Kia has announced details and prices for the new Sorento, which will be officially launched in Germany on October 10th. With the new edition of the flagship, the South Korean manufacturer’s mid-size SUV platform, which also allows electrified drives, celebrates its premiere. At the start, Kia is offering the Sorento as a diesel and a hybrid version. A plug-in hybrid version is to follow in early 2021.
The new platform and a slightly larger body make the revised Sorento, according to Kia, one of the most spacious and variable SUVs with (optional) three rows of seats. Both of the engines available at the start are available with front-wheel and all-wheel drive and offer extended standard equipment. The prices for the diesel model start at 41,418.82 euros, the hybrid costs from 42,393.61 euros (each with 16% VAT). With the latter, the 7-year Kia manufacturer’s guarantee includes the drive battery.
The Sorento’s hybrid drive combines a 132 kW (180 hp) 1.6-liter petrol engine with a 44 kW (60 hp) electric motor and a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. The overall system mobilizes 169 kW (230 PS) of power and 350 Nm of torque. A six-speed automatic gearbox and the electric motor integrated into the gearbox housing ensure the power transmission. It goes from zero to one hundred in 8.6 seconds, with a maximum of 193 km / h. Kia specifies fuel consumption at 5.4-5.2 l / 100 km, and CO2 emissions at 124-118 g / km.
The all-wheel drive versions of the Sorento have a newly developed “Terrain Mode” system, which is intended to help the SUV achieve better traction on muddy, sandy or snowy surfaces. For the new generation of models, Kia has also revised the independent suspension chassis, among other things to reduce noise and vibrations and to improve vehicle control and steering feedback when cornering.
The battery of the hybrid version is integrated into the vehicle floor in such a way that the space available in the interior of the Sorento is not impaired. In addition to space for up to seven occupants, the electrified SUV as a five-seater offers up to 902 liters of luggage space, while the seven-seater has up to 813 liters with the third row of seats folded. If more storage space is required, the second row of seats can be folded down remotely from the luggage compartment.
The Sorento’s new cockpit consists of a fully digital instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch screen. Depending on the equipment, a head-up display projects information into the driver’s field of vision on the windshield. The standard infotainment system with smartphone interface via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay includes an 8-inch touchscreen with split-screen function and enables multiple Bluetooth connections. The versions with a navigation system come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen.
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