Kia Sorento breaks cover, launch scheduled for September 4

Kia Sorento is set to launch in India on September 4. The SUV broke cover earlier this week. Upon launch, the Sorento will become Kia’s flagship ICE offering in India. Kia has started accepting bookings for the SUV. There will be diesel and strong-hybrid variants on offer. The latter will come with an All Wheel Drive (AWD) configuration. The India-spec model will be the first Sorento globally to come with Kia AI.

Read Also: Mahindra XEV 9S gets a 6-seat model priced at Rs 25.25 lakh

Kia Sorento: All set for launch

The India-spec Sorento is identical to the international model that was introduced in 2023. It stands at dimensions of 4,815mm x 1,900mm x 1,700mm and has a 2,815mm wheelbase. The SUV follows Kia’s ‘Opposites Unite’ design philosophy. The front fascia flaunts a ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, which is flanked on either side by sharp, Y-shaped LED DRLs. These DRLs surround the vertically stacked LED headlamps. The bumper has a wide air intake unit. Its edges house the fog lamps and air vents.

The profile of the Kia Sorento reveals prominent shoulder lines, a satin trim for the front fenders, and a chrome surround on the windows. The SUV rests on 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. The pull-type door handles are mounted in their traditional positions. At the back, the tail lamps have an edgy L-shaped lighting signature. The roof-mounted spoiler has a prominent presence. The bumper has a dual-tone finish.

Kia hasn’t confirmed the interior specs of the Sorento yet, but we expect it to come in 6- and 7-seat layouts. Its dashboard will pack 12.3-inch displays for the touchscreen infotainment system and the digital instrument cluster. There will be wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity on board. The steering will have a 4-spoke wheel with mounted physical controls. The 179-litre boot space capacity will be expandable to 1,996 litres with the rear seats folded down.

Other features like ventilated front seating, wireless charging, a powered driver’s seat, a Head-Up Display (HUD), a 360-degree camera, ambient lighting, an electronic parking brake, and a panoramic sunroof are expected to make the cut. The SUV will also carry a Level 2 ADAS suite.

Kia has confirmed the powertrain specs of the India-spec Sorento. The SUV will be offered in 2 engine options – 2.0-litre diesel and 1.6-litre 4-cylinder strong-hybrid petrol. The former generates a maximum power output of 202hp and 441Nm of torque. The latter churns out 238hp and 380Nm. Both engines will be mated to automatic transmissions.

Read Also: 2027 Hyundai Tucson breaks cover with new design and bigger dimensions

Final Thoughts

Kia has kicked off the production of the Sorento at its production facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. We expect the SUV to fetch between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 35 lakh. Upon launch, it will rival the Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron, Toyota Fortuner, and Honda ZR-V in India.