When the new upgraded Kia Sorento CUV goes on sale later this year in most markets, it will incorporate significant changes which include a completely new platform, enhanced powertrains for better fuel economy with lower emissions, improved ride, handling and refinement, additional convenience and safety features, plus a fresh, new look for the exterior. Let’s take a look at what exactly has changed for the refreshed Sorento.
A fresh new look with premium appeal
Kia’s design team restyled newly upgraded vehicle’s front and rear, creating larger areas of body-color surface. Close and careful attention was paid, especially to surface detailing in order to cut aerodynamic drag. The ultimate goal was to match the new model’s stronger structure, premium quality and enhanced specification with a fresh look.
New styling to look out for:
- Front and rear bumpers with vertical-axis fog lights
- Front grille and headlamps with LED positioning lights.
- Tailgate with reshaped LED combination lamps.
- Two-part glass panoramic roof with a single powered roller blind shade will be available.
- Optional 10-spoke machine finished 19-inch alloy wheels to enhance the Sorento’s profile (depending upon model trim)
New high-tech features and top quality cabin trim
Inside upgraded Sorento’s cabin, numerous enhancements create a refreshed ambience, with premium high-tech equipment available on some models and an extended choice of options. The interior can be trimmed in black or beige cloth or leather. There are also more soft-touch surfaces – with a satin chrome finish for the door handles, air-vent surrounds and switches – plus a new LCD instrument cluster, new center stack with 8-inch LCD display screen (7-inch in Europe) and a new center console featuring a straight-gate selector with a leather-gear knob on automatic transmission models – reinforcing the vehicle’s more luxurious character.
Premium options:
- Powered, heated and ventilated front seats,
- Heated second row seat cushions
- Bluetooth® hands-free system
- UV-reflecting solar glass
- Air-conditioning for the third row seats.
Silence is golden
Kia’s engineers have implemented a host of NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) reduction measures to ensure that upgraded Sorento boasts even greater refinement than the previous model, making it one of the quietest vehicles in its class.
Enhanced powertrains cut consumption and emissions
Kia’s upgraded Sorento will be manufactured in Korea with a wide range of different gasoline and diesel engines (from 150 to 280 ps) to meet the needs of motorists in every region of the globe. Acknowledging consumer trends, Kia has fine-tuned both the Theta II 2.4 GDI gasoline and R2.2 TCI diesel engines to improve their efficiency.
The revised 2.4-liter Theta II GDI engine
- Fitted with a new cylinder head, pistons, fuel injection and intake systems.
- Generates 9% more power (192 ps) and 6.6% more torque (242 Nm)
- Delivers better fuel economy and lower emissions, from 199 g/km.
The Diesel 2.2-liter 197 ps TCI (turbocharged inter-cooler) engine
The ‘R’ family of Kia diesel engines has become a popular consumers’ choice in a variety of Kia models all around world.
- New exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system which reduces CO2 emissions – down to as little as 153 g/km.
- Maximum torque is 436 Nm (automatic models) and 421 Nm (manual).
In some countries, customers will also be offered Kia’s 3.5-liter Lambda V6 MPI (280 ps) and 2.4-liter Theta II MPI (176 ps) gasoline engines – while European Sorento buyers will be able to choose the smaller 2.0-liter R2.0 TCI engine with 150 ps.
Six-speed gearboxes, plus choice of 2WD or 4WD
Every upgraded Sorento model will feature a six-speed transmission (manual or automatic) and a choice of 2WD (front-wheel drive) or 4WD (four-wheel drive) – depending on model – carried over from the previous model. The 2WD drivetrain offers a weight saving of approximately 60 kg – enhancing fuel economy.
The 4WD drivetrain is an ‘on demand’ system that delivers 100% of engine torque to the front wheels during all routine city and highway driving. Whenever a front wheel loses grip a percentage of torque (up to 50%) is automatically transferred to the rear wheels. In severely slippery conditions the driver can select ‘Lock Mode’ which delivers 50% of torque to both the front and rear axles.
Improved on-road performance, retained off-road capability
Kia chassis engineers worked hard to ensure that while the upgraded Sorento gives rewarding responses to driver inputs, it also delivers a sophisticated ride/handling balance to rival the best vehicles in its class.
For precise vehicle control and good ‘feel’, the upgraded Sorento’s steering is now more direct, with 2.95 turns of the wheel lock-to-lock. Kia’s new FlexSteer™ system will be available as an option, providing Normal, Sport and Comfort modes with three different weights to match customer preference. Comfort mode is ideal for city driving.
High safety standards with advanced ‘active’ and ‘passive’ systems
The body shell in a nutshell:
- Extensive revisions to the body shell, which incorporates 25% more ultra-high-tensile strength steel than most vehicles in its class,
- Improved front, side and rear impact protection
- Bracing bar between the top of the front suspension towers is fitted and the body shell’s torsional rigidity has been raised by 18%, enhancing refinement and creating a stronger foundation for the suspension and steering, which benefits ride comfort and directional stability.
Active safety technologies
Customers will be able to specify a host of safety features in the upgraded Sorento
- ESC (electronic stability control)
- Reversing safety camera mounted on the tailgate with a 130 degree wide-angle lens
- HID (high intensity discharge) Xenon headlamps
- HAC (hill-start assist control), which prevents slip-back during stop-start driving on inclines.
- Radar-based BSD (blind spot detection)
- LDWS (lane departure warning system) using a camera above the windshield
- SPAS (smart parking assist system) with ultrasonic sensors to control automatic parallel parking.
Courtesy of Kia-Buzz.com
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