The fourth-generation Kia Sorento was set to launch in South Africa before July, but Covid-19-related production and parts delays caused the company to postpone the launch of its flagship SUV to later this year.
“Currently, we’re still planning on launching the new Sorento this year. The likely date is towards the end of Q4 [of 2021],” Kia South Africa told TopAuto.
The company said the supply issues have mostly been ironed out and that its factories are “working overtime to meet global demand”.
Below, we take a look at the markets where the fourth-generation Sorento is already on offer to see what we can expect when it launches locally.
What to expect
The new Kia Sorento is a successor to the third generation in name alone, as this SUV has been redesigned both inside and out.
It features a more angular design and measures 4,810mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,695mm tall.
The front-end then embodies the brand’s new design language, with a squared-off bumper and “tiger nose” grille – which are flanked by attractive LED daytime running lights to form the “tiger eyeline”.
Along the sides, it features a more sloped A-pillar and attractive alloy wheels, and the rear sees the addition of dual-exhaust outlets, new taillights, a redesigned bumper, and a rugged skid plate.
On the inside, the Sorento is said to be the most high-tech Kia ever made, as a wide array of cutting-edge tech is fitted across the range.
As standard, the SUV comes with an 8.0-inch infotainment display that offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite navigation – and this can be upgraded to a dual-screen set-up consisting of a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central screen.
Additionally, the Sorento offers leather seats, a wireless charger, climate control, ambient lighting, a reverse camera with a collision-avoidance assistant, and rear cross-traffic assistance.
Certain models also get the latest iteration of Kia’s advanced driver assistance system, which adds a forward collision-avoidance assistant, a blind-spot monitor with collision-avoidance assistance, a surround-view monitor, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.
The new Kia Sorento scores a 5-star Euro NCAP crash rating, too.
Engines
In international markets, the Sorento is powered by either a 2.2-litre diesel engine, or a 1.6-litre petrol-hybrid motor.
The diesel engine connects to an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and generates 149kW and 440Nm.
This is good for a 0-100km/h time of 9.0 seconds and a top speed of 202km/h.
The hybrid powertrain comprises a 1.6-litre, turbo-petrol engine and a 44.2kW electric motor that puts out 169kW and 350Nm.
This model sprints to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 192km/h.
Pricing
Kia has not revealed the South African pricing for the new Sorento as yet.
In the UK, the diesel-powered derivative has a starting price of £39,360 (R816,300), while the plug-in-hybrid models start at £45,245 (R938,400).
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