Kia Motors Europe has announced a range of upgrades to the Kia Sorento, the company's seven-seat flagship SUV. The new Sorento will be on public display for the first time at the 2017 Frankfurt International Motor Show, and is due on sale across Europe from Q4 2017.

The new Kia Sorento features a refreshed exterior and interior design, and is available with Kia's latest safety and in-car connectivity technologies. A new GT Line variant is also available, as well as an efficient new eight-speed automatic transmission for 2.2-litre diesel model.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, commented: "The Sorento accounted for 15,769 sales across Europe in 2016, and it remains an important contributor to the company's sustained sales growth. The current model has a broad appeal among buyers, with a combination of high practicality, handsome design, and good value. Upgrades to the car's exterior and interior design, safety, and in-car technology all add to the appeal of the car and will ensure sales remain strong."

Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled the refreshed 2019 Sorento SUV at the 2017 Los Angeles International Auto Show. Refined, rugged and roomy, the Sorento remains as capable as ever, but touts a number of visual and feature enhancements, inside and out. Aside from new front and rear fascias, which help achieve a more sophisticated appearance, the cabin is now decidedly more upscale and integrates newly-added technology, including Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keep Assist and QuantumLogic™ Surround Sound. In addition, the Sorento now pairs its available 3.3-liter V6 with a new 8-speed automatic transmission for an even smoother and more seamless driving experience.

"In the highly-competitive crossover category, the Sorento is a clear example of how world-class design and craftsmanship are executed," said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, KMA. "Our popular utility now ups its game even further with enhancements in styling, packaging and content, making it even more attractive to shoppers seeking a premium level 3-row SUV."

Standard luxury features and amenities continue to be available across five trim levels - L, LX, EX, SX and SXL.

Kia Motors Corporation has revealed the first official images of the new Kia Sorento, ahead of its first public appearance at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show.

The concept of 'refined boldness' inspired Kia's designers, who sought to maintain the robust, tough-looking aesthetic of earlier generations of Kia Sorento, while applying a greater degree of refinement and elegance. More stylish than ever, the Sorento's redefined design incorporates sharper lines and uninterrupted surfaces, making it noticeable more sculpted than its more round-edged predecessor. With more contemporary geometric details and more swept-back, elongated proportions, the result is a more confident, more mature and more desirable design than ever.

The more assertive 'face' of the Kia Sorento evolves, too, with a new interpretation of Kia's hallmark 'tiger nose' grille. Wider and more expansive, it wraps organically around the integrated headlamps on each side. The headlamps themselves feature a new 'tiger eye' LED daytime running light, adding extra focus to the design by depicting the intense impression of the lines around a tiger's eyes.

In profile, the proportions of the Kia Sorento are subtly adapted to make it appear longer, with shorter front and rear overhangs and a longer wheelbase. Its new proportions also extend the length of the bonnet, drawing the A-pillar 30 mm further back from the front axle for a more 'cab-rearward' design. The trailing edge of the hood wraps around the front wings and turns into a single, strong character line which extends along the side of the Sorento and flows into the new vertical tail lights.

Inside, the attractive, upscale cabin of the new Kia Sorento introduces a sophisticated new design, incorporating cutting-edge infotainment, supreme practicality, and premium-grade materials. One of the highest quality interior spaces found in any Kia to-date, the intuitive, tech-oriented cabin of the new Sorento retains the spaciousness and three-row versatility that has characterised the Kia Sorento over its 18-year existence. Yet it now provides owners with something altogether more striking, desirable and comfortable.

The cabin introduces a sophisticated next-generation design. Blending metallic trims, leather upholstery and embossed wood-effect surfaces, the interior also subtly integrates other technologies to enhance connectivity, driver assistance and infotainment.

The Kia Sorento comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system incorporating an audio-visual navigation. It also comes with a new 12.3-inch high-resolution digital instrument cluster that provides crystal-clear information to the driver. The progressive technologies available in the new model make it the most high-tech vehicle Kia has ever created.

The Sorento sits at the heart of Kia's reinvigorated global SUV line-up, which also includes the Seltos, Stonic, Sportage, and Telluride. The new model is the result of a collaborative effort between all three studios within Kia's global design network, in Korea, Europe and North America. The next-generation model is based on an all-new platform, raising standards in the midsize SUV segment for space, practicality, efficiency and quality.

