The All-New Sorento is Here, and it is the Most High Tech Kia to Date

After a series of teasers, the all-new 4th generation Kia Sorento was finally revealed for the first time yesterday.

The new Sorento is the first vehicle to be based on Kia’s new-generation midsize SUV platform, which has resulted in a larger body – 10 mm longer (4,810 mm), 10 mm taller, with a wheelbase that is 35 mm longer (2,815 mm) to be exact.

On the exterior, the Sorento has been completely redesigned with lines and creases that are sharper than the outgoing model, more contemporary geometric details, more swept-back, elongated proportions, and a more confident and matured look.

Key features include a new interpretation of Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger nose’ grille, new ‘tiger eyeline’ LED DRLs, a wide rectangular lower air intake, wing-shaped air curtains, a sharp bumper lip, new vertical tail lamps which wrap around the side of the body, a subtle integrated rear spoiler, 10 colour choices, and wheel size ranging between 17- and 20-inches.

Inside the cabin, goodies include a 12.3-inch digital driver instrument cluster which is twinned with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system at the centre of the dashboard, a Mood Lighting system, a wireless smartphone charger, a powerful Bose surround-sound system, metallic trim, leather upholstery, embossed satin-effect surfaces.

An 8.0-inch display audio system is also available as standard, while all infotainment systems enable full, seamless smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The infotainment system also allows Bluetooth smartphone pairing for two phones concurrently, enabling separate phones to be used for, for instance, phone calls and music, while front passengers can also plug in their mobile devices via two USB chargers.

For second-row passengers, two USB charging sockets are integrated into the backs of the two front seats, with a third found at the rear of the front-row centre console. Both third-row passengers also have their own charging points, meaning all seven passengers can keep their mobile device charged – the perfect measure to maintain harmony in a full car during longer journeys.

The new Sorento also offers Kia’s innovative UVO Connect telematics system, connecting drivers by providing invaluable information via the in-car touchscreen and on their smartphone.

Featuring Kia Live services and accessible through the optional 10.25-inch LCD widescreen, the system displays live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest, and details of potential on- and off-street parking (including price, location and parking availability). UVO Connect also enables drivers to send route directions to their car before a journey, and check the location of their vehicle at any time.

Under the hood, for the first time ever, the Sorento will be powered by a hybrid powertrain.  The Sorento Hybrid is powered by a new ‘Smartstream’ electrified powertrain, pairing a 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) with a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack and 44.2 kW electric motor. The intelligent packaging of the Sorento’s new platform means the battery pack can be located under the floor, with minimal impact on cabin or luggage space.

Producing 230 ps and 350 Nm torque, this electrified powertrain combines low CO2 emissions with high levels of performance. The new 1.6-litre T-GDi engine features Kia’s new Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology, regulating valve opening time according to driving conditions, instead of operating on a fixed opening time. This boosts performance at low-to-mid engine speeds and enhances fuel efficiency.

Power is sent through the six-speed automatic transmission via a transmission-mounted electrical device, allowing the full power of the engine and motor to be transferred in parallel with minimal loss of energy. The result is immediacy in acceleration response at any speed, with direct access to available battery power at higher speeds.

There will also be a Diesel variant for Europe, with a new four-cylinder 2.2-litre ‘Smartstream’ diesel engine producing 202 PS and 440 Nm of torque. Paired to it is Kia’s new 8-speed wet double-clutch transmission (8DCT).

But that’s not all, as there will also be a Plug-in Hybrid variant which will be available later this year.

Also worth mentioning is the enhanced all-terrain capability over its forebears thanks to a new Terrain Mode. Paired with the optional all-wheel drive system, the Terrain Mode makes the Sorento more capable in mud, snow and sand.

With each mode selectable from a dial on the centre console, Terrain Mode carefully controls the car’s standard electronic stability control (ESC), as well as the distribution of torque to all four wheels. It also adapts transmission shift times to help the car find and maintain traction in a range of driving environments.

Offered in 5- and 7-seater layouts, the all-new Sorento offers up to 821 litres (for seven-seat models) or 910 litres (for five-seat models), depending on specification. This means the car can accommodate five people in comfort, and a significant amount of luggage. In seven-seat models, with all seven seats in place, boot space is also increased by 32% compared to its predecessor, to 187 litres (VDA, diesel models; 179 litres for Hybrid models).

Last but not least, safety and Driver Assistance features include Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) which comprise Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Blind-spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop&Go (SCC) and Navigation-based SCC (NSCC), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), a Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA), and Rear Cross-traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA).

In addition, it is also the first Kia available in Europe with the company’s new Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), which enables drivers to move their car autonomously out of a front-and-back parking space remotely with their key fob.

The new Sorento also implements Kia’s first Multi-Collision Brake system, which enables the Sorento to mitigate the severity of secondary collisions. It automatically applies vehicle brakes when the airbags have been deployed after an initial collision, further protecting occupants from secondary frontal or side impacts.

How is that for an exhaustive list of features? 

All set to be launched in Europe in the coming months, the all-new Sorento is expected to arrive in the Asian region either in late 2020 or in 2021.