Kia has fully unveiled its high-tech rival to the Toyota Kluger, the 2020 Sorento – but Australia will miss out on the most exciting new engines.
Fully unveiled online overnight, the 2020 Sorento will feature mild-, series-, and plug-in hybrid powertrains overseas, but Kia Australia has confirmed local buyers won’t be offered the electrified powertrain for now.
Australia will instead be offered a choice of a revised version of the existing 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine with 148kW and 440Nm, mated with a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
All-wheel drive will likely be standard locally.
As is the case in the related Hyundai Santa Fe, there will also be a 3.5-litre petrol V6 on offer, with 206kW and 336Nm. Expect it to be front-drive only.
Inside, the 2020 Sorento is arguably the most lavish car Kia has ever produced.
The driver is faced with a 12.3-inch digital instrument binnacle, while the central infotainment touchscreen has grown to 10.25 inches.
A head-up display will be offered, along with a wireless phone charger, surround-sound audio, and coloured ambient lighting.
Final pricing and specifications haven’t yet been confirmed for Australia, so we’ll have to wait for more information on what’s standard.
The 2020 Sorento runs Kia’s latest infotainment system, flanked by touch buttons.
The bones of the system are shared with Hyundai, which will offer a very similar setup in the 2020 i30 Sedan.
It sits above a redesigned climate control stack, while the transmission tunnel features more storage space thanks to a smaller rotary gear shifter.
Kia says the materials are all higher quality than before, from the chrome dashboard trim and satin door trims, to the quilted leather used in high-end models.
With a 35mm longer wheelbase than the model it replaces, the new Sorento promises more headroom, shoulder-room, and legroom for second- and third-row passengers.
It also has more boot space. Seven-seat models now offer 187L with the third row in place, and five-seat models can hold up to 910L.
Kia says the second row slides 45mm further forward for easier third-row access, while electric switches to fold both rows from the boot are also on hand to make life easier.
The reveal of the new Sorento has been slowly playing out since before the Geneva motor show, so the exterior isn’t much of a surprise.
It’s a more premium-looking SUV than before, with claw-like taillights and headlamps integrated into the latest take on Kia’s tiger nose grille dominating a boxy, upright design.
Design cues like the shark fin trim on the base of the rear window also help it stand out from the crowd.
Expect to know more later this year when local specifications are confirmed, but a full suite of semi-autonomous safety systems are likely to be offered as standard.
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert are all available overseas.
