Photos and initial South Korean specifications of the mid-life updated Kia Sorento large SUV have leaked online ahead of its Australian launch in fourth quarter of 2023.
As published by Autospy, the updated Sorento picks up an EV9-like exterior refresh. Exterior highlights include vertically oriented LED headlights, machine-finished alloy wheels, and tweaked LED tail lights among other minor changes.
Inside the updated Sorento ditches the current model’s separated gauge cluster and infotainment system setup and instead picks up a wraparound array that houses both. It looks very similar to what’s offered in the EV9.
The updated Sorento also receives a capacitive touch bar, like the EV6 and Sportage, that can be used for both media and HVAC controls.
The rest of the interior appears to be unchanged from the pre-update model, though Kia Australia has said the updated Sorento will support wireless smartphone mirroring and over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
It will also pick up Kia Connect net-based telematic system that brings online functions and remote service to the infotainment system and is also accessible via a smartphone app.
The leaked imagery shows the updated South Korean-specification Sorento will continue to be offered with a black and brown two-tone interior. It’s unclear if this will be offered in Australia.
In South Korea the updated Kia Sorento will be available with three different powertrains: a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, and a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol-electric hybrid.
All these engines on the South Korean-spec Sorento carry over from the pre-update model.
The current Australian-specification Sorento is available with a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol (200kW/332Nm), 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (148kW/440Nm), 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol-electric hybrid (169kW/350Nm), and a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (195kW/350Nm).
Orders for the heavily supply-constrained Sorento Hybrid and PHEV are currently closed, though Kia Australia recently hinted they could reopen when the facelifted model arrives locally.
“As soon as the order bank is back under control, which could potentially be with the PE [product enhancement, or mid-life update], then we’ll reevaluate it then,” said Kia Australia chief operating officer Dennis Piccoli in June.
In South Korea the updated Sorento will be offered in five-seat configuration, with six- and seven-seat configurations available as an option. The current Australian-specification Sorento is exclusively offered with seven seats.
As noted above, the updated Sorento is set to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2023, along with the EV9 three-row electric SUV and the updated Picanto light hatchback.
MORE: Everything Kia Sorento
