Kia lifts lid on all-new Sorento

Kia has released the first official images of its comprehensively upgraded Sorento, which appears to be a midlife makeover for the mid-size Korean SUV launched here in September 2009, but is actually a subtly updated body riding on the same new monocoque platform that underpins its sister model from Hyundai, the Santa Fe.

Due on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year – with an unspecified number of ride and handling changes as part of Kia Australia’s ongoing localisation program - the 2013 Sorento brings a new-look exterior with a fresh grille, headlights, vertical-axis foglights and LED positioning lights, plus a new tailgate, LED rear combination lamps and revised bumpers at both ends.

While the switch to the Hyundai-Kia group's latest medium SUV platform - which will also underpin the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe due here late this year - is said to bring big advances in ride, handling and refinement, also taking the Sorento further upmarket are fewer matt-black exterior components and a wider range of alloy wheel choices, including huge new 19-inch items.

Available in both five and seven-seat interior configurations, the fresh Sorento cabin gains more soft-touch surfaces, a new LCD instrument cluster, new centre stack with eight-inch display screen and a new console featuring a straight-gate selector with a leather-booted gear lever on automatic transmission models.

Kia says the Sorento’s more luxurious interior will be available with black or beige cloth or leather trim, while a larger optional panoramic sunroof with no centre cross beam and a powered blind will also be offered.

Further details will not be revealed until closer to launch, but the all-new chassis and re-engineered bodyshell will be joined by additional convenience and safety features, plus upgraded powertrains that Kia says will deliver best-in-class fuel economy.

“Since its introduction in 2009, the second-generation Kia Sorento has achieved more than 620,000 sales around the world,” said Thomas Oh, the Executive Vice-President and COO of Kia Motors’ International Business Division.

“Today, it is manufactured in Korea and the USA, attracting over 130,000 US customers last year to rank as the best-selling Kia model in the States for the second year in a row.

“We have given very careful attention to owners’ feedback, and the upgraded Sorento is not just a cosmetic exercise but a major step forward for our popular SUV.”

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...