The Kia Sorento is receiving a mid-life replace, and the model has confirmed it’s due in Australia within the second half of 2023.
Spy photographs have depicted Sorento prototypes with unchanged aspect styling however camouflaged entrance and rear ends. We are able to make out, nonetheless, new vertically oriented headlights within the vein of the Telluride and the upcoming flagship EV9 SUV.
The tail lights seem largely unchanged, although might function revised graphics and may very well be linked with a du jour gentle bar. There can even be the seemingly mid-cycle beauty updates like a refreshed grille and bumpers and new wheel designs.
Count on modifications within the up to date Sorento’s cabin, largely centred round show expertise and a much less cluttered dashboard.
A quasi-wraparound meeting encompassing the digital instrument cluster and infotainment shows has already appeared within the smaller Seltos and Sportage, the latter provided with a bigger 12.3-inch central touchscreen. The up to date Telluride contains a comparable setup, and we’re anticipating the identical right here.
The Sorento at present tops out with a ten.25-inch touchscreen, although in GT-Line trim it additionally boasts a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Kia has already confirmed all up to date and new-generation fashions will achieve Kia Join.
A mix of each dwell providers and a smartphone app, Kia Join makes use of an onboard modem and Optus SIM.
We’re additionally anticipating Kia to de-clutter the dashboard fascia, as we’ve seen with the likes of the EV6 and Sportage. The media and HVAC controls may very well be mixed right into a capacitive contact bar, with bodily switchgear pared again.
Given the Sorento’s flagship standing for Kia on a world stage – the Telluride is unique to markets like North America and the Center East – we might additionally anticipate to see new Hyundai Motor Group expertise and/or extra luxurious options like ventilated second-row seating and tri- or quad-zone local weather management.
Relying in the marketplace, we might additionally see issues like Matrix LED headlight expertise – the brand new Sportage now presents this in Europe.
The present fourth-generation Kia Sorento launched globally in 2020, and presents a spread of powertrains relying on market.
Australia is without doubt one of the few markets the place a naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6 is obtainable, with different markets providing each naturally aspirated and turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines.
The Australian-market Sorento can also be obtainable with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, in addition to turbocharged 1.6-litre hybrid and plug-in hybrid four-cylinder powertrains.
Given the diesel is bought in Europe, it may very well be in line to get a 48V mild-hybrid system as we’ve seen in different Kia fashions within the area. It’s unclear whether or not this tech would make it to Australia.
The Sorento’s facelift might give it a bolder, extra imposing look that additionally helps align it with Kia’s different SUVs, whereas additionally preserving it contemporary towards the rival Hyundai Santa Fe.
A brand new technology of Santa Fe is set to be revealed this 12 months with radically completely different styling, throwing out the curves of the present automotive for a bluff, boxy physique.