2013 Kia Sorento Makes US Debut, Australia Set For Third Quarter
UPDATE: Kia has announced availability of a satellite navigation system for the Australian-delivered Optima, Sportage and Sorento. See here for details.
Kia's Sorento SUV, among the first to appear with the Korean company's now-defining hea
UPDATE: Kia has announced availability of a satellite navigation system for the Australian-delivered Optima, Sportage and Sorento. See here for details.
Kia's Sorento SUV, among the first to appear with the Korean company's now-defining headlight and grille design when launched in 2009, has been given its first international update.
In Australia, we'll see an updated Sorento in the third quarter of this year, and unlike the newly-facelifted North American model shown here, ours is expected to be a more extensive upgrade.
For the US market, the 2013 Sorento picks up a meaty new Cerato Koup-inspired front bumper, giving the SUV a taller and more imposing appearance.
Revealed here in mid-range EX trim (Australian mid-spec model is the SLi), the updated US-market Sorento also features a toned-down black-and-chrome grille and a new foglight design.
As with the rest of the carmaker's new models, we can likely expect to see LED daytime-running lights in the top-spec models (Platinum in Australia, LX for North America).
Little has changed in the cabin, although various feature and trim updates for each variant include standard leather upholstery (EX), a new full-colour audio display in the centre stack (replacing the monochrome red of the previous model) and dual-zone climate control.
As before, a large GPS navigation screen is featured in the top-shelf SX variant - a feature that the local Kia line-up continues to go without.
The carmaker's Australian arm has confirmed that a locally-developed navigation system is in the works however, suggesting we may see this in our own updated Sorento later this year.
Engine options in the US market remain unchanged for 2012. The line-up is headlined by Kia's 204kW 3.5 litre petrol V6, followed by the 142kW 2.4 litre GDI and 130kW 2.4 litre MPI petrol four-cylinder engines.
In Australia, the current Sorento's engine line-up is represented by the same 3.5 litre V6, along with Kia's 145kW 2.2 litre R-Series diesel.
Australia
Speaking with TMR today, Kia Australia's Kevin Hepworth confirmed that the 2013 Sorento - different to the lightly revised car shown here - will make its local debut in the third quarter of 2012, with pricing and specifications to be revealed closer to launch.
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