Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento (기아 쏘렌토) is a series of two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive family SUVs manufactured by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 2002 through four generations. Initially a compact SUV built on a body-on-frame chassis, the second-generation Sorento transitioned to a larger car-based platform which placed it into the mid-size crossover SUV class, and has been developed alongside the Hyundai Santa Fe. , the Sorento is positioned between the smaller Sportage and the larger Telluride in Kia's SUV global lineup.

2002–2006
Debuting in February 2002, the first generation Sorento was a traditional truck-based body-on-frame SUV. All American Sorentos also came with dual front airbags and dual side-curtain airbags in the front and rear. An optional four-wheel drive system with low range received praise for adding to the vehicle's off-road ability.

It had two transmission options, a 5-speed manual or 4- and 5-speed automatic (pre-2005 models have a 4-speed automatic, whilst 2005 Sorentos came with a 5-speed tip-tronic style automatic). First generation Sorentos are equipped with a Hyundai-manufactured 3.5-litre 24-valve DOHC V6 engine producing 192 hp at 5500 rpm, and 217 lbft of torque at 3,000 rpm. Common features of the first generation Sorento were 4-wheel disc brakes (standard on all models), optional anti-lock braking system (ABS), and a 21.1-gallon (79.9 litres) fuel tank.

There were two trim levels available for the Sorento: either the base LX or the up-level EX.

2007–2008
The 2007 Sorento received upgrades, such as the transition from the 3.5-litre Sigma to the 3.3-litre with 235 hp and 226 lbft, and the 3.8-litre Lambda, with 263 hp and 257 lbft and increased tow capacity from 3500 lb to 5000 lb. Projector beam headlamps were added, along with new tail lamps. The 5-speed manual transmission was no longer available; the 5-speed Sportmatic tip-tronic automatic transmission was made standard for all vehicles. Most of the EX trim had full-time AWD and 4x4 Low modes; The LX had a part-time system with 2WD High (rear wheel drive), 4WD High (not for dry pavement ) and 4WD Low modes. The 2007 Kia Sorento earned a five-star crash safety rating, the highest rating possible, for all seating positions in frontal and side impact crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The tail lights and front end were upgraded, but the two-box design stayed.

Safety
The 2003 Sorento received Poor to Average ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2007 facelifted version had improved safety ratings for moderate overlap front crashes and head restraints & seats, but retained its Poor side impact rating.

Second generation (XM; 2009)
A redesigned Sorento (codename XM) was launched in South Korea in April 2009. The second generation was Kia's first model to be manufactured in the United States, in Kia's new US$1 billion West Point, Georgia, factory (which also builds the sister vehicle to the Sorento, the Hyundai Santa Fe). The second generation used Kia's corporate Tiger Nose grille, and was the first Kia vehicle to offer Kia UVO. The vice president of marketing for Kia Motors America said that Kia initially considered changing the name due to the radical change in the Sorento's body style.

The second-generation Sorento introduced Kia's new design language, and introduced new features and technology that would later become available on other Kia models.

The four-cylinder model returned to the lineup for North American models after being absent between 2007 and 2010. The engine was transverse, and the suspension all-independent. The change in body construction as well as the loss of a low-ratio transfer case made the Sorento 475 pounds less than the old one model for model, to gain in performance and economy.

The second generation Sorento was originally available in four models – the Base, LX, EX and top-of-the-line SX models. The SX is only available with the 3.5-litre 276 hp V6. The Base and LX both come standard with the 2.4-litre straight-4 175 hp and EX has the GDI version of the same engine which is rated 191 hp. The V6 is available as an upgrade for both the LX and EX. The SX Limited model became available in 2012.

Facelift
The Sorento received a mid-cycle refresh for the 2014 model year, unveiled in 2012 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, and went on sale in first quarter of 2013. Major changes included a revised instrument panel, front and rear end with new tail lights modeled after the Optima, as well as several other mechanical and interior changes.

For 2015, the six-speed manual transmission option, previously only available on the Base and LX models, was discontinued, leaving the six-speed automatic transmission as the only transmission option for the Sorento.

Safety
The 2011 Sorento received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Awards
The 2011 Sorento was awarded the maximum five-star safety rating from the crash safety experts, European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) and Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The XM Sorento awarded 'Top Safety Pick' from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States.

The second generation Sorento was awarded New Zealand Autocar magazine SUV of the Year, "great looker, does absolutely everything as it should. Engine is world class". The Kia Sorento EX V6 model earned an “Excellent” overall score by American magazine Consumer Reports’ July 2010 issue.

Marketing
As part of 2014 Sorento market launch in the US, a campaign titled "It has an answer for everything" was unveiled during Super Bowl XLVII. "Space Babies" (directed by Jake Scott) commercial was premiered in the fourth quarter, featuring the existence of a faraway planet known as "Babylandia" and follows infant boys, girls, dogs, pandas and more on their journey to Earth to join their new families. After taking it all in, the curious child begins to offer an alternative theory passed on by a friend but his quick-thinking father calls upon UVO's voice-activated jukebox feature to hurriedly change the subject and survive another day in the adventures of parenthood. "Tight Space" (directed by Peter Darley Miller and Colin Jeffery) showed two of the CUV's available features – power-folding mirrors and power liftgate – help a determined father make the slimmest parking garage space manageable while his skeptical wife and children look on.

