Kia

The all-new 2021 Sorento raises the SUV bar even higher, showcasing elegant yet muscular proportions that combine with precision engineering, cutting-edge technology and premium quality.

The fourth generation Sorento displays a refined boldness in its confident design – with sharper lines, dynamic detailing, and elongated, swept-back proportions – giving it a much more confident and dynamic presence. Attributes that clearly played a part in the new Sorento recently winning an iF Design Award in Europe and Auto Bild Allrad magazine’s All-Wheel Drive Car of the Year in Germany.

The more assertive ‘face’ of the Sorento incorporates a new interpretation of Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger nose’ grille. Wider and more expansive, it wraps organically around the integrated headlamps on each side. The headlamps themselves feature a new ‘tiger eye’ LED daytime running light adding extra focus to the design by depicting the intense impression of the lines around a tiger’s eyes.

“The 2021 Sorento grabs your attention from any angle – it’s a stunning vehicle and a worthy new flagship for Kia’s growing SUV line-up that includes our top-selling Seltos, Niro hybrid and EV, and Sportage models,” says Todd McDonald, Managing Director of Kia Motors New Zealand.

New Sorento is the first vehicle to be based on Kia’s next-generation large SUV platform. Paired with a bigger body to maximise cargo space, the platform ensures the Sorento is one of the most versatile and spacious three-row SUVs on the road, providing ample room for seven occupants and their luggage.

Overall dimensions have grown 10mm in length and width, while the wheelbase is 35mm longer, creating greater legroom and shoulder room for mid- and rear-row passengers, as well as delivering 32% more cargo space with all seats in place.

The upscale cabin introduces a sophisticated new design, incorporating supreme practicality, cutting-edge infotainment and premium-grade materials, with Nappa leather featuring in the new top-of-the-range Premium model.

Available in four models and starting from $59,990, every version of the new Sorento comes with three rows of seating, an active all-wheel-drive system and very high equipment specification levels.

Most versions are equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system incorporating audio-visual navigation. And there’s a new 12.3-inch high-resolution digital instrument cluster that provides crystal-clear information to the driver. Three of the four models have an 8.5-inch head-up display (HUD) that projects important information on the lower windscreen, a wireless phone charger, heated seats (and ventilated on the Premium) and a powerful BOSE® 12-speaker surround-sound system that provides a more immersive in-car audio experience.

All Sorento models are powered by a new Smartstream 2.2-litre common rail diesel engine, which has been redesigned around a lighter, all-aluminium block to deliver improved performance and reduced fuel consumption.

Making the most of that extra performance is the new Smartstream eight-speed wet double-clutch transmission (8DCT), featured for the first time in any vehicle in this segment. The high-tech transmission offers the smooth shifting characteristics of a conventional automatic with the responsiveness and fuel efficiency of a dual-clutch system. An E-Shift Dial (shift-by-wire) offers the driver of the Premium model a twist dial to select gears, in place of a traditional gear lever.

All Sorento models are equipped with a newly developed ‘terrain mode’ that offers better traction, stability and control on different types of surfaces, such as mud, snow or sand. The driving characteristics of the new Sorento have been further enhanced for our local conditions through the ANZAC suspension tuning programme. Towing capacity has also increased 25% to a braked 2,500kg.

The 2021 Kia Sorento also takes a major leap forward in terms of safety under Kia’s comprehensive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) programme. A number of new safety technologies are introduced on Sorento, including Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) to eliminate a driver’s left- and right-side blind spots, Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) and the latest Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) technology, with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection, which now also detects oncoming traffic when making a turn at a junction. And should a new Sorento be involved in an accident, the new Multi-Collision Brake (MCB) System is designed to prevent unpredictable movements of a vehicle after the initial collision to substantially reduce the danger of secondary crashes.

There are now seven airbags in all Sorento models, including one in the left-side bolster of the driver’s seat, between the driver and front passenger, designed to prevent their heads coming into contact during a collision.

“New Sorento takes SUV sophistication to a much higher level – it’s a real game-changer for Kia,” adds Mr McDonald.