Kia Sorento spotted testing in India for the first time

Kia’s 3-row SUV, Sorento, has been spotted testing on Indian roads for the first time. Kia Sorento is currently sold in international markets in Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East. The sighting of its test mule in India confirms that a launch is on the cards. The hybrid SUV will likely go on sale in the first quarter of 2026.

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Kia Sorento: What to expect?

The Sorento test mule spotted in India was draped in heavy camouflage, but gave away some important information. The cutouts on the drapes revealed vertical LED headlamps and sleek LED DRLs. There were cutouts for the front camera and parking sensors as well. The 19-inch alloy wheels were left completely undisguised. The SUV has a bold and boxy stance befitting a 3-row vehicle. The profile shots also revealed flush-sitting door handles. At the back, we could make out the presence of wraparound LED tail lamps.

Leaked spy shots of the Sorento’s interior give a glimpse of the rotary dial gear selector. This confirms that the test mule is a hybrid model. It will rock dual 12.3-inch displays for the touchscreen infotainment system and the digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system will feature Kia’s new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) interface that made its debut on the 2nd-gen Venue. It will support OTA updates and connected car tech features. Other features will include ventilated seating, multi-zone climate control, rear AC vents, a panoramic sunroof, a Bose sound system, ambient lighting, wireless charging, and more. There will be a Level 2 ADAS suite on board with features like lane keep assist, smart cruise control, forward collision avoidance, and more.

The India-bound Kia Sorento will likely be powered by a 1.5-inch naturally aspirated petrol engine with a strong hybrid system. This powertrain will be added to the Kia Seltos lineup as well. It will be Kia’s first strong hybrid powertrain for the Indian market. In international markets, the Sorento comes in 3 powertrains: a 238hp-producing 1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid engine, a 1.6-litre turbo petrol plug-in hybrid engine that puts out 288hp, and a 2.2-litre diesel hybrid engine. The diesel engine can be mated to an 8-speed DCT gearbox, while the petrol engine can be paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

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Final Thoughts

The Sorento will sit above Seltos and Carens in Kia India’s portfolio. We expect it to be priced around Rs 30 lakh. Upon launch, it will rival the Jeep Meridian, Skoda Kodiaq, MG Gloster, and Toyota Fortuner in India. More details are expected as we get closer to launch.