Third generation (UM; 2014)
Kia revealed the third generation Sorento in South Korea on 28 August 2014. The vehicle later made its European debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The third generation Sorento shares a platform with the third-generation Kia Carnival, and is available in either 5-seater or 7-seater, depending on configuration. It is 95mm longer than the previous generation, but lower for better handling. Kia claims a rigidity strengthening of 14% on its high tensile steel and the Sorento scored good evaluation in small overlap crash test by IIHS. In the US, the Sorento continues to be produced at the West Point, Georgia assembly plant.

Available engines are a 290 hp 3.3-litre Lambda II V6, the existing 190 hp 2.4-litre GDi I4 that make the same output as the outgoing engine, and the new 240 hp 2.0-litre turbo I4. A 2.2-litre CRDi diesel engine with variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) is also available.

The third generation Sorento comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic transmission. Drivetrains are front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

2018/2019 facelift
The Kia Sorento received updates for 2018 or 2019 depending on market location, these included a new front grille, bumper covers and exterior lighting with similar design cues derived from the 2019 Kia Forte and the 2018 Kia Cadenza for the 2019 model year. The L, LX, EX and SX trim levels received refreshed projector beam headlamps with LED positioning lights. The SXL trim received new LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, LED amber turn signal and positioning lights, and LED tail lamps.

Other changes include new exterior colours, new wheels, third row seating now standard on all trim levels with all engine types, driver attention warning system added to all trim levels, and a 2.4-litre engine replaced the 2.0-litre engine on lower trim levels. The 2019 Kia Sorento features a 3.3-litre V6 engine on higher trim levels. The trim levels are available with all-wheel drive, except for the base L trim, which is only available with front-wheel drive.

North America
In the United States, the 2016 Kia Sorento is offered in five models, and four models within the United Kingdom. KX-1 base model, KX-2, KX-3 and KX-4 with the GT-Line from late 2018 onwards replacing the KX-4.

Pakistan
In Pakistan, Kia Pakistan launched its car as a locally assembled model at a Power Play event held at the Karachi factory on 14 February 2021. The event was held at Lucky Motor Corporation's production plant, where various personalities from the automotive sector were invited. The car offered in Pakistan is the facelifted third generation of Sorento. The SUV is offered in three trim levels: 2.4 L FWD, 2.4 L AWD and 3.5 L FWD. The two 2.4 L trim levels come with the 2.4 L Theta II MPi I4 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission while the 3.5 L trim comes with the 3.5 L Lambda II MPi V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission.

Safety
The 2017 Sorento received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Marketing
In November 2014, Kia collaborated with 20th Century Fox to create a Wolverine-themed Sorento to promote the home media release of X-Men: Days of Future Past. The custom Sorento made its debut at the 2015 Australian Open, with a series of videos featuring Rafael Nadal teaming up with the X-Men to save the tennis event from the Sentinels.

In January 2015, Kia released their Sorento Super Bowl XLIX commercial featuring Pierce Brosnan.

Fourth generation (MQ4; 2020)
The fourth generation Sorento was officially unveiled through a series of images on 17 February 2020. The unveiling of the production version had originally been planned for the later-cancelled Geneva Motor Show.

The updated Sorento sports a larger design with an extended wheelbase (35 mm longer) while the vehicle's overall length is extended by 10 mm. There are two engine options: a hybrid (a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and single electric motor, amounting to 227 hp and 258 lbft of torque) and a traditional petrol-only engine (a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, matched with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, output at 281 hp and 311 lbft. A plug-in hybrid variation and additional petrol engine options are also being planned, along with a multi-collision brake system and a remote smartphone surround view monitor.

2023 facelift
The facelifted model was unveiled on 25 July 2023. Made for the 2024 model year, the facelift adds vertically stacked LED headlamps which gain a slimmer design. The bumper is smoother, and is seamlessly aligned with the grille. The front lights are reminiscent to the EV9, the 2025 Carnival, and the 2024 Picanto, which foreshadows what Kia's design language is to become. Bodywork is primarily unchanged, if not for its slightly redone rear lights and rear bumper, new Kia emblem, and connected clusters. Additionally, the facelift adds new exterior colours and alloy wheels.

Inside, the interior designers have added a streamlined dashboard layout, as well as a new 12.3-inch curved display. Revised climate controls, a new ambient lighting stripe, and slimmer air vents have been added.

North America
On September 2020, the fourth-generation Sorento made its debut in North America. It is offered in several different trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, SX Prestige, and SX Prestige X-Line. LX and S models is powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder Smartstream petrol engine producing 191 hp, while EX, SX, SX Prestige, and SX Prestige X-Line models uses a 2.5-litre turbocharged Smartstream 4-cylinder petrol engine producing 281 hp. All North American Sorento uses an 8-speed automatic transmission, though models equipped with the 2.5-litre turbo engine uses an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The V6 engine is no longer offered.

