2015 Kia Sorento :: new images and engine details revealed

New images and updated engine details for the 2015 Kia Sorento have been revealed ahead of the SUV’€™s local arrival in the first quarter of 2015.

The all-new Sorento has been confirmed to be powered by a pair of engines when it goes on sale here, including a new 3.3-litre petrol V6 with up to 198kW of power (exact outputs to be confirmed), and a revised 2.2-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine producing 147kW of power at 3800rpm and 441Nm between 1750-2750rpm. The current version has a 2.2-litre diesel with 145kW/421Nm, while the petrol offering is a 3.5-litre V6 with 204kW/335Nm.

No fuel consumption figures have been made public, though Kia states that the diesel versions will be Euro 6 emissions compliant. It is expected that the Sorento will be sold with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard across the petrol and diesel ranges.


Kia claims the all-new model benefits from’ ’€œimprovements to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and a step-change in interior quality and design’€.
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The chassis of the new model has been stiffened to increase torsional rigidity, while Kia claims it has improved ‘€œevery aspect of the Sorento’€™s driving experience, creating upgrades for the engines, steering and suspension’€. As is the case with most Kia models, the Sorento will be fine-tuned to Australian conditions by the company’€™s local suspension skunkworks.

The interior fitout was led by Kia’€™s European designers, and the company claims the result is a ‘€œmore sophisticated, more luxurious cabin, featuring significantly higher quality materials’€, including a higher proportion of soft-touch plastics and leather.

Official specifications for Australia are yet to be revealed, though the European market version will be offered with either a full black interior, or a two-tone black and beige finish. Leather trim options are set to include brown or light grey finishes.


The new Sorento is longer than the car it replaces at 4780 millimetres (+95mm), and is wider by 5mm (now 1890mm), but with a roof height 15mm lower than the current car (1685mm). The wheelbase has been stretched to better accommodate passengers (now 2780mm ‘€" was 2700mm).
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Boot space has increased from 515 litres to 605L, and a new under-floor storage section allows stowage of the cargo cover.
While European-spec versions will be offered with five or seven seats, all Australian-delivered models will have a 5+2 layout as standard.

Official specifications for Australian models are yet to be announced but the company has confirmed the Sorento will be offered with convenience items such as an Around-View Monitor (with four cameras used to display a bird’€™s-eye view of the car when parking), and a power tailgate with auto opening when the key is sensed near the boot.

Safety items added to the new model will likely include adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning system, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and a speed limit information system that can detect speed signs and display them to the driver on the dashboard.

2015 Kia Sorento.

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