Kia Sorento 2023

2023 Kia Sorento launched in Malaysia – 2.5 petrol, 2.2 diesel AWD; 6 or 7-seater; CKD fr RM211k to RM255k

In Cars, Kia, Local Car Launches, Local News / By Danny Tan / 3 March 2023 7:45 pm / 31 comments

Previewed in January, the 2023 Kia Sorento is now officially launched in Malaysia. The fourth-generation Sorento is launching as a CKD locally assembled model – instead of an initial CBU batch like the Carnival – priced from RM211,498 to RM255,228, which are lower than the estimates. There are three variants with a mixture of two engines and two seating configurations, which we’ll explain.

The latest Sorento is bigger than its already large predecessor, with a 10 mm expansion in each direction to be 4,810 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,695 mm tall. The wheelbase has grown by 35 mm to 2,815 mm.

It’s a very handsome SUV, with sharp lines contrasting the soft curves of many rivals. Kia’s signature ‘tiger nose’ pinch sits on what’s in effect a full width grille as the headlamps – striking triple projectors – are integrated nicely for a one-piece look. The sides are straight and simple, but there’s a chrome ‘shark fin’ to add interest at the C pillars.

There will be many who think that the new Sorento’s chiseled rear end is its best angle. Two vertical strips on each side and Sorento spelled out below the number plate. Overall, it’s a very macho-looking SUV, probably the brawniest one in the market now. What do you think?

Under the hood, we get a choice of two engines – one petrol, one diesel. As expected, the base model is a petrol with front-wheel drive and the maximum seven seats in three rows (2-3-2). The 2.5 2WD 7-Seater is powered by a 2.5 litre Smartstream naturally-aspirated four-cylinder MPi engine with 177 hp and 232 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The transmission is a six-speed automatic. The entry variant is priced at RM211,498 on-the-road without insurance.

The next variant also uses the same 2.5L engine, but with all-wheel drive and six seats in a 2-2-2 formation, with the middle row bench making way for two captain chairs. The 2.5 AWD 6-Seater is priced at RM235,498.

The range topper is the RM255,228 2.2D AWD 6-Seater. It also comes with six seats and AWD, but the engine here is the 2.2 litre turbodiesel from the Carnival, making 199 hp and 440 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 2,750 rpm. While the CRDi is paired to an eight-speed torque converter automatic in the MPV, the Sorento gets an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission instead.

By the way, our CKD Sorento will come with a traditional gear lever instead of a rotary dial that some markets get. The Drive Mode knob behind the gear lever incorporates Terrain Mode presets (snow, mud, sand) on AWD models.

The base model comes with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, analogue dials, fabric seats, powered front seats, one-touch entry into the third row, second- and third-row air vents, powered tailgate, the ability to fold the second-row seats from the boot, Qi wireless charger, keyless entry/push start as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.

Top: 6-seater vs 7-seater. Mid: AWD vs FWD. Bottom: Digital meter vs analogue

The higher-spec six-seater variant add on 19-inch alloys, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bose sound system, leather upholstery and rear window shades. The front passenger seat also has controls on its side, increasing convenience for the driver or rear passenger.

As for safety, it’s six airbags, DSC, hill start assist, Multi-Collision Brake, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking across the board, from the base model onwards. Dinamikjaya Motors MD Datuk Wong Kin Foo says that there are no current plans to introduce the plug-in hybrid version or the 1.6L hybrid variant in Malaysia; the latter is Euro 6-only.

Once again, the new 2023 Kia Sorento is priced at RM211,498 for the 2.5 2WD 7-Seater, RM235,498 for the 2.5 AWD 6-Seater and RM255,228 for the 2.2D AWD 6-Seater. There’s a five-year or 100,000 km warranty and service package; the latter includes labour, parts and lubricants. Three-row SUV rivals in Malaysia include Bermaz stablemate Mazda CX-8, the Hyundai Santa Fe (we’re still waiting for the TM facelift) and the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. What’s your take on the new Kia Sorento?

GALLERY: 2023 Kia Sorento 2.2D AWD 6-Seater

GALLERY: 2023 Kia Sorento 2.5 AWD 6-Seater

GALLERY: 2023 Kia Sorento 2.5 2WD 7-Seater

31 comments | Leave a comment?
2023 Kia Sorento in Malaysia – CKD SUV; 6 or 7 seats; 2.5L petrol, 2.2L diesel; AEB standard; fr RM220k est

In Cars, Kia, Local News / By Gerard Lye / 16 January 2023 12:00 pm / 34 comments

The fourth-generation Kia Sorento has been officially previewed in Malaysia, with local distributor Dinamikjaya Motors, a subsidiary of Bermaz Auto (BAuto), revealing it is now accepting bookings for the redesigned three-row D-segment SUV.

