Kia’s competent Sorento SUV scores a major upgrade this year and the new lineup will debut late next month at the Paris Motor Show.
External changes give the Kia Sorento a more contemporary look and enhanced aerodynamics (Cd down to 0.34). At the front there’s a new bumper, new grille, new headlights with LED DRLs and vertical axis fog lights while the rear sees a new bumper, new tailgate and new lights.
Also available are new 10-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels and a two-part panoramic glass roof.
Inside, Kia has wrought major changes for its seven-seat SUV with an enhanced look taking things up-market and a lowering of the cabin floor delivering 30mm more legroom for the second row passengers and an additional 9mm for those in the third row. Trims include black or beige cloth or leather.
There’s also a new eight-inch LCD display screen and new LCD instrument cluster plus satin chrome trim highlights and a new centre console with a straight-gate gear selector. Available options include heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats and air-conditioning for the third row.
Kia has also enhanced the quietness of the upgraded Sorento with a host of initiatives to lower NVH.
Under the bonnet, Kia’s engineers have worked at providing more power while also cutting fuel consumption and exhaust emissions for both petrol and diesel engines. The 2.4-litre petrol engine gets major revisions which produce nine per-cent more power (141kW) and almost seven per-cent more torque (242Nm), while the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel delivers 145kW/436Nm.
All models (2WD or 4WD) drive through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Major changes too for the chassis to enhance driving dynamics – starting with more direct steering (2.95 turns lock-to-lock). And, while the basic MacPherson strut front/multi-link layout remains, ride height has been reduced by 10mm, suspension mounts have been stiffened, bushes enlarged and the rear trailing arms are longer
Part of the improved driving dynamics for the upgraded Kia Sorento also comes from a much stiffer chassis – a bracing bar has been added between the front suspension towers, there’s more high-tensile steel an overall torsional rigidity is up by 18 per cent. These efforts also boost the new model’s crash performance in accordance with stricter European standards.
The updated Kia Sorento goes on-sale in most markets late this year and Kia Australia will announce detailed local specifications closer to launch.
