It has been a long time coming, the third-generation Kia Sorento, but it appears that the bigger and better SUV is finally around the corner. A source from Kia Malaysia has mentioned May 2016 as the time of local introduction, and that the seven-seater SUV will be available in both 2.2L diesel and 2.4L petrol forms, with three variants offered in total.
That’s welcome news, as the previous-generation Sorento XM was only available with a petrol engine in Malaysia, allowing sister SUV Hyundai Santa Fe to have the group’s 2.2 litre ‘R’ diesel engine all to itself in our market (197 hp and 436 Nm in the Hyundai).
Working on the two engines, three variants formation, we’re predicting a standard-spec petrol, a high-spec petrol and a range-topping high-spec diesel for the local line-up.
The Sorento UM made its domestic debut back in August 2014, and we drove the five-star ANCAP rated SUV later in that year in Jordan. Although we did not sample the oil burner in the Middle East, we know the CRDi well from two generations of the Santa Fe. It should be the pick of the range ahead of the 2.4L petrol if price isn’t an issue. Both are mated to a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
If the Sorento looks huge in pictures, it is. The current Santa Fe is to us already “half a size” larger than the average C-segment SUVs, but this big guy is 90 mm longer still, with 80 mm of that advantage going into the 2,780 mm wheelbase. Compared to the previous Sorento, the same size increase applies. Versus the Honda CR-V? 190 mm longer, 70 mm wider, 160 mm wheelbase advantage.
Very handsome, too. Read our full review of the Sorento UM for an idea of what to expect.
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Took their own sweet time to intro this fella so much so I think we should be seeing the facelift in Korea soon!
Much better than recond 316
Two reasons not to get it
1) What a name “Sorluntou”
2) Distributed by Naza
It’s Sorento, not Sorluntou. Everyone who’s not pelat (not you, obviously) can pronounce it correctly.
Finally the proper SUV being offered in Malaysia.
This thing is been getting such good reviews overseas… Bt they are getting all those high torque diesels, turbos and big cc engines.. Please DONOT bring it with a gutless 2.4NA
Where is the new Rondo?
dear danny… how can you compare this against crv? not even in the same category… this is a big size suv comparable with bmw x5, audi q7 and volvo xc90
In Malaysia, cars are compared to one another based on the price range. It is indeed larger than the CR-V but it doesn’t belong in the same category as those 3 luxury SUVs.
the dashboard design isnt all inspiring…..
If they want to compete , they have to bring in the 2.2 and with a price range below 180k or close to the sore to current price.
I still won’t buy from AP King.
K.
This indeed is excellent news. The diesel will be best choice for this mpv.
Apparently Kia Naza contact center was unable to confirm Sorento launch so I am going to shop for other SUV in the market. Naza doesn’t seems to be interested in creating excitement n promoting Kia new model as aggressively as other brands like Honda. Can’t wait to see the launch of new Brv, Toyota Fortuner n Ford Everest.
Finally: http://www.nazakia.com.my/models/all-new-sorento/
Seems very good spec vs SantaFe. Neither CR-V nor X-TRAIL can beat the built quality.