Kia unveiled the fourth-generation Sorento for Asian markets back in February before showing off the Euro version a month later. Fast forward to September, the midsize SUV is about to break cover in North American specification, bringing along an X-Line model. If you’re unfamiliar with this trim level, it’s a more rugged take on the crossover recipe that Kia is also using for the funky Soul. In other markets, there’s also a Seltos X-Line and even a pint-sized Rio X-Line. In addition, a Telluride X-Line could be on its way based on a leaked internal survey.

Anyway, back to the Sorento. It will put on North American apparel next Tuesday, September 22. In the meantime, Kia has released a couple of teaser images, one showing the X-Line badge and the other a grainy side profile of the all-new SUV in its rugged trim level. Both adjacent photos show the revamped Sorento finished in a green shade, which could be the same Undercover Green paint available for the Soul X-Line.

Technical specifications regarding the US-spec model will be disclosed next week, but we already have a pretty good understanding of what’s to come by checking out the global Sorento. The bread and butter of sales will likely be represented by the turbocharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine with 277 horsepower and 310 pound-feet (421 Newton-meters) of torque.

Kia has also developed the new Sorento to accommodate a hybrid powertrain that combines a turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a 44-kW electric motor for a total output of 227 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm). The electrified version gets a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, with a plug-in hybrid version due to arrive soon in some markets. There’s also a 2.2-liter diesel for Europe with 199 hp and 325 lb-ft (440 Nm) on tap, linked to a new double-clutch eight-speed automatic gearbox, but that one is highly unlikely to make it stateside.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, a large-medium sized SUV, bowed today and a lot of the look is clearly cribbed from the successful full-sized Kia Telluride. It totally works, too. I’d count on seeing quite a few of these on American roads soon.

Kia is calling this fourth-gen Sorento a “compact SUV” but it’s a three-row vehicle that’s supposed to rival vehicles like the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot for family utility.

The most obvious changes for 2021 are cosmetic, the vehicle’s much pointier and a little meaner-looking than the current Sorento but generally I’d call this car handsome. Kia is promising ride quality and rigidity improvements over the current Sorento with terms like “average tensile strength is improved by 4 percent,” and “body-in-white weight reduced by 5.6 percent.” That do anything for you? Me neither, but I’m sure it will be nothing less than decent to drive and ride in.

There’s now an X-Line model meant to stoke a sense of off-roadiness with an 8.3-inch ride height (interestingly Kia’s press release did not use the term “ground clearance”) plus all-wheel drive with a center locking differential for traction and and downhill descent control.

Kia’s objective with that was probably to pull some people who might have also been looking at Honda Passports and Subarus. But the Korean car company is actually casting a pretty wide net with the new Sorento, as it’s clearly trying to differentiate between trim levels pretty aggressively. Besides the tough one, there’s also a shiny one and a hybrid.

More substantially, Kia’s promising that the new Sorento’s shape has the “versatility to accommodate alternate drivetrains, such as hybrid and plug-in hybrid (available in calendar year 2021)” so that’s cool.

Meanwhile, the opening powertrain options are actually pretty broad as well. I’ll just copypasta Kia’s breakdown of the Sorento’s propulsion configurations here:

2.5-liter GDI four-cylinder

• 8-speed automatic transmission
• 191 horsepower and 182 lb-ft torque
• FWD or AWD
• AWD system uses torque-vectoring with center-locking differential to provide extra power to rear wheels in slippery conditions
• Estimated combined (city and highway) 27 mpg (2 mpg increase over previous Sorento)

2.5-liter GDI four-cylinder turbo

• “Segment exclusive” 8-speed wet dual clutch automatic transmission
• 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft torque
• FWD or AWD
• 3,500 pounds towing capability
• Estimated combined 25 mpg (3 mpg increase over previous V6 Sorento)

1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder turbo hybrid with 44 kW electric motor

• 6-speed automatic transmission
• 227 horsepower
• 5 kWh battery
• FWD
• Estimated 39 MPG city / 35 highway / 37 combined

1.6-liter GDI 4-cylinder turbo plug-in hybrid with 66.9 kW electric motor (available in 2021)

• 6-speed automatic transmission
• 261 horsepower8 kWh battery
• Estimated 30-mile all-electric range
• AWD

All those figures are straight from Kia, in case that wasn’t clear. There’s also a long list of drive-aid tech and safety features, plus a large infotainment screen and a gloriously wide-spreading sunroof. If you want to get into more details, check out Kia’s site directly.
Anyway I think it is clear that this is a decent-looking SUV and will probably sell in droves if Kia can keep the price reasonable. Should be a good rival against some of the other popular mediumish sized family transport vehicles I mentioned earlier in this post.