Final pricing will be revealed on launch day, which we’re told will take place very soon. For now, the company says the Sorento is estimated to range from RM220,000 to RM255,000 across three variants, with local dealers claiming deliveries will start from March this year. It should be noted that unlike the Carnival, which initially arrived in fully-imported (CBU) form, the Sorento will be offered as a locally-assembled (CKD) model from the start.

The base option is the 2.5 2WD 7-Seater, which is powered by a 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder MPi engine that delivers 177 hp at 6,000 rpm and 232 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The mill drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, with the quoted top speed being 195 km/h.

Next on the list is the 2.5 AWD 6-Seater that gets the same MPi powerplant, but with an all-wheel drive system to send drive to all four corners. It also adopts a 2-2-2 seat layout with two captain chairs in the second row rather than a bench, which is what the entry-level variant’s 2-3-2 configuration gets.

Rounding off the trio is the 2.2D AWD 6-Seater, which also comes with six seats and AWD, but features a diesel engine instead. The 2.2 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel is the same one found in the Carnival and provides 199 hp at 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm from 1,750 to 2,750 rpm. Unlike the MPV, the oil burning Sorento features an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission instead of an eight-speed automatic – top speed also goes up to 205 km/h.

In its latest form, the Sorento is a bigger car compared to its predecessor, with a 10 mm increase in each direction to become 4,810 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,695 mm tall. The wheelbase has also grown by 35 mm to 2,815 mm, with most of it going to the more rearward A-pillars.

Along with shorter overhangs, the SUV sports a more premium look, complemented by sharper lines and bolder styling cues. The latter includes a more substantial “tiger nose” grille with U-shaped inserts that flows neatly into the slim headlamps and L-shaped daytime running lights. The lower apron features a large intake that extends into L-shaped air curtains at the corners of the bumper.

Down the sides, chrome scuttles contribute to the upmarket appearance and is joined by a chrome “shark fin” on the rear quarter glass. However, it is the rear that undergoes the most significant changes, with four vertical taillights bars set beside a sculpted tailgate. Adding to the visual statement is a large black bumper insert and faux vents that integrate lights and reflectors.

The interior is equally as distinctive thanks to the dual-tier air vents on the dashboard, with those in the middle “cradling” the control panel for the dual-zone climate system, which is set below the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Our local Sorento will come with a traditional gear lever instead of a rotary dial, and you can easily tell the difference between 2WD and AWD models by the controls on the centre console – the latter has more drive modes as well as brake auto hold.

The higher-spec variant also comes with 19-inch wheels (instead of 18-inch units), a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (the 7-Seater gets a multi-info display and analogue dials), a Bose sound system, leather upholstery (instead of fabric) as well as rear shades.

All variants will come with powered front seats (the 6-Seater’s front passenger seat has controls on its side), one-touch entry into the third row, second- and third-row air vents, a powered tailgate, the ability to fold the second-row seats from the boot, a Qi wireless charger, keyless entry and start as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.

On the safety front, six airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, DSC, traction control, hill start assist and Multi-Collision Brake Control are standard across the range. The Sorento also gets adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking from its base variant onwards.

In the D-segment SUV space, the Sorento competes against the Mazda CX-8, Hyundai Santa Fe and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. Once again, estimated pricing for the Sorento is between RM220,000 to RM255,000. Like what you see so far?

GALLERY: 2023 Kia Sorento 2.2D AWD 6-Seater

GALLERY: 2023 Kia Sorento 2.5 2WD 7-Seater

34 comments | Leave a comment?
2021 Kia Sorento revealed in full – larger with more space, technology, safety and electrified powertrains

In Cars, International News, Kia / By Jonathan Lee / 18 March 2020 6:16 pm / 12 comments

With the Geneva Motor Show cancelled, Kia took its time to reveal full details of the Sorento – originally scheduled on March 3, the floodgates were finally opened today. Now, we’ve got nearly everything we know about the fourth-generation SUV, so let’s get straight into it.

The new Sorento sits on Kia’s latest N3 midsize crossover platform and uses a blend of steel and aluminium in its construction, plus a greater percentage of Advanced High-Strength Steel and hot-stamped steel compared to its predecessor. Despite torsional rigidity being 12.5% higher than the “perceived safety leader” in the segment, the bodyshell is 54 kg (5.6%) lighter than before.

It’s also slightly larger than before, the car growing 10 mm in each direction to 4,810 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,695 mm tall. The wheelbase, however, has been lengthened some 35 mm to 2,815 mm; of this, 30 mm goes into the more rearward placement of the A-pillars. Together the shorter overhangs, this is said to provide the car with a more premium look.

As you can see, the new Sorento sports a much bolder design language compared to the handsome if rather conventional outgoing model. It’s more angular and features a greater use of sharp lines and faceted surfaces, most prominently at the rear.

