KIA’S LARGE SUV, THE Sorento has been upgraded and will arrive in showrooms this month. The new Sorento brings advances to the exterior and interior design, comfort and convenience technology, and provides additional safety features.
The range will remain consistent with the outgoing model continuing with the existing four powertrains. The 3.5L FWD petrol and 2.2L AWD diesel variants will be available across all four trim offerings (S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line) with the Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) variants available in the top GT-Line specification only.
Petrol and Diesel variants will be launched in this initial Sorento PE upgrade release. HEV and PHEV variants will be arriving during the first half of 2024, with specification details and pricing announced in due course.
“The award-winning fourth generation Sorento took the large SUV segment by storm when it was launched in late 2020 and with the arrival of the enhanced model, what was already really good, is now even better,” said Kia Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Damien Meredith.
“The upgrades and improvements offer significant benefits and we believe the Sorento will exceed the expectations of anyone shopping in the seven-seat SUV market.”
The new Sorento features multiple refreshed design elements creating a unique appearance. Taking design cues from the recently launched EV9 it stands proud with a new head light graphic and a cleaner radiator grille and front bumper, stylishly cementing its place as part of the modern Kia range.
The rear design has been subtly tweaked offering a more modern appearance with design improvements made to the rear bumper enhancing the overall ruggedness and rear lamps complimenting the new signature front lighting design.
The new simplistic 4-inch Multi-Function LCD digital display on S, Sport & Sport+ trims has been designed to replace analogue gauges to maintain a high-tech image across the range.
The dual 12.3-inch panoramic integrated display takes centre stage on the dashboard of the GT-Line trim and creates a luxurious ambience. The dual 12.3-inch Digital Cluster and Infotainment Touch Screen displays provide a pleasant driving experience through high-definition images.
The new Sorento GT-Line trim offers a Digital Centre Mirror (DCM), also present in the recently launched EV9 GT-Line, which lets users switch the interior mirror from a standard ECM to camera display for maximum rear visibility and safety.
Packed with functionality, Kia Connect is a 7-year complimentary connected car service that enhances safety/convenience and allows for a better customer experience. Kia Connect provides customer benefits in safety, security, convenience, connectivity, and LIVE services by using telematics systems to transfer real time data, such as weather and traffic information, etc.
Once again, following in the footsteps of the Kia EV9, OTA will also be available across the range for the new Sorento. Enabling the system to undergo constant “wireless” improvements, with the latest maps, interfaces and software enhancements, and all without customers having to visit a service centre.
Shift By Wire (SBW) will now be extended to the entire range, allowing for a cleaner interior finish and increased sense of interior space.
Sport+ and GT-Line trims feature a Bose premium sound system combining 12 optimally tuned, high performance speakers and subwoofer based on the unique sound technology of Bose. Each speaker carefully and precisely engineered for optimum performance, ensuring a rich and immersive audio experience.
Safety upgrades brings the introduction of Highway Driving Assist (HDA), the next-generation Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) which functions only when driving on a freeway or motorway, included in Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line variants. HDA fundamentally builds on adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, combining with Lane Following Assist (LFA) to keep the car centred in the lane even when driving through a curve.
The new Sorento GT-Line also receives Parking Distance Warning (Front, Side, Rear) adding on side detection zones to provide a more comprehensive warning system that will warn the driver when a collision is likely during parking.
Two new premium paint choices, Volcanic Sand Brown and Cityscape Green, have been added to the colour pallet bringing the exterior colour choices to a total of nine, joining the carried over Clear White (standard), Snow White Pearl, Mineral Blue, Steel Grey, Gravity Blue, Silky Grey and Aurora Black Pearl (premium).
The new Sorento variants will carry over the 5-star ANCAP rating from the outgoing model tested in 2020.
Pricing
| Powertrain | Trim | |
| 2.2L CRDI
All Wheel Drive (AWD) |
S | $53,680 |
| Sport | $56,300 | |
| Sport+ | $61,230 | |
| GT-Line | $68,590 | |
| 3.5L MPI
Front Wheel Drive |
S | $50,680 |
| Sport | $53,300 | |
| Sport+ | $58,230 | |
| GT-Line | $65,590 |
All prices plus on road costs