Kia unveiled its fourth-generation Sorento in 2020 as a 2021 model. As such, the current SUV is still very fresh in our minds, and now there's a slightly fresher version packing an electric punch. The plug-in hybrid variant has arrived, combining a modest electric range with three-row seating for the family.

We say a slightly fresher version because a keen eye will spot a visual difference both inside and out for 2022. Kia's new logo splashes across the grille and on the steering wheel, but everything else is familiar territory. Being a plug-in hybrid you'll also get an extra access door on the passenger side for the charging port, feeding juice to a 13.8 kWh battery. It powers a single electric motor paired with Kia's turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder, delivering a combined 261 horsepower (195 kilowatts). All-wheel drive with a center locking differential is standard.

For around-town trips, Kia is targeting a 32-mile all-electric range for the Sorento. Similarly, a combined 79 MPGe rating is targeted, and with the entire powertrain working together, the SUV has an estimated total range of 460 miles. It's important to note that these figures are manufacturer estimates, not EPA ratings. That process is still ongoing, but provided everything checks out, Kia says the Sorento PHEV will have the most pure-electric range of any three-row SUV currently available.

Kia says it also has the most passenger room and second-row legroom of any plug-in hybrid SUV. And it's not sparsely equipped either, as all PHEV models will be high-end SX or SX Prestige models. That means a boatload of standard equipment, not the least of which being arguably the best set of driver-assist and safety systems in the business. Driver and front-seat passenger have a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch center touchscreen display at their disposal, and all passengers ride on standard Syntex synthetic leather seats.

Kia isn't ready to share pricing for the new Sorento PHEV. That will come closer to its on-sale date, which is coming in the third quarter of 2021.

Usually, vehicles that have driven a large number of miles tend to be older, but there are exceptions. This time, the vehicle in question is a 2012 Kia Sorento, which has driven 608,061 miles (about 978,579 km). That is not world-record material, but it did go through nine engines and four transmissions, and all were changed under warranty. Now that is interesting, indeed!
91 photos

As it turns out, the vehicle in question is a one-owner car, and the person who acquired it benefitted from a 10-year, unlimited-mile warranty and service agreement. Since the latter was in place, the owner seemed to want to get the most out of the vehicle, which meant driving it about 60,800 miles (about 97,848 km) per year, on average.

As per the person who posted the image of the odometer on Reddit, along with the vehicle's story, it appears that the owner made repeated drives between California and Minneapolis, where the dealership is located. It is unclear whether the owner got a great deal on the car in Minneapolis and then moved on to California or if they had business in one of the states and lived in the other.

During its time with its first owner, the vehicle had received 203 oil changes and 20 transmission oil flushes, just to name a few key figures. The oil changes were made at just under 3,000 miles (about 4,828 km) between them if you do a bit of math.

In case you are wondering why the oil changes were so frequent, the explanation might be linked to the manufacturer's service recommendations. Since the vehicle came with an unlimited service agreement, those oil changes were "on the house" from the owner's perspective.


The 2012 Kia Sorento in question was fitted with the Theta II engine family, which is a part of a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. regarding oil consumption, as The Drive noted. We must point out that Nu, Gamma, Theta, Lambda, and Kappa engine families also have members that are affected.

Sadly, for the sake of our curiosity, the dealership technician does not mention what led to nine engine replacements. According to what the employee claims to have heard others say about the owner, the vehicle was driven hard. In contrast, the same owner kept a detailed log of the vehicle that included every gas receipt and even logs of when they put air in the tires.

