Kia finally details all-new Sorento large SUV

KIA has finally laid bare all the details of its all-new, fourth-generation Sorento seven-seat large SUV, which is set to land in Australia around mid-year with updated technology, new designs and increased capabilities.

Underpinned by Kia’s new N3 platform, the Sorento is now 10mm longer and wider and 5mm taller than before, with a wheelbase that has extended by 35mm for shorter overhangs and greater interior space.

With all three rows upright, cargo volume is increased by a claimed 32 per cent, while with the rear seats stowed, 821L is available.

Occupants in the first and second rows score extra legroom, while third-row passengers can make use of additional headroom and are provided with easier ingress and egress, with the second-row seats now able to slide fore and aft by an extra 45mm.

Cabin design and available multimedia systems have taken a big step up in the new generation, headlined by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, operated with the assistance of haptic buttons either side of the touchscreen.

Higher-grade materials have been integrated such as premium leather upholstery, metallic trim and satin-effect surfaces, with local grades to be offered with either black cloth, cloth/black leather or full Nappa leather upholstery.

Wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose stereo system will also be available.

Kia says interior refinement has improved markedly with changes to the independent suspension set-up, which has been designed to reduce the effect of road imperfections and vibrations along with the higher-strength chassis.

Engineers have aimed to provide a more comfortable ride as well as more accomplished driving characteristics, focusing on a variety of geometry and component changes and making the best possible use of the longer, more stable wheelbase.

For Australia, as GoAuto reported earlier this year, the Sorento will carry over its existing powertrain line-up, starting with a 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 206kW/336Nm and driving the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

All-paw variants will continue to use a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder unit good for 147kW/441Nm, also mated to an eight-speed automatic shifter.

One new feature for AWD grades is the Terrain Mode function, which tweaks the stability control system to make the Sorento more capable in slippery conditions like mud, snow and sand.

Select global markets will have access to a new hybrid powertrain, which teams a 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine to a 1.49kWh lithium-ion battery and 44.2kW electric motor, for a combined system output of 169kW/350Nm.

This will be followed by a yet-to-be-revealed plug-in hybrid powertrain, however Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) has confirmed neither electrified powertrain are destined for sale locally at this stage.

More advanced driver-assist safety technology has been developed with the new generation, including a new remote smart parking assist feature which allows autonomous movement out of a front-and-back parking space simply with the use of the key fob, allowing easy ingress and egress even when parked hard up against another vehicle or wall.

The Sorento is also the first Kia to be made available with a multi-collision braking system, which continues to apply the brakes even after a crash, to help reduce secondary impacts.

These new features join the Sorento’s list of active safety systems which includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection, blind-spot monitor and collision avoidance, intelligent speed-limit assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-keep assist, driver attention warning, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse parking collision avoidance assist, surround-view monitor.

Seven airbags will also be fitted standard.

Exact pricing and local specification will be revealed closer to the model’s release late in the second quarter, however KMAu has advised that the showroom arrival could be delayed based on the current global climate.

Through the first two months of the year, Kia has sold 543 examples of the Sorento , down 22.3 per cent year-on-year.

In 2019 3777 Sorentos were sold, slipping 13.9 per cent compared to the 4385 managed in 2018.