Kia has only begun putting its next-generation
Sorento SUV on the road last month, when a heavily camouflaged prototype was
spotted testing alongside a BMW X5 – not a bad benchmark vehicle at all. Today, we can show you a
considerably less shy prototype, roaming the Nurburgring Nordschleife wearing
Recaro racing seats and tighter-fitting foil, allowing us to better gauge its
design language and overall dimensions.
The 2019 Sorento isn’t exactly the cleanest-looking
SUV in its segment. It has a lot of curvy design elements that seem to be
squeezed together tightly in order to create a somewhat modern aesthetic. So what does Kia have planned for
an encore? Apparently something with a sharper yet simpler design, featuring a
more boxy front end plus a very ProCeed-like window line that curves upwards
toward the tailgate.
As for the rear end, the cutout on this prototype
only tells half the story, as the taillights don’t appear to be horizontal
anymore. Instead, it almost looks like they feature a boomerang design that
extends onto the fenders. Of course, whether or not that’s the case, we still
can’t say for certain. Meanwhile, we’re still not ready to give up on this render from last
month, especially since there are a lot of common front fascia (thin
headlights, grille design) and shoulder line features to speak of.
As for what the new Sorento will be like to drive,
we expect more efficient powertrains and better dynamics, while improved driver
assistance and convenience technologies remain a given. Kia will probably launch its
next-generation Sorento sometime next year as a 2021 model.
