A prototype of Kia’s upcoming
fourth-generation 2021 Sorento has been seemingly uncovered in South Korea,
with pictures of the mid-size SUV appearing on a number of forums, including on
Cien. A host of other interior photos were also posted on the Sorento Club MQ4
in Korea, while The Korean Car Blog reported that the official unveiling will
happen in its home market on February 17.
Many new-age Sorento prototypes have been
spied testing in recent months and if the vehicle is indeed shown off in Korea
in mid-February, there’s a very good chance it will make its European premiere
at March’s Geneva Motor Show with the North American model to follow suit.
Whereas the outgoing third-generation Kia
Sorento has a rather bland and uninspiring design, the new model seems far more
appealing to the eye. At the front, it adopts a chunkier version of Kia’s Tiger
Nose grille as well as a set of LED headlights. Kia has been spotted
benchmarking the Sorento against the latest BMW X5, indicating the new vehicle
will be more premium than any of its predecessors.
A series of images out of South Korea have
revealed some of the car’s new interior that sports a digital instrument
cluster, a four-spoke steering wheel, and has a large central infotainment screen,
giving an overall more premium and upscale feeling over today’s model.
In terms of engines, we expect engines
including a 2.4-liter GDI inline-four, 2.0-liter turbocharged four, a 2.2-liter
CRDI diesel, and the 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid found in the current
Hyundai Sonata. It’s possible the range will be topped out by a 3.8-liter GDI
V6 that’s good for 291 hp and 355 Nm of torque.
When the new Kia Sorento hits the market,
it will compete against the likes of the Ford Explorer, Mazda CX-9, Jeep Grand
Cherokee, Skoda Kodiaq, GMC Acadia, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano, and Dodge
Durango.