Up front, you have the familiar “tiger nose” grille with U-shaped inserts, flowing neatly into the slim headlights with triple LED projectors – an effect made more pronounced by a continuous full-width chrome strip and L-shaped “tiger eye” daytime running lights. This entire graphic is set within a concave surface, under which sits a large central air intake and L-shaped bumper corners.

Along the side, you can see an arching shoulder line that wraps around the front and rear ends, and below this is a chrome fillet on the front fenders and doors, sort of mimicking a fender vent. Above the line, there’s an unusual chrome “shark fin” aft of the rear doors, while the door mirrors have been separated from the A-pillars for a cleaner, more premium look.

The rear end is by far the most radical part of the car, with prominent creases on the tailgate surrounding the number plate area. The four vertical tail light bars are rather reminiscent of a Ford Mustang, and the entire look is finished off with a large black bumper insert and multiple fake vents.

Inside, it’s an even bigger departure, with a horizontal dashboard that borrows more than a few cues from Mercedes-Benz. The most prominent of these is the large display panel, which houses a central touchscreen measuring up to 10.25 inches across, as well as an available 12.3-inch digital instrument display. Alongside these displays are haptic controls, which also feature on the climate controls.

European models come with UVO Connect telematics with Kia Live services such as live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest and on- and off-street parking information; users can also send their directions to their cars before setting off. The infotainment system enables Bluetooth pairing with up to two phones simultaneously, enabling different phones to be used for calls and music streaming.

The Sorento is also offered with wireless smartphone charging as well as a 12-speaker Bose surround sound system. Elsewhere, there are also eight vertical air vents, a tall centre console, a very Jaguar-esque rotary gear selector and a 64-colour ambient lighting system – again, just like a Mercedes. Kia boasts enhanced material quality in the interior, with metallic trim, embossed satin-effect surfaces and available Nappa leather.

The company also says that the Sorento’s larger dimensions and improved packaging provide more space for people and cargo, with greater legroom for first- and second-row passengers and more headroom for those in the third row. In addition to five- and seven-seater configurations, the Sorento will also be available for the first time in six-seater form with two individual second-row pews.

Luggage room has also increased by 32% with the rearmost pews up, to 187 litres. The platform accommodates electrification for the first time, so the new hybrid model has its battery located under the front passenger seat, rather than under the boot floor – resulting in a minimally-impacted boot space of 179 litres. With the third-row seats folded, cargo capacity increases to 821 litres (910 litres for five-seat models).

Safety-wise, the Sorento will be available with a full range of driver assistance systems, such as autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and oncoming traffic detection, blind spot monitoring with collision avoidance and rear cross traffic braking, traffic sign recognition, navigation-based adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, driver attention warning and Highway Driving Assist (HDA).

The Sorento will also be the first Kia in Europe to come with the Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), enabling the car to be driven in and out of a parking spot using the key fob, autonomously braking if it detects another car, cyclist or pedestrian. Other available features include a door opening warning, autonomous braking for reverse parking and up to eight airbags, including a new centre airbag between the front seats.

Also offered is the remote Surround View Monitor which, as the name suggests, allows users to monitor their car’s surroundings via a smartphone, just like a BMW. A new multi-collision brake system also automatically applies the brakes after the airbags have been deployed, reducing the severity of secondary collisions.

European and Korean markets will be offered a choice of two Smartstream engines. The first is a 2.2 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel, now with an aluminium block that saves 19.5 kg over the outgoing cast iron block. It makes 202 PS at 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm from 1,750 to 2,750 rpm, routed through a new eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission said to be two to three percent more efficient than a conventional automatic.

The other option is the aforementioned hybrid model that will also be offered in the United States, utilising a 1.6 litre turbocharged T-GDi petrol mill; on its own, it produces 180 PS at 5,500 rpm and 265 Nm from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm. Sandwiched between it and a six-speed automatic is an electric motor making another 60 PS and 265 Nm, resulting in a total output of 230 PS and 350 Nm. It is juiced by a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Koreans and Americans are also getting a 2.5 litre turbo petrol engine with direct and indirect fuel injection; it makes 281 PS and 421 Nm and is paired to the eight-speed DCT. A plug-in hybrid variant will also be revealed towards the end of the year.

Having ridden on a monocoque platform since the second generation, the Sorento is claimed to provide a more comfortable ride and a more satisfying and enjoyable driving experience, thanks to the heavily revised fully-independent suspension.

A series of geometry changes and new components, as well as tweaks to the suspension structure, have minimised the effects of surface imperfections, reduced noise and vibration and improved body control and steering responsiveness in the corners. The longer wheelbase has helped smoothen the ride, while the stiffer bodyshell – utilising a four percent average increase in high-tensile steel – cuts down on NVH.

Models with the optional all-wheel drive system also get a new Terrain Mode with mud, snow and sand settings. The system adjusts stability control intervention, the torque distribution between all four wheels and the transmission shift times to help the Sorento find and maintain traction on slippery surfaces.

12 comments | Leave a comment?