Following its design unveil, the Kia Sorento has now made its official debut, with its first appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show today. Sporting a revised exterior design, the Kia Sorento for the US is made available with two gasoline powertrain options. Kia has also announced that hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the Kia Sorento facelift will be made available in 2024 as 2025 models.
For the US market, the 2024 Kia Sorento Facelift is expected to go on sale in the first quarter of next year in the LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-P trims, with the X-Line available on EX and above and X-Pro and SX-P trims.
You’ve already seen the new facelift of the Kia Sorento earlier, and the family SUV now sports a more upright overall styling. Kia says that the new Sorento’s styling is reminiscent of its Telluride model with its distinctive amber daytime running lights reimagined on the Sorento.
Its design has also taken inspiration from the all-electric EV9. The Sorento boasts a broad and rectangular front grille, complemented by vertically stacked LED projector headlamps that emphasize the front end. The constellation-inspired Star Map lighting elements in the front and rear lend the Sorento a futuristic look, while the front and lower bumpers incorporate a wider skid plate garnish for extra rugged appeal.
Powering the Kia Sorento, at least for the US market, are two gasoline engine options. The first one is a 2.5-litre GDI inline-4 engine that makes 191 hp and 245 Nm and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The second engine option is a 2.5-litre TGDI engine that produces a higher output of 281 hp and 422 Nm. The turbocharged mill is paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
Available on selected trims of the Kia Sorento is the active on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) system with a centre-locking differential that can split power equally between the front and rear wheels. Torque vectoring is designed to increase traction by predicting which wheel will best utilize power, enhancing stability in corners, and giving the vehicle more precise handling dynamics.
Inside, the Kia Sorento facelift sports dual 12.3-inch screens for the head unit and the instrument cluster for certain higher-tier variants. Lower-tier variants get a 4.3-inch instrument cluster instead.
Following in the footsteps of the EV9, the Sorento is the second Kia to offer the brand’s next-generation Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system. This advanced system processes faster and in higher fidelity, with frequently used Quick Controls accessible with a swipe on the screen.
As part of the new system, the Sorento is now equipped to receive over-the-air updates. USB-C ports conveniently located throughout the cabin help ensure mobile devices stay charged for passengers in all three rows. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on all trims.
Kia’s roster of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems features 10 standard ADAS features including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), which has been upgraded to help detect pedestrians, cyclists in front of the vehicle, and oncoming vehicles while turning left at an intersection (FCA-JT), and can help prevent collisions with them under certain circumstances. Other standard staples to the ADAS suite include Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Lane Following Assist (LFA).
In Malaysia, the Kia Sorento is currently available in its outgoing iteration. Powertrain options include the 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine and the 2.5-litre turbo gasoline MPI engine. The Sorento for Malaysia is available in 6-seater and 7-seater configurations.
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