Sorento hybrid models will be available after the initial launch in late 2020. In 2021, Kia announced the introduction of the Sorento PHEV which gets 261 hp from its 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder mated to an electric motor. Claimed EV range is 51 km (32 miles) and has a combined range of 740 km (460 miles). The only available trim for the PHEV model is SX Prestige.

Kia continued to build the North American-market Sorento at its assembly plant in West Point, Georgia, United States. All models include front-wheel-drive, except for the SX Prestige X-Line model and the hybrid models, which include standard all-wheel-drive. All North American-market 2021 Sorento feature three rows of seating, with higher trim levels featuring second-row captain's chairs in place of the standard second-row rear split bench seat. In North America the Sorento's standard third-row seating distinguishes it from the related Hyundai Santa Fe (4th gen) which is only offered in a two-row configuration.

Australia
The fourth-generation Sorento went on sale in Australia in August 2020, with four trim levels available at launch: S, Sport, Sport+ and GT Line. Two powertrains were available at launch: a 3.5-litre MPi V6 petrol and a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel; the latter options comes with all wheel drive as standard.

In October 2021, the 1.6-litre Plug-in Hybrid petrol was added to the range, for the GT Line grade.

In April 2022, the 1.6-litre Hybrid petrol was added for the GT Line grade, it has the option of all wheel drive.

In January 2024, the facelifted Sorento range debuted in Australia with variants and powertrain choices remain unchanged.

Europe
The fourth-generation Sorento was released in the European market in August 2020. Three powertrain options are available: 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel, 1.6-litre T-GDi Hybrid turbocharged petrol and a 1.6-litre T-GDi Plug-in Hybrid turbocharged petrol; an all wheel drive system is optional but standard on the latter powertrain. For the European market, the Sorento is sourced from Hwaseong Plant located in Gyeonggi, South Korea.

New Zealand
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in New Zealand on 15 September 2020, in four trim levels: LX, EX, Deluxe and Premium. At launch, it is powered by a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel.

In March 2021, the HEV and PHEV powertrains were added to the range, it is available in EX and Premium trims.

Vietnam
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in Vietnam on 14 September 2020, in four trim levels: Deluxe, Luxury, Premium and Signature. At launch, two powertrains are available: 2.5-litre GDi petrol and 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel. All Sorento variants are locally assembled at the Kia THACO plant located in Chu Lai, Quảng Nam.

In December 2022, the HEV and PHEV powertrains were added to the range, both powertrains are available in Premium and Signature trims.

Singapore
Cycle & Carriage Kia launched the fourth-generation Sorento in Singapore on 17 October 2020, in three trim levels: SX Line, SX Tech Pack and GT Line Tech Pack. All variants are powered by a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel engine.

In February 2022, a 1.6-litre Hybrid petrol powertrain was added to the range, it comes solely in the SX Tech grade.

Mexico
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in Mexico on 14 January 2021, in four trim levels: LX, EX, EX Pack and SX. All trim levels comes as a 7-seater, except for the SX that comes as a 6-seater. All variants are powered by a 2.5-litre GDi petrol engine.

In November 2021, the 2.5-litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine was added for the SX-L grade and the LX grade was discontinued.

Middle East
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in the GCC markets in March 2021. There are two powertrains are available; 2.5-litre and 3.5-litre petrol engines. It is offered in three trim levels; LX, Mid and EX1.

The facelift Sorento was launched in February 2024.

Chile
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in Chile on 22 April 2021, in two trim levels: Standard and Full. All variants are powered by a 2.5-litre GDi petrol engine, with option of all wheel drive.

Philippines
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in the Philippines on 8 November 2021, in two trim levels: EX and SX. It is powered by a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel engine.

South Africa
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in South Africa on 24 January 2022, in three trim levels: EX+, SX and SXL. It is powered by a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel engine, with all wheel drive standard it is optional on the EX+ grade.

Malaysia
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in Malaysia on 3 March 2023, in three variants: 2.5 2WD (7-seater), 2.5 AWD (6-seater) and 2.2D AWD (6-seater). Two powertrain options are available: 2.5-litre GDi petrol and a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel. It is locally assembled at the Kia Motor Manufacturing Malaysia (KMMM) assembly plant located in Kulim, Kedah.

Colombia
The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in Colombia on 18 October 2023, as a sole variant, powered by a 3.5-litre MPi V6 petrol engine and all wheel drive is standard.

Thailand
The fourth-generation Sorento was debuted at Thailand International Motor Expo 2023 in November 2023 and went on sale in Thailand on February 2024, in two variants: Premium HEV (7-seater) and Premium Plus PHEV (6-seater). Two powertrain options are available: 1.6-litre T-GDi hybrid and a 1.6-litre T-GDi plug-in hybrid. Imported from Malaysia.

Awards
In January 2021, the Sorento 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid 2 was named Large SUV of the Year by What Car? magazine. What Car? awarded the Sorento four stars out of five in its review of the car.

In June 2022, the Sorento won Auto Trader UK's New Car Award for Best 7 Seater. Auto Trader awarded the Sorento four and a half stars out of five in its review of the car.