with stylish silver borders.
Adding to the allure, customers will be able to order their all-new Kia Sorento with either a single tone or two-tone interior colour scheme (Saturn Black or Saturn Black – Stone).
Space is up to thanks to an extra 80mm in the wheelbase (2,780mm) which translates into extra headroom for occupants in all three seating rows (new seat cushion designs offset the lower roofline) and this, combined with an extra 87mm in the cargo bay, provides for 17.5 per-cent more luggage space (now 605-litres).
Extra technology includes a four-camera ‘surround-view’ system and an automatic tailgate.
And on the safety front look for adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, front collision warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and a camera system which road signs and transmits the current speed limit to a dashboard display.
Kia says refinement is improved courtesy of a 14 per-cent stiffer bodyshell and extra soundproofing – depending on driving conditions cabin noise is reduced by up to six per-cent.
While Australian specifications are still being finalized, the engine choice of 2.4-litre (two versions) and 3.3-litre petrol engines or 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre turbo-diesels deliver outputs ranging from 126kW to 198kW.
Suspension retains the previous generation’s MacPherson strut front/multi-link rear layout but with significant changes – bushings, shock-absorbers, mounts etc – and the all-new Sorento also gains an all-new electric motor-driven power steering system.
The all-new Sorento will be Kia’s star at the upcoming Paris Motor Show at which time we understand Kia Australia will have some local details.
