Kia’s new three-row SUV gets diesel and hybrid powertrains, six- and seven-seat layouts, and debuts its Real-Time Generative AI Assistant.
Kia has entered a new territory in India with the launch of the Sorento, its first premium three-row SUV for the country. Priced from Rs 27.99 lakh for the diesel and Rs 29.49 lakh for the hybrid, the Sorento goes up against SUVs such as the Skoda Kodiaq, while bringing a few firsts of its own.
The biggest of these is the hybrid powertrain, making the Sorento Kia India’s first hybrid model. It is also the first SUV in its segment to combine a hybrid powertrain with all-wheel drive. The Sorento is locally manufactured at Kia’s Anantapur facility and will be available in six- and seven-seat configurations.
Kia Sorento Gets A Large, Premium Cabin
The Sorento measures 4,815mm in length and 1,900mm in width, with a 2,815mm wheelbase. Kia claims it is the longest and widest SUV in its segment, giving it a sizeable road presence.
Inside, the Sorento gets a panoramic curved display with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It also gets a head-up display, digital IRVM, dual-pane panoramic sunroof and 64-colour ambient lighting.
There is plenty of focus on second-row comfort as well. The Sorento gets ventilated front and second-row seats with three-step cooling, while higher variants add relaxation seats, an Ergo Motion driver seat and four-way power Boss Mode.
Kia Sorento Gets Hybrid And Diesel Engines
The 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid combines a 180 PS engine with a 65 PS electric motor. The engine produces 265 Nm, while the electric motor develops 264 Nm. It is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
This also puts the Sorento in an interesting position against the Toyota Innova HyCross, another popular three-row offering in India with a hybrid powertrain. However, unlike the HyCross, the Sorento’s hybrid powertrain is offered with all-wheel drive, giving it a different proposition for buyers looking for a more SUV-focused package.
There is also a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 193 PS and 442 Nm, paired with an eight-speed DCT. Both powertrains are available with AWD and get Snow, Sand and Mud terrain modes.
30 ADAS Features And A Global-First AI Assistant
The Sorento comes with 30 ADAS Level 2+ features, along with up to 10 airbags, a 360-degree camera, Blind View Monitor and Remote Smart Parking Assist.
However, it is the technology inside the cabin that gives the Sorento an interesting edge. The India-spec SUV gets Kia AI Assistant with Real-Time Generative AI, making its global debut on the Sorento. It can handle natural conversations, provide real-time information and control selected vehicle functions using the “Hey Kia” wake word.
The SUV also gets Kia Connect 2.0 with more than 85 connected features, OTA updates, Digital Key 2.0 and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
