Suit straightened updated Kia Sorento officially priced
Redesign now sees the Sorento draw inspiration from the EV-range of electric vehicles. Image: Kia
Teased at the end of last year, Kia has officially released price and specification details of the heavily facelifted Sorento nearly two years after its global reveal in South Korea.
New outside
Its first update since bowing five years ago, the aesthetic changes to the internally named MQ4 fourth generation Sorento derives largely from the brand's EV range of electric vehicles, though up front, no alterations have taken place.
Set to remain Kia's flagship SUV as the step-up Telluride only comes in left-hand-drive, the Sorento's visual changes consist of a new Tiger Nose grille, T-shaped LED headlights, the Kia logo on top of the new bonnet instead of the grille, a restyled front bumper and new fog lights.
ALSO READ: Wait over soon as Kia teases facelift Sorento ahead of 2025 debut
Part of the brand's Opposites United styling language, the frontal changes conclude with a reshaped lower air intake, a wider skidplate and vertical air inlets on the flanks of the bumper.
Not as prominent, the rear facia has been revised with blacked-out light clusters and new LED graphics, a new bumper and imitation skidplate, and the relocation of the Sorento badge to the left corner of the tailgate.
Rear facia has also been given a makeover. Image: Kia
For South Africa, all Sorento models ride on 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, with the choice of colours spanning 10 hues:
Clear White;
Steel Grey;
Silky Silver;
Platinum Graphite;
Essence Brown;
Gravity Blue;
Runaway Red;
Mineral Blue;
Snow White Pearl;
Aurora Black Pearl
Revised inside
Inside, the interior changes see the standard inclusion of a dual 12.3-inch infotainment system and instrument cluster across the entire range, along with the same touch-sensitive digital control ribbon for the climate control and audio system as on the Sportage.
Interior has been uplifted with new materials, plus a pair of 12.3-inch displays across all models. Image: Kia
A new gear lever, upgraded materials, L-shaped side vents, alloy pedals, a black roofliner and the Kia logo on the steering wheel round the interior off.
Spec
Specification-wise, the Sorento range has been reduced from four to three models with the departure of the all-wheel-drive EX+.
It, therefore, leaves the front-wheel-drive version to open the range once again, with both the all-paw gripping SX and top-spec SXL continuing as well. As before, all variants provide seating for seven.
Aside from the features already mentioned, the EX+'s additional items include a panoramic sunroof, a six-speaker sound system, imitation leather upholstery, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto folding electric mirrors, dual-zone climate control, roof rails, push-button start, keyless entry and a leather-clad multi-function steering wheel.
Standard on the safety and driver assistance side are front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, Electronic Stability Control, a reverse camera and seven airbags.
Upping the ante, the SX gets heated, electric and ventilated front seats, an electric tailgate, rear window blinds, rain sense wipers, a heated steering wheel, electric lumbar support and memory function for the driver's seat, and a digital rear-view mirror.
Safety and driver assistance gains over the EX+ include Adaptive Cruise Control, Driver Attention Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Follow Assist.
Completing the range, the SXL receives a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a Head-Up Display, ambient lighting, Reverse Automatic Braking, side parking sensors and a surround-view camera system.
Diesel remains
As mentioned, no changes have taken place up front where the stalwart 2.2 CRDI turbodiesel engine has been retained with its outputs of 148kW/440Nm. The sole transmission option is once again an eight-speed dual-clutch.
Price
Now available, each Sorento's price tag continues to include a five-year/unlimited km warranty as well as a six-year/90 000 km service plan.
Sorento 2.2 CRDI EX+ DCT – R999 995
Sorento 2.2 CRDI SX AWD DCT – R1 199 995
Sorento 2.2 CRDI SXL AWD DCT – R1 299 995
NOW READ: Freshened-up Kia Sorento breaks cover with sleeker styling
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Kia takes $570m hit from US tariffs in second quarter
South Korea's Kia said on Friday it suffered a hit of 786bn won (about R10.07bn) from US tariffs in the April to June period. Kia, the world's No3 carmaker with affiliate Hyundai Motor, said its operating profit slumped 24% to 2.76-trillion won (R35.39bn) in the second quarter from a year earlier. Kia increased US sales by 5% as consumers brought forward car purchases due to concerns that US tariffs would lead to higher vehicle prices. It also had solid sales of its new Carnival hybrid SUV in the second quarter.
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Shares in Japanese, South Korean carmakers jump on Tokyo trade deal
Shares of Japanese and South Korean carmakers surged on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Tokyo that sources said would include reducing a tariff on Japanese car imports to 15%, a move that stoked optimism about a similar deal for Seoul. Shares of Toyota, the world's top carmaker by sales, jumped 13% while rival Honda advanced more than 9%. The lower tariff, from 25%, would ease the pain for Japan's most important industry in its most crucial market. South Korean carmakers gained on hopes Seoul would clinch a similar deal. Hyundai Motor and Kia rose more than 6%. The agreement with Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy and a pivotal US ally in Asia, is the most significant among several trade deals struck by the White House ahead of an August 1 deadline when higher levies are due to kick in. While Trump did not give details on the car portion of the deal in a post on his Truth Social platform, industry and government officials briefed on the agreement said it lowers the tariff to 15% from 25% on cars, which account for more than a quarter of Japan's exports to the US. However, it is unlikely to be all smooth sailing for Asian carmakers. Tariffs from Canada and Mexico remain in place at 25%. Mexico in particular is a key production hub for Japanese carmakers, including Nissan, and also home to a Kia factory. Nissan shares were up almost 9%.
The Herald
15-07-2025
- The Herald
Why Asian carmakers are staying loyal to the US market despite trade friction
The US is Toyota's biggest market in terms of vehicles. It sold 2.3-million vehicles there in 2024, including its Lexus brand, accounting for more than a fifth of its global total. As a source of revenue, North America was second only to Japan in the past financial year. Hyundai's North American revenue was the highest in almost a decade last year. Kim Chang-ho, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities, estimated it generates about 60% of its profits from the US, thanks to higher vehicle prices. Mocked in the US in the 1980s for its perceived shoddy quality, Hyundai doubled down there about a decade ago, especially after tensions between Beijing and Seoul and the rise of domestic EV makers saw it start to lose ground in China. 'After years of putting in effort, our brand is gaining recognition in the US,' one of the Hyundai insiders said. 'So we will not take our hands off the US.' The US has seen a surge in demand for hybrids as consumers have become more concerned about the battery range, price and charging hassles of EVs. Fuel-efficient models such as hybrids will be a key driver to gaining market share, said Morningstar analyst Vincent Sun. Toyota, Hyundai and Kia have particularly strong hybrid offerings. So far, most legacy Asian carmakers have avoided raising prices in the US and stronger players are likely to continue to hold off doing so, despite lower profitability, analysts said. Instead, the focus will probably be on taking market share from lower margin rivals such as Nissan and Stellantis, analysts said. 'It will shape up like a game of chicken,' said Kim Sung-rae, an analyst at Hanwha Investment & Securities. 'Those who will hold up well will emerge as winners.' Over time, tariffs could be a catalyst to help drive consolidation in the industry, or at least deepen existing tie-ups. Investors wonder if tariffs could push Nissan to revive merger talks with Honda that fell apart this year. Mazda, which is 5.1% owned by Toyota, and Subaru, which is 21% owned by Toyota, could become more reliant on the bigger company.
