Kia Sorento Goes Under the Knife for a More Premium Look
The current-generation Kia Sorento was introduced for 2021, so a mid-cycle refresh is in order. The company today gave us a preview by showing the model that will go on sale in South Korea later this year.
As you can see on the pictures, the Sorento appears to somewhat adopt Kia’s latest “Opposites United” design language. The front grille is more prominent and has a three-dimensional aspect, while being flanked by completely redesigned headlights (now stacked vertically) and daytime running lights (in the shape of a large “T”).
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The hood and front bumper are revised, as well. Overall, the Sorento sports a more modern and more premium look.
Next up, the wheels get a new design and minor tweaks were made to the taillights and rear bumper. The fake skid plate is now larger, adding to the vehicle’s rugged style.
Kia also said three new body colours will be part of the palette including Interstellar Gray, Cityscape Green and Volcanic Sand Brown. It remains to be seen which ones will be available in Canada.
The last picture shared by Kia reveals the interior of the updated Sorento. Gone are the huge air vents messing up the centre portion of the dashboard. They’ve been replaced by thin, full-width vents for a cleaner layout.
In fact, there’s a closer connection with models like the Sportage and EV6. This includes a curved display combining a pair of 12.3-inch screens, as well as a new control panel below. The steering wheel and centre console don’t seem to be any different, however.
Apparently, there’s a new fingerprint authentication system that can be used to start the engine, make in-car payments or activate a driver profile, for instance. Once again, we’re not sure it will be offered in Canada.
What about powertrain options? It’s too early to tell at this point, but we don’t expect any changes in that department. The naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines should return along with the more efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems.
Kia Canada has yet to confirm whether the refreshed Sorento will go on sale as a 2024 or 2025 model. Details for the North American market will likely be released this fall. We’ll keep you posted.