The vehicle was traded into the dealership right after the warranty expired, and it was valued at $1,425, which was used as credit for the acquisition of a used vehicle. After driving a Kia for ten years, the owner appears to have wanted a change. Therefore, a Saturn Vue Red Line edition was selected as a trade-in, for which the customer paid an extra $18,000.

One could say that they got their money's worth out of the Sorento's warranty and the car itself, but only the owner could call that one. It would be fantastic if someone could add up the fuel costs, as well as the maintenance costs, so that a statistic of running costs could be made.

The service technician did not mention if the person who had owned the Kia had attempted to get a new warranty deal for their new purchase, but warranties for used vehicles do not go that far. As you can see, there is a reason why you cannot get such a lengthy warranty anymore.

If you thought that Doug Demuro's "extended, bumper-to-bumper, warranty" (read that in Doug's voice) paid for itself, this one probably brought nightmares to the dealership's accountants.

Launched in the United States for the 2022 model year, the Kia Sorento doesn’t look outdated but the time for a mid-cycle refresh is coming soon. The South Korean manufacturer is already testing camouflaged prototypes in Europe and our spies caught a test vehicle earlier this month. The disguise covering the front end was significant, but we saw some design changes hiding underneath the covering.

The latest spy shots inspired our friends and colleagues from Kolesa.ru to produce two exclusive renderings previewing the refreshed SUV. What you see in the gallery attached below is the refreshed Sorento with a new face featuring redesigned headlights with C-shaped LED daytime running lights and a new grille. We are not quite sure about the latter – the pattern doesn’t match what we saw on the prototype perfectly – but this is surely one possible option for the modified fascia.

These renderings also propose tweaks to the rear end. The spied prototype didn’t show much of its back as it had additional concealment, though the renderers believe the rear fascia could receive a coast-to-coast LED bar connecting the taillights. This ever-so-popular design element seems to nicely complement the Telluride-inspired styling at the back. New touches to the rear bumper are also likely.

The current Sorento is available on the US market with a choice of four powertrains. The base naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder mill makes 191 horsepower (142 kilowatts) and is followed by a turbocharged version of that engine with 281 hp (210 kW). Two electrified mills are also available, both using a 1.6-liter engine and generating 227 hp (169 kW) and 261 hp (195 kW) respectively in hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. We doubt the engine range will change with the facelift, but there could be minimal adjustments to the specifications.

The current generation Sorento has been on sale in the United States since 2022 and we believe the refreshed model won’t arrive before the middle of next year. Before that happens, the family SUV will likely be introduced in its facelifted form in South Korea and Europe.

Refusing to trail behind in the midsize three-row SUV segment, the refreshed 2024 Kia Sorento made its debut at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show with a strikingly confident exterior redesign, an uplevel premium interior with next-generation technology, and a newly added X-Pro variant geared up for more thrilling outdoor excursions. Infused with a number of innovative elements borrowed from the 2024 EV9, the 2024 Sorento seamlessly marries advanced technology and rugged appeal.

"The Sorento continues to be a key player in the success of our capable SUV lineup, and it's notably credited as the pioneer that introduced the popular X-Line model series," said Steven Center, COO and EVP, Kia America. "The newly added Sorento X-Pro brings it full circle, and with Kia's latest tech and design refinements, we are confident the Sorento will not just lead the segment, but blaze ahead of it."

The 2024 Sorento is expected to go on sale in the first quarter of 2024 in LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-P trims, with the X-Line available on EX and above and X-Pro on SX-P. Sorento HEV and PHEV models are anticipated to hit dealerships later next year as 2025 models.

A Powerful and Assertive SUV Image

The Sorento's confident stance was achieved by combining Kia's "Opposites United" design philosophy with the concept of "Bold for Nature." The upright front hood and squared off edges are reminiscent of the award-winning Telluride, with its distinctive amber daytime running lights reimagined on the Sorento for a sleek and modern aesthetic. Around back, vertical taillamps are unmistakably Telluride. From the EV9's playbook, the Sorento boasts a broad and rectangular front grille, complemented by vertically stacked LED projector headlamps that emphasize the front end. The constellation inspired Star Map lighting elements in the front and rear lend the Kia Sorento a futuristic edge, while the front and lower bumpers incorporate a wider skid plate garnish for extra rugged appeal.

