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New Kia SUV to be targeted at large families, emphasising comfort, convenience, and refinement, along with value pricing and good fuel economy
The Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tayron premium D-segment SUVs are currently the only two options in their segment for customers prioritising comfort, space, and refinements over the road presence of body-on-frame SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner and MG Majestor. In the coming months, the Kia Sorento will enter this space, giving customers a better option in terms of efficiency and value.
Positioned between the Kia Sportage and Kia Telluride internationally, the Kia Sorento measures 4,815 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width, and 1,700 mm in height and has a 2,815 mm wheelbase. Kia has developed it in 5-, 6-, and 7-seat versions, and it is likely to offer the three-row configurations in India.
What will truly differentiate the Kia Sorento from the Skoda Kodiaq and the VW Tayron will be heavy localisation. While the German models are imported in knocked-down kits, assembled in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, the South Korean model will be manufactured locally, in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. This would allow Kia to price the Sorento much more competitively.
Also Read: Next-Gen Kia Sonet To Be More Spacious And Feature-Rich
Kia offers the Sorento in ICE, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid variants. Interestingly, it has decided to launch the hybrid variant in India, which could offer segment-leading fuel economy and further give it an edge over its German competitors. Internationally, the hybrid system is based on a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which is assisted by an electric motor that draws energy from a 1.49 kWh battery pack. A 6-speed automatic transmission sends drive to the wheels, and an all-wheel drive system is available as an option.
Packing 176 kW (236 hp) and 380 Nm of torque, the Sorento Hybrid hits 0 to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds in the FWD configuration and 9.0 seconds in the AWD configuration. It can achieve a top speed of 120 km/h in EV mode and 196 km/h using both electricity and petrol. According to WLTP, the Sorento Hybrid delivers a fuel economy of 15 km/l (FWD)/14 km/l (AWD). It is worth noting that WLTP fuel economy figures are typically much stricter but more realistic than MIDC ratings applicable in India.
Also Read: 4 New Kia SUVs Undergoing Testing In India; Key Details
In India, since Kia does not manufacture the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, reports say it may use the locally produced 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine to keep the costs in check. This could translate into better fuel economy but could severely impact performance. It is possible that Kia could use a turbocharged version of the smaller engine instead. The company will likely launch the Sorento Hybrid in India sometime in the fourth quarter of 2026.
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