Kia Sorento Hybrid SUVAmidst the increasing demand for premium and hybrid vehicles in the Indian automobile market, South Korean car manufacturer Kia has made full preparations to launch its flagship SUV Kia Sorento Hybrid in India. Although the company has not yet announced the official date of its launch, select dealers in many big cities of the country including Delhi-NCR and Mumbai have started unofficial pre-booking of this 7-seater premium SUV. Car lovers are able to book this upcoming hybrid SUV by paying a token amount of just ₹ 25,000.

Kia Sorento Hybrid SUV: Before launch, unofficial booking starts in many cities including Delhi-NCR, token entry for ₹ 25,000

Preparation to enter the festive season, know what is the complete plan

According to auto experts and media reports, Kia India can completely unveil the first look or teaser of this vehicle by the end of this month, while its official launch is expected to happen around the festive season of October or November 2026. The company is planning to locally assemble this car in India through the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) route, which will help in keeping its price competitive. Its expected ex-showroom price in the market is estimated to be between ₹35 lakh to ₹50 lakh.

How will be the design of the new 2026 Kia Sorento?

The look of the 2026 Kia Sorento is quite muscular, tall and boxy which creates a strong presence on the road. Talking about the front look, it has been provided with horizontally placed Y-shaped LED DRLs, which also work as turn indicators. Along with this, there is a vertically mounted four LED projector headlamp setup for excellent visibility at night. The front end of the SUV includes Kia’s signature black colored ‘tiger nose grille’, large air dams and a completely blacked-out radiator grille, giving it a very aggressive look.

Combination of premium features and powerful hybrid engine

This car is not going to lag behind anyone in terms of luxury and comfort. According to reports, the new Sorento may get a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol-hybrid engine (1598 cc), which will be capable of generating around 233 bhp power and 380 Nm torque. Along with this, it is confirmed to have the following modern features:

• 12.3-inch dual display setup: One of which will act as the digital driver instrument cluster and the other as the infotainment screen.
• Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System): In terms of safety, it will include features like collision avoidance, lane keep assist and cruise control.
• Comfortable cabin: Panoramic sunroof, front ventilated seats, 360-degree camera and powered driver seat.

What do the dealer network and market experts say?

“There is a lot of curiosity among customers about the Sorento Hybrid, especially those who want to upgrade to a bigger and premium hybrid option from Seltos or Carens. Given the overwhelming response from customers, token entries are being taken in some showrooms in Delhi and Gurugram so that they can be given priority once the official bookings begin.”
Senior Automobile Consultant, Delhi-NCR

There will be direct competition with these giants in the market

As soon as it enters the Indian market, Kia Sorento will compete with already established premium and full-size SUVs. It is going to compete directly with popular vehicles like Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster, Skoda Kodiaq and Jeep Meridian. Being a hybrid technology, it can emerge as a strong contender in terms of both mileage and performance.