Kia has officially revealed the India-spec Sorento ahead of its launch on September 4. It will be the Korean brand’s new flagship ICE-powered model with three rows of seating and will be offered with strong-hybrid and diesel powertrains. Kia has also confirmed that the hybrid variant will be offered with all-wheel drive (AWD), which will make it unique in its segment. It will also come with Kia AI assistant – a first for the Sorento globally, debuting with the India-spec model.
- Sorento to be offered with strong-hybrid and diesel powertrains
- To get ADAS functions, powered tailgate and 360-degree camera
- Will be Kia’s first hybrid and first three-row ICE SUV in India
Kia has commenced production of the Sorento at its Anantapur facility in Andhra Pradesh today. With high levels of localisation, we expect very competitive pricing, likely in the ballpark of Rs 30 lakh-35 lakh (ex-showroom). This will be Kia’s first hybrid as well as its first ICE-powered three-row SUV in India.
Kia Sorento exterior design
This version of the Sorento has been around globally since 2023, which means it doesn’t get Kia’s latest and polarising ‘Opposites United’ design language seen on the much newer Seltos. It arguably has a more broadly appealing design, characterised by Kia’s signature Tiger Nose grille, large vertical LED headlamps with Y-shaped LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) and quintessential SUV proportions. The front bumper features a wide central air intake, LED fog lamps and vertical aero vents at the edges.
Kia hasn’t revealed the exact wheel size yet, but the dual-tone alloys are likely 19-inch units. The profile, otherwise, features a satin trim on the front fenders and a chrome surround for the window line that appears pinched towards the rear. At the back, there’s a squarish tail-lamp with an inverted L-shaped LED signature, a prominent roof spoiler and a two-tone bumper.
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In terms of dimensions, the Sorento is expected to remain unchanged from the global-spec model, which measures 4,815mm in length, 1,900mm in width, and 1,700mm in height and has a 2,815mm wheelbase.
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Kia Sorento Interior and features
The interior of the Sorento is quite similar to that of some newer Kia models already on sale in India. There is a connected panel featuring two screens for infotainment and instrumentation, although, interestingly, the third HVAC screen seen on the Seltos and Syros is absent here. Kia hasn’t specified the screen sizes yet, but they’ll likely be 12.3-inch units.
Overall, the layered dashboard looks uncluttered, featuring a slim band for the AC vents and Kia’s signature dual-purpose control panel for climate and media operations – in our experience in other Hyundai-Kia models, it’s intuitive to use and far better than haptic touch-based controls. The centre console, meanwhile, gets a wireless charger, chunky grab handles and a prominent driver selector with a premium, knurled finish. There also seems to be good use of soft-touch and premium trim and materials all around.
Other features we could observe from the official images include ADAS functions, ventilated front seats (likely featuring a massage function), a digital interior rearview mirror (IRVM), an electrically operated tailgate, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera setup and a panoramic sunroof. The Sorento is expected to be offered in both 6- and 7-seater options.
Kia Sorento powertrain options
Kia has confirmed two powertrain options for India – a hybrid with all-wheel drive and a diesel. The hybrid version will have a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder strong-hybrid unit that develops 238hp and 380Nm, whereas the diesel one will be a 2.0-litre unit putting out 202hp and 441Nm – this mill is used in the Kia Carnival, too. Both are likely to be paired with automatic transmissions. The hybrid powertrain will be a first in its segment, while diesel is what’s most preferred by buyers in an SUV of this size.
The Kia Sorento will find competition in the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron and Jeep Meridian. Prices will be officially announced on September 4, and bookings are currently underway.
Dipan Sur
Dhruv Dhaka
Viraaj Bhatnagar