Within the cabin, horizontal features such as the air vents and controls give the interior a streamlined and modern aesthetic, creating a sense of openness. At the heart of the interior's transformation is an available panoramic curved display that integrates dual 12.3-inch screens (panoramic panel with 4.3-inch TFT and 12.3-inch screen is standard). Borrowed from the Telluride and Sportage, the Sorento's exterior color options now include Midnight Lake Blue and Dawning Red. In the HEV and PHEV versions scheduled for later in 2024, an available lush Dust Blue interior color palette provides a relaxed and inviting ambiance.

For Outdoor Aficionados: X-Line and X-Pro

The X-Line continues to add an extra dose of rugged flair. Upgrades include a center-locking differential, bridge-type roof rack, X-Line front and rear bumpers with a molded-in skid plate garnish, and a unique gloss-black front grille with 20-inch gloss black wheels. X-Line emblems adorn the exterior and inside, leather-trimmed seatbacks are embossed with the X-Line logo.

For those seeking a great adventure, the X-Pro scales up its capability with standard 17-inch wheels offering a larger tire sidewall for standard BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, an ideal set-up for tackling more challenging trails. With increased towing capacity up to 4,000 lbs., the X-Pro can tow a travel trailer for an elevated camping adventure. X-Pro emblems inside and out signal the SUV's presence.

In response to the growing popularity of earth-toned elements in SUVs, both X-Line and X-Pro offer rich interior color combinations in new Olive Brown and Sage hues. A matte, open pore wood garnish completes the overall premium feel inside the cabin. On the outside, an alluring Jungle Green is available, as well as a unique Roadrider Brown inspired by the custom 2022 Sorento PHEV that competed in the 2021 Rebelle Rally.

Next-Gen Technology for the Digital Age

Following in the footsteps of the EV9, the Sorento is the second Kia to offer the brand's next-generation, ultramodern Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system. This advanced system processes faster and in higher fidelity, with frequently used Quick Controls conveniently accessible with a swipe on the screen. As part of the new system, the Sorento is now equipped to receive over-the-air updates. USB-C ports conveniently located throughout the cabin help ensure mobile devices stay charged for passengers in all three rows. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on all trims.

Adding to the list of tech upgrades is the available advanced ultrawideband-based Digital Key 2.0, allowing customers to use their compatible Apple and Samsung smart devices or an NFC-enabled smart card as virtual vehicle keys to lock, unlock, and drive. This latest technology allows the driver to unlock the Sorento without having to hold their smartphone. Furthermore, these keys can be shared with friends and family over text messages on compatible devices.

Kia's roster of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems features 10 standard ADAS features including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), which has been upgraded to help detect pedestrians, cyclists in front of the vehicle, and oncoming vehicles while turning left at an intersection (FCA-JT), and can help prevent collisions with them under certain circumstances. Other standard staples to the ADAS suite include Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Lane Following Assist (LFA).

Notable features added to the 2024 Sorento include Smart Cruise Control-Machine Learning (SCC-ML), which is designed to adapt to and match the driver's driving style with certain inputs like accelerating and braking patterns. Available Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA-2) with automatic lane change is a driver convenience system that can help maintain a predetermined distance from the vehicle detected in front, keep the vehicle within detected lane markers on certain highways, and assist in lane changes under certain conditions. Other available features include Digital Camera Mirror® and Surround-View Monitor (SVM), designed to provide a wider picture in reversing and parking scenarios, using cameras around the Sorento to display a 360-degree view.

Consistent Performance

The Kia Sorento, available in FWD or AWD, maintains its composed ride and performance. The LX and S trims come standard with the 2.5-liter I-4 GDI engine that produces 191 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque, matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Upper trims including the X-Line and X-Pro deliver a power boost with 281 horses and 311 lb.-ft. of torque via a 2.5-liter turbocharged I-4 GDI matched to an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

Available on certain trims and standard on the X-Line and X-Pro, active on-demand all-wheel drive is designed to provide enhanced driving performance in a variety of circumstances, with a center locking differential that can split power equally between the front and rear wheels for more severe environments. Torque vectoring is designed to increase traction by predicting which wheel will best utilize power, enhancing stability in corners, and giving the vehicle more precise handling dynamics.