Kia has been the talk of the town for secretly accepting orders for their upcoming SUV, the Sorento. The premium SUV segment in India is growing exponentially. And the Sorento is expected to be Kia’s contender in the premium three-row SUV segment. But is it any better than the others? Here is everything you need to know about the Kia Sorento.
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Kia Sorento Design
Kia is expected to offer bold exterior styling that we are already familiar with. That being said, the Sorento is expected to feature similar vertical LED headlamps and taillamps to those on the latest generation of the Carnival. Not just that, the tiger-nose design is also seen on the Sorento. However, the Sorento, being an SUV, has a slightly upright design. Enhancing the SUV characteristics and road presence are the squared wheel arches and large dimensions. Kia could also offer 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels on this SUV.
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Interior & Features
Like the other Kias, the Sorento is expected to offer a long list of features, including a four-inch dual-screen for infotainment and instrumentation, powered front seats with ventilation, a wireless charger, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a panoramic sunroof, and more. In addition to the driver assistance features, the Sorento is expected to offer a 360-degree camera and Level-2 ADAS.
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Powertrain
One of the most interesting aspects of the Sorento is its powertrain. Kia has been planning to introduce hybrids in the Indian market for quite some time now. And it is very possible that the Sorento could be their first hybrid product in India. Internationally, Kia offers a 1.6-litre petrol engine with the integrated hybrid system, producing about 227 bhp & 350 Nm. But to avoid the hassle of additional logistics and taxation for bringing in this 1.6-litre unit, Kia is expected to offer a 1.5-litre NA petrol engine with the Sorento. This 1.5-litre petrol engine will be derived from the Seltos and is expected to be paired with hybrid technology. With this offering, Kia is expected not only to save on taxes but also to deliver better fuel efficiency.
Rivals
Once launched, a major rival to the Kia Sorento would definitely be the segment leader, the Toyota Fortuner. The other rivals remain the Volkswagen Tayron and the Skoda Kodiaq. Also, with the launch of this SUV, Hyundai will introduce an SUV with similar mechanics, codenamed Hyundai Ni1I. With a similar spec sheet but a different look, this new Hyundai could be a close rival to the Sorento.
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Expected Launch & Pricing
Earlier, we received information that some dealerships are unofficially taking orders for this upcoming SUV. This not only confirms the launch but also suggests the launch timeline could be much earlier than we think. We can expect the Sorento by August or September 2026. Taking on the very popular segment in the Indian market, Kia is expected to price this SUV aggressively. The new Sorento is expected to be priced between Rs. 45 lakh and Rs. 60 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
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