Updated Kia Sorento here by year’s end

KIA has revealed its facelifted Sorento seven-seat large SUV with updated styling and equipment scheduled to land in Australian showrooms by year’s end to try and steal sales away from the segment-leading Mazda CX-9.

Speaking to GoAuto, Kia Australia general manager of media and corporate communications Kevin Hepworth confirmed that “it will be launched in Australia in quarter four” but could not offer any more details surrounding pricing and specification.

Compared with the current model, the new Sorento wears a revised front end thanks to new LED headlights and daytime running lights which are repositioned to sit underneath the lighting signature instead of above.

The lower front bumper is also tweaked, eschewing the prior model’s black and silver kickplate for a subtler body-coloured design, while the old diamond pattern front grille is replaced with a new blinged-out design.

At the rear, the new Sorento is kept fresh by LED tail-lights, new reflectors and dual chrome exhaust outlets on diesel versions, while South Korean-spec models also gain 19-inch chrome wheels.

While the changes to the exterior are minor, Kia has taken the opportunity to lift the interior standards of its flagship SUV with the introduction of a new infotainment system complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

A new four-spoke steering wheels sits front and centre for drivers, a wireless smartphone charger is included and the South Korean brand is boasting the Sorento will have a “high-quality interior finished with delicate detail”.

Mechanically, the new Sorento is expected to be offered with the same 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine outputting 199kW/318Nm and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four pushing out 147kW/441Nm.

However, both engines will now be teamed with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, up from six, which is expected to improve existing fuel consumption figures of 9.9 litres per 100km in the petrol and 7.8L/100km in the oil burner.

International versions of the Sorento also gain front heated and cooled cupholders, metal-finished side steps and door puddle lights as an option, but it remains to be seen if these features are brought to Australia.

For the first half of the year, Kia has sold 2568 Sorento SUVs, up 21.6 per cent year-on-year, and placing it behind the Mazda CX-9 (4657), compatriot Hyundai Santa Fe (4717) and soon-to-be-replaced Holden Captiva (5345), the latter of which is currently offered with five- and seven-seat configurations.

Kia’s Sorento makes up almost 10 per cent of the brand’s overall sales, which have reached 28,735 to the end of June – a 35 per cent jump on sales last year over the same period.