2009 Kia Sorento Photos, engines & full specs

The Korean automaker introduced the second generation of the Sorento in 2009 and brought a fresh design for its flagship Crossover Utility Vehicle.

Kia was no longer associated with manufacturers of small-sized vehicles. Its Sorento was just one of them but, perhaps, the most important. Besides showing an improved design, it also boasted better engines in terms of fuel efficiency and performance and a higher-quality for the cabin.

With Peter Schreyer leading the design department, the Korean automaker started to look more appealing to its customers. Thus, the Sorento looked more like an up-scale vehicle rather than a mundane one, like its predecessor. At the front, the grille sported the new “Tiger-nose” design language, with its pinned-down upper and middle sections. The headlights showed an angular, sharp look with ascending outer sides. On the lower bumper, the fog lamps were placed in large clusters flanking the lower trapezoidal grille. From its profile, the SUV's stance was emphasized by the widened wheel fenders and the ascending sculptured line from the doors. Finally, at the back, the tailgate was slightly tilted forward, and the taillights were shared between it and the rear quarter panels.

Inside, the automaker offered enough room for up to seven seats, depending on the options. The dashboard of the Sorento featured a binocular instrument cluster with a center-mounted speedometer flanked by the rev counter on the left and a few gauges on the right. In addition, an LCD showed data from the onboard computer. As an option, the Sorento was available with a panoramic glass roof, a feature mostly seen on premium vehicles.

Underneath the bodywork, the car featured a new technical platform. Depending on the market, the Sorento was available with gasoline or turbo-diesel engines paired with either manual or automatic gearboxes. Unlike its predecessor, the 2009 Sorento was based on a unibody construction, not on a body-on-frame one.