Less than three years into its life-span, Kia’s much-loved SUV, the Sorento, has been comprehensively revised. The new Sorento is available to order from Kia dealerships from the beginning of October with customers able to pick up their models from December.
Far more than just the usual mid-term upgrade, this is a front-to-rear and top-to-bottom re-engineering of the car which improves safety, comfort, luxury and driving dynamics while lowering fuel consumption, emissions and running costs. In a simplified range, all models now have permanent all-wheel drive system and are powered by a revised version of Kia’s 2.2-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine.
There is an all-new platform and a more rigid bodyshell with additional front, side and rear structures to disperse impact energy. Torsional stiffness has been increased by 18 per cent compared with the previous model, thanks to the use of 25 per cent ultra-high-strength steels in the body construction. This should ensure New Sorento maintains the five-star Euro-NCAP safety rating awarded to the previous model, despite increasingly tougher test conditions.
The length and width of the car are unchanged at 4,685 mm and 1,885 mm respectively, but New Sorento is 10 mm lower than the outgoing model at 1,735 mm as a result of a corresponding reduction in ride height. This has the benefit of lowering the centre of gravity, an ideal starting point for the much-improved on-road agility and responsiveness of New Sorento as well as improved access and easier loading ability as well.
- New platform improves safety, driving dynamics and refinement
- Major interior upgrade raises quality and standard equipment
- All models now features seven seats and all-wheel drive with 2.2-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine
- Greater efficiencies, lower running costs with no loss of performance
- Lower ride height and revised suspension, steering and brakes for a more refined drive
- More space, comfort and luxury for up to seven occupants
