The video showing the Kia Sorento’s base HTE variant has been shared on YouTube by Amit Rao on their channel. It starts off with the vlogger mentioning that this particular variant is the entry-level variant priced at Rs 27.99 lakh. Following this, he then starts showing the exterior design of this SUV. At the front, the base HTE variant comes equipped with a set of LED headlights and L-shaped LED DRLs.
However, unlike the higher variants, it does not get ice cube pods. Instead, it comes with reflector-based LED headlights. It also misses out on fog lights and the front camera. It does, however, get four front parking sensors (higher variants get 6 sensors). Next up, the vlogger adds that it comes with a gun metal grey-finished grille and a silver skid plate on the bottom.
Following this, he shows the engine bay of this SUV. He mentions that the base HTE variant gets both engine options. This particular Sorento is equipped with the 2.2-litre diesel engine, which makes 190 bhp and 442 Nm. A 8 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox comes standard, and drives the front wheels on the base trim. Higher trims gets all wheel drive.
Meanwhile, the other 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine that gets a hybrid system makes 180 bhp and 265 Nm of torque. The hybrid engine gets a 6 speed dedicated hybrid automatic transmission. While the hybrid base trim is front wheel driven, higher trims get the all wheel drive option.
Next up, he then shows the side profile of this SUV. It gets a set of 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, which on the higher variants are 19-inch. After which, he adds that even in the base trim, it gets request sensors on front door handles with brushed silver garnish, brushed silver garnish on window surrounds, and bridge-type roof rails that have a load capacity of 100 kgs.
At the rear end, it is very simple and features LED taillights with halogen elements and halogen reverse lights placed lower on the rear bumper. Additionally, the SUV also gets a hidden rear wiper and washer setup, shark fin antenna, four parking sensors and a reverse camera. The higher variants also get a 360-degree camera as well.
As for the interior, the overall layout and materials used in the Sorento base HTE are the same as the higher variants. It also comes fairly equipped with features. These include dual 12.3-inch screens (digital instrument gauge cluster and touchscreen infotainment system), dual-zone automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof, drive modes, powered driver seat and steering-mounted controls. It also gets soft-touch materials on doors and dashboard.
The few features it misses out on include front and rear seat ventilation, driver seat massage function, ADAS Level 2+ and a few others. However, overall, even in this variant, there are a lot of features which make the Sorento a very good option in the premium 7-seater SUV segment.
Now, what makes the availability of the base HTE variant immediately after the launch is very interesting. This is quite unusual in the Indian car market. We are saying this because generally, automakers use the base variant to advertise a lower starting price and get customers into showrooms. However, the deliveries of these variants start much later. The idea is to make buyers stretch their budget and opt for the higher variants.
However, Kia has taken a different approach with the Sorento. By making the base HTE variant available right from the beginning, the company is giving buyers the option to actually buy the SUV at its advertised starting price. This is also a very welcome move for buyers who do not want to spend a lot extra just to get the features that they consider important.
The other interesting aspect of the Sorento’s pricing is the massive difference between its base and top variants. The Sorento range starts at Rs 27.99 lakh and goes up to around Rs 40.39 lakh (ex-showroom). This means there is a price difference of roughly Rs 12 lakh between the entry-level and top-end variants.
Now, such a wide price gap is not very common in the premium SUV segment. Generally, in this segment, manufacturers keep the variants more closely bunched together. And this is where Kia’s strategy becomes interesting. Instead of forcing customers to choose a higher variant by heavily restricting the base trim, the company has reasonably well-equipped the HTE variant. And it has kept the higher variants more expensive. This gives buyers a much wider choice depending on their budget and the features they actually want.
As noted from the video above, with the Rs 27.99 lakh price tag, the Sorento HTE is not an affordable SUV. However, at this price point, the SUV is still offering a lot of equipment and, more importantly, the size and positioning of a Kia Sorento.
It comes loaded with a ton of premium features and, even though it misses out on some of the features offered on the higher variants, the base HTE variant does not feel like a stripped-down version of the SUV. This makes the Sorento HTE interesting for buyers who care more about the engine, space, road presence and basic equipment rather than features such as ventilated seats, massage function or advanced ADAS.
The base HTE variant could also bring an interesting upgrade opportunity for existing Kia customers. Buyers who currently own models such as the Sonet or Seltos and are looking to move to a much larger SUV now have the option of stepping into the Sorento without necessarily spending Rs 40 lakh or more.
At the same time, buyers who are already shopping in the Rs 35 to Rs 42 lakh price bracket can simply move up to the higher Sorento variants if they want more features and premium equipment. This means Kia is catering to two different types of buyers with the same SUV. Basically, the company has kept a relatively accessible entry point. But it is still offering more expensive variants for customers who want a fully loaded SUV.