Photo: Kia
In the realm of mid-sized crossovers, the Sorento is often overlooked. On the other hand, it’s a pretty good choice as a family car for value-oriented customers, retailing at $26,990 in the United States for the 2020 model year.
The entry-level trim – called L – features 185 horsepower from a 2.4-liter engine, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, one-touch sliding and folding rear seats, remote keyless entry, and hill-start assistance. But there’s a little problem with the Sorento. It hasn’t aged well...
Many competitors have been redesigned from the ground up in the past couple of years, meaning that Kia is playing catch-up for the time being. Fast-forward to March 2020, and that’s when the all-new Sorento will be revealed to the world at the Geneva Motor Show with either five- or seven-seat options.
Already spied without a single piece of camouflage, the 2021 Sorento in the teaser sketches leaves little to the imagination of future customers. “Designed and engineered to take on everything life can throw at it,” the mid-sized crossover “raises standards in its segment for practicality” according to Kia.
March 3rd is when the veils will be taken off, revealing “space on par with larger vehicles.” The more important piece of information in the press release is that the Sorento gears up for hybridization. Advanced driver assistance systems and so-called "progressive connectivity" are mentioned as well.
Produced in over three million examples since the original was introduced in 2002, the Sorento MQ4 will continue to be offered with four- and six-cylinder engines fueled by either gasoline or diesel. So what about all that hybrid stuff?
Hyundai let it slip last month that the Santa Fe – the half-sibling of the Sorento – will be available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Over in Europe, compact models such as the Xceed and Ceed Sportswagon can be had with a 1.6-liter GDi joined by a 44.5-kWh electric motor and 8.9-kWh battery. The plug-in hybrid powertrain is similar in every respect to that of the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in.
Many competitors have been redesigned from the ground up in the past couple of years, meaning that Kia is playing catch-up for the time being. Fast-forward to March 2020, and that’s when the all-new Sorento will be revealed to the world at the Geneva Motor Show with either five- or seven-seat options.
Already spied without a single piece of camouflage, the 2021 Sorento in the teaser sketches leaves little to the imagination of future customers. “Designed and engineered to take on everything life can throw at it,” the mid-sized crossover “raises standards in its segment for practicality” according to Kia.
March 3rd is when the veils will be taken off, revealing “space on par with larger vehicles.” The more important piece of information in the press release is that the Sorento gears up for hybridization. Advanced driver assistance systems and so-called "progressive connectivity" are mentioned as well.
Produced in over three million examples since the original was introduced in 2002, the Sorento MQ4 will continue to be offered with four- and six-cylinder engines fueled by either gasoline or diesel. So what about all that hybrid stuff?
Hyundai let it slip last month that the Santa Fe – the half-sibling of the Sorento – will be available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Over in Europe, compact models such as the Xceed and Ceed Sportswagon can be had with a 1.6-liter GDi joined by a 44.5-kWh electric motor and 8.9-kWh battery. The plug-in hybrid powertrain is similar in every respect to that of the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in.
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