Kia Sorento Launched In India At ₹27.99 Lakh With Hybrid, Diesel And AWD Options

What is the News?

Kia has entered India’s premium three-row SUV segment with the launch of the Sorento SUV. The Kia Sorento is a premium three-row SUV positioned as Kia India’s flagship SUV and its first hybrid offering in the country. The Sorento is locally built at KIA India’s Anantapur facility.

What engines does the Kia Sorento come with?

The Kia Sorento comes with two powertrain choices: a Smartstream D2.2 diesel engine and a Smartstream 1.6 Turbo GDI strong-hybrid powertrain.

The Smartstream D2.2 diesel engine produces 193 PS and 442 Nm of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (8DCT). The strong-hybrid version uses a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 180 PS and 265 Nm. Its hybrid system further adds 65 PS of power and 264 Nm of torque. The hybrid powertrain is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

What are the Kia Sorento’s exterior highlights?

The Kia Sorento features a large, upright three-row SUV stance, with KIA’s Digital Tiger Face grille at its centre. The Sorento comes with Crystal Cube LED Projection Headlamps and Star Map LED daytime running lights with progressive turn indicators. At the rear, it gets Star Map LED tail-lamps and an integrated spoiler.

The KIA Sorento bodywork is finished off with satin-chrome-finished front and rear skid plates, a satin-chrome beltline and side-door garnish accents and black high-gloss bridge-type roof rails.

The Kia Sorento rides on 18-inch Sporty Crystal Cut Alloy Wheels or 19-inch Crystal Cut Alloy Wheels, depending on the variant. It comes in eight monotone colour choices: Glacier White Pearl, Gravity Grey, Imperial Blue, Magma Red, Pewter Olive, Ivory Silver Gloss, Aurora Black Pearl and matte Dark Gun Metal.

The Black Line includes blacked-out Kia and Sorento emblems, 19-inch Premium Crystal Cut Alloy Wheels, and fender garnish.

What does the Kia Sorento interior offer?

On the inside, the Kia Sorento is offered with a 6- and 7-seat layout; both layouts come with premium comfort features and connected technology. It comes with two interior colour themes: Smoky Black and Grey, along with Black and Olive Brown, which is reserved for the top HTX trim.

The Sorento comes with a feature-rich cabin. Its cabin equipment includes a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 64-colour ambient mood lighting, a Bose 12-speaker premium sound system, dual-zone automatic climate control, a front wireless smartphone charger, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with Kia Connect 2.0 with more than 85 connected-car functions, Remote Vehicle Immobilisation, Digital Key 2.0, and a double D-cut dual-tone leatherette-wrapped steering wheel.

The SUV also gets USB Type-C charging ports across all three rows, a 220V power outlet, rear door sunshade curtains, a Smart Power Tailgate with anti-pinch function, an electronic parking brake with Auto Hold, a smart key with remote start-stop and a tyre-pressure monitoring system. For parking and manoeuvring, the SUV also has a 360-degree camera, Blind View Monitor, 12 parking sensors and five radars.

What is Kia AI Assistant in the Sorento?

Kia AI Assistant is a voice-enabled in-car conversational assistant, making its global debut in the India-spec Kia Sorento. The Kia AI Assistant sits alongside other connected features, such as Kia Connect 2.0.

The AI Assistant responds to the “Hey Kia” wake word. It uses real-time generative AI and live-search data to answer questions and provide vehicle-related information through the owner’s manual, and also control select functions, including the air-conditioning and windows.

What safety equipment does the Kia Sorento receive?

Kia Sorento gets a robust standard safety package and a Level 2+ ADAS suite, which offers 30 driver assistance features. The SUV comes with seven airbags as standard, while the top variants add rear side airbags and a centre side airbag.

Other standard safety features include:

In how many variants does Kia offer the Sorento?

Kia offers the Sorento in nine variants, spread across diesel and strong-hybrid powertrains, with six- and seven-seat configurations. The variants include: HTE, HTE(O), HTK, HTK(A), HTK(A) Black Line, HTX AWD, HTX Black Line AWD, HTX(A) AWD and HTX(A) Black Line AWD.

However, if each engine and seating combination is taken into account, the list of individual combinations amounts to a total of 32 configurations.

What is the Kia Sorento’s price in India?

The Kia Sorento’s prices range from ₹27.99 lakh to ₹40.39 lakh, ex-showroom. The diesel options start from ₹27.99 lakh for the seven-seat HTE variant, while the strong-hybrid range starts at ₹29.49 lakh for the seven-seat HTE.

The range-topping Sorento is the Hybrid HTX(A) Black Line AWD six-seater, priced at ₹40.39 lakh, ex-showroom.