Kia Fortuner rival – Sorento expected soon in India

After the tremendous success of the Seltos and the latest arrival Carnival, the manufacturer is targeting many other segments in India. It has been suggested that it will also bring a full-sized SUV soon. Looking at the pattern, it really seems that Kia is very thoughtful of launching their cars in India.

It is targeting the hot segments and then bringing their vehicles at a very attractive price point. So let’s see what can we expect from this Kia Fortuner rival, the Sorento.

Exterior Design

The SUV is a tremendous size vehicle and really stand out in the crowd. From the front, it gets Kia’s signature tiger-nose grille, wide headlamps with LED bulbs and DRL strip in it. The design language is somewhat similar to the upcoming Kia Sonet, Looking from the side it really shines out due to its sleek design. It does not look like a traditional SUV but more of a modern SUV.

It gets massive alloy wheels that enhance its bulkiness. From the rear, it gets full LED taillamps that look upmarket and is surely lovable design. Overall, we personally love the design but design is quite subjective so let us know what do you think of the design in the comment section below.

Engine

The Kia Sorento in the international markets is offered with a bigger 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces around 290 bhp max power. However, India bound Sorento is expected to get Kia Carnival’s 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces nearly 198 bhp max power and 440 Nm of peak torque. The engine is then mated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The engine will be still the most powerful engine in the segment.

Of course, the SUV will be an all-wheel-drive vehicle and will offer good offroad ability.

Interior and Features

The interior and features are expected to be a segment ahead and should offer premium-ness over the rivals. The SUV will pack several segments must feature such as panoramic sunroof, cruise control, traction control, multiple drive modes, paddle shifters, and more. The upholstery is expected with a similar level of quality as the Kia Carnival’s. Modern features will include the touch screen infotainment with Kia’s smart connectivity, tyre pressure monitor, auto headlamp and wiper, etc.

Price and launch date

The pricing of the Kia Fortuner rival -Sorento is expected with a very aggressive price tag. We expect it to start around Rs 25 lakhs (ex-showroom). It is expected to launch at the Q4 of 2021. It will directly compete against Ford Endeavour, Volkswagen Tiguan, Toyota Fortuner and Honda CR-V.