The refreshed 2018 Kia Sorento has been revealed ahead of its global unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month.
THE REFRESHED 2018 Kia Sorento has been revealed ahead of its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month. It will go on-sale in Europe towards the end of this year and so isn’t likely to make it Down Under until next year (2018).
Beyond the tweaked exterior and interior, the new Sorento gets an eight-speed automatic for the diesel-powered variant and the brand’s latest suite of in-car connectivity and active safety.
Key tweaks to the Sorento include revised front and rear bumpers, new LED head- and tail-lights, and a new dark metallic finish to the ‘tiger-nose’ grille. The result, says Kia, is a more sophisticated and purposeful front-end appearance. New Rich Espresso and Gravity Blue exterior paint finishes are now available, as well as a new design for the Sorento’s 17-, 18- and 19-inch aluminium alloy wheels.
Inside, there’s a newly-designed steering wheel and driver instrument cluster, as well as a new climate control LCD display. The dashboard also features a new Audio Visual Navigation (AVN) system. The new Sorento is available with Kia’s latest 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with navigation and Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom. The new system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enabling full smartphone integration. Within the centre console is a wireless smartphone charger, allowing users to charge their smartphones on the move (unless you own an iPhone…).
The new Sorento is the brand’s first SUV to get Kia’s eight-speed automatic transmission; it’s mated to diesel engines only and replaces the old car’s six-speed automatic. The new transmission offers four different drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Smart. Each mode tweaks the powertrain’s response and the weight of the rack-mounted power steering system. And Kia says the Sorento’s new Smart Mode is designed to understand and anticipate the driver’s steering preferences, automatically switching between Eco, Comfort and Sport modes.
The new Sorento sees the arrival of a GT Line variant which features a range of upgrades like, four-lamp LED fog lights, red brake callipers, a more prominent sill step, and subtle GT Line badging designed to distinguish it from other Sorento models. Diesel models are fitted with a distinctive new chrome twin exhaust tip. The interior of the GT Line includes the same improvements as the standard car, as well as quilted seats, finished in black leather with contrasting grey stitching and GT Line embroidered emblems. In addition, the new variant features unique gear shift paddles and a series of satin chrome highlights throughout the interior.
For the first time, the Sorento is available with Kia’s latest DRiVE WISE Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). This system features, Driver Attention Warning (DAW) which is designed to combat distracted or drowsy driving. It sounds a warning chime and displays a graphic in the instrument binnacle if it senses a lapse in concentration from the driver. Other new safety features available on the Sorento include: Lane Keeping Assist System; High Beam Assist, and full LED headlights with Dynamic Bending Light.
