New Delhi: South Korean automaker Kia has officially launched its much-awaited premium SUV Kia Sorento in the Indian automobile market. The company has kept its starting price at Rs 27.99 lakh (ex-showroom). This SUV is being assembled locally at Kia's Anantapur manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh. This new SUV will be available to customers in six and seven seating layout options. Talking about design, Sorento comes with the brand's signature 'Tiger-Nose' grille, which has chrome surround and honeycomb detailing. At the front, it gets vertical LED headlights with Y-shaped daytime running lights, silver-finish skid-plate and 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels that give it a striking presence on the road.
Powerful choice of hybrid and diesel engines
The Sorento offers a choice of two powerful engines. The first is a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol strong-hybrid system, whose petrol engine generates 180bhp of power and 265Nm of torque, while its electric motor provides an additional 65bhp of power.
This engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The second option is the 2.2-litre diesel engine, which produces 193bhp of power and 442Nm of torque and comes with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
New experience of high-tech cabin and customization
The premium feel of the Sorento is clearly visible as soon as you step inside the cabin. The SUV has the option of two attractive themes namely grey-and-black and beige-and-black. Two large 12.3-inch screens are provided on the dashboard, one of which serves as a digital infotainment system and the other as a digital instrument cluster. The company has also introduced nine different display themes based on Marvel, Disney and Pixar characters, so that users can change the interface as per their choice.
Keeping in mind the comfort of the passengers, modern features like 10-way power adjustable ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, 12-speaker Boss audio system, head-up display and wireless smartphone charging have been included. Apart from this, real-time generative AI technology has also been provided in this model for the first time.
Technology meeting safety standards
From the safety point of view, Kia Sorento has been equipped with very strong and modern technologies. Keeping in mind the diverse conditions of Indian roads, it comes with Normal, Eco, Sport and Smart driving modes as well as terrain-specific settings like Snow, Sand and Mud for all-wheel drive variants. For passenger safety, the SUV has been provided with features like 10 airbags, Level 2+ ADAS, digital inside rear-view mirror, front and rear dashcam and automated parking assistance, which make it a completely safe family car.