The all new Sorento will be local assembled and launched very soon.
Stylish and modern, the new Kia Sorento is the flagship for Kia’s reinvigorated global SUV line-up, alongside the Stonic (sold in Singapore), Seltos (sales have stopped here) and Sportage (which will be arriving next year), as well as the Kia Telluride available in North America and certain other markets.
The new model is the result of a collaborative design effort between Kia’s worldwide design network.
Yes, the arrival of new competitors to this growing segment made for tougher sales success for the 3rd generation Sorento, unlike with the first and second generation models, but now with this latest Sorento, the 4th generation, Kia Malaysia and its brand new Malaysian distributor, Dinamikjaya Motors will be launching a locally assembled Sorento with a familiar 2.2L diesel engine.
We have already tested this smooth revving powerful diesel engine when we had the all new Kia Carnival for test. Delivering a diesel sipping 202PS and an impressive 440Nm of torque, this Smartstream diesel engine is paired to an 8-speed wet double-clutch transmission.
In profile, the proportions of the Sorento are subtly adapted to make it appear longer. The new model is 10 mm longer than its predecessor (now 4,810 mm), yet it features shorter front and rear overhangs.
The additional length is found in the wheelbase (a result of the Sorento’s new platform), which has grown by 35 mm to 2,815 mm. This subtly adapts the visual character of the Sorento, making it look longer and ‘faster’, despite being 10 mm taller.
It also extends the length of the bonnet, drawing the A-pillar 30 mm further back from the front axle. 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 into the rear lamps.
Ever recognisable as a Sorento, it retains the characteristic wide D-pillar, substantial bodywork and clad wheel arches that have defined all three generations to-date. It also adopts certain other design features from more recent Kia models, however, including a new dynamic shape on its C-pillar and sculpted body surfaces with sharp creases.
Inspired by the Telluride, the Sorento adopts new vertical tail lamps which wrap around the side of the body. Sharper lines in the bodywork echo the straight, technical appearance of the front of the car, with horizontal shapes used to make the vehicle appear wider and more imposing on the road.
Trim on the sporty lower rear bumper embodies the appearance of dual tailpipes and, like the front, features a skid plate to add to its tough SUV aesthetic. The fourth-generation model follows other recent Kia models, such as Telluride and ProCeed, with the Sorento model name displayed centrally across the tailgate.
A subtle integrated spoiler also conceals the rear wiper, resulting in a less fussy design and enhancing the driver’s view out of the back.
This new Kia will be local assembled, like with the best selling Kia Carnival MPV and will be powered by the same 2.2L diesel engine that has impressed all its owners to date.
