Dinamikjaya Motors, the new official distributor for Kia vehicles in Malaysia, has announced that the all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento will be making its way onto our shores in 2023. The seven-seater SUV made its first appearance in a brief media preview event recently, and is now open for booking at an estimated price of RM220,000 – RM255,000, with an official launch in Malaysia slated for some time this year.
The company did not reveal much in terms of the car’s specifications, but did note that it’ll be offered in three variants here in Malaysia, all of them locally assembled at the Inokom assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah.
The entry-level seven-seater variant (2-3-2 seating configuration) will be paired to a 2.5-litre Smartstream inline-four naturally-aspirated mill, paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox to send 180 hp and 232 Nm to the front wheels.
The higher-end variants only get six seats (2-2-2 seating configuration), and will be offered with two powertrain options – the same 2.5L Smartstream MPI engine as above, or a 2.2-litre Turbodiesel mill making 202 hp and 440 Nm – the latter paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The six-seater variants are all-wheel drive-only.
In terms of appearance, the all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento is really quite unlike its predecessors thanks to its sharper, more sculpted lines. The design concept of “refined boldness” is most noticeable up front, with a big bold ‘tiger nose’ grille up front paired to the slim headlights and daytime-running lights that are integrated into the frame of the grille itself for a more focused and imposing look on the front fascia.
The proportions of the all-new Kia Sorento has also been tweaked, with shorter front and rear overhangs, and a longer wheelbase to make it “appear longer”. The fourth-generation Sorento measures in at 4,810 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, and 1,695 mm tall (1,700 mm for the range-topping 2.2D variant), with a wheelbase of 2,815 mm, which puts it roughly comparable to the upcoming Proton X90/Geely Haoyue.
Inside, the all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento also represents a “step-change” in quality and design when compared to its predecessors, thanks to its striking design and “premium-quality materials” including metallic trims, leather upholstery, and embossed wood-effect surfaces.
The dashboard features a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard across all variants, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity built in. The infotainment display is paired to a set of analogue dials and a multi-info display for the instrument cluster on the lower-end variants, while the range-topping model gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display.
The range-topper also gets a Bose surround-sound system, although the wireless charging pad at the base of the centre console will be standard across all variants.
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As for safety, all variants will come with six airbags as standard, alongside the usual passive systems such as ABS with electronic brake distribution, stability and traction control, as well as a multi-collision brake control.
The all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento will also come equipped with advanced driver assistance features as standard across all variants here in Malaysia, with features including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking.
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