PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Sorento moons Paris
Safer, quieter third-generation Kia Sorento bares all in time for Paris motor show debutKia's third-generation Sorento will be unveiled on Thursday at the Paris motor show. But in what's becoming the norm rather than the exception, full details of the new crossover have been released ahead of the official debut.
Featuring an all-new body-shell that uses laser-welding for the first time in a Kia, and promises improvements to ride, handling and crash safety, the new seven-seater will arrive Down Under in February or March 2015.
A choice of 3.3-litre V6 petrol and 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engines are in the offing for Australian customers, the latter pumping out 147kW/441Nm in European spec. Although details aren't final for the new-to-Australia 3.3-litre V6, it is expected to be more efficient than the current 3.5 V6 (9.8L/100km).
Both front and all-wheel drive models will be offered Down Under and the gearbox options of six-speed auto and manual will continue. Kia Australia says the model range will remain constant too, which means the return of S, Si and Platinum grades.
The importer said it was too early to talk about pricing, but it's not expected to change dramatically from its current position of between roughly $39,000 and $51,000.
Kia claims improvements to refinement and a "step-change in interior quality and design" with its new large SUV. Safety is now boosted by the inclusion, for the first time, of airbags for the third row of seating.
"It's a slightly larger car, particularly the interior with improvements in packaging, and the NVH levels are considerably better," said Kia Australia's General Manager, Media and Corporate Communications, Kevin Hepworth.
"It'll be quieter and more relaxed," he explained, with a "sedan-like" interior, while still being a genuine seven-seater.
The new Sorento is larger than the car it replaces. The wheelbase has been stretched 80mm to 2780mm and overall length is up 95mm to 4780mm. It is 15mm lower and 5mm wider than its predecessor.
By way of comparison, the new Sorento is around 100mm shorter than the current Ford Territory and rides on a 60mm shorter wheelbase. At 1685mm it's around 30mm lower and within a few millimetres of the Ford on width.
Kia has much to say about the new Sorento's styling in its PR blurb. It states that the inspiration for the new car was 'Streetwolf' but insists the styling changes are "evolutionary".
The new model "retains the Sorento's hallmark long bonnet and characteristic wide D-pillar, but a lower roofline, higher beltline and swept-back shape give the car a more dramatic, muscular stance", the release states.
Interior styling was led by Kia's Frankfurt studio. Promised are a "higher proportion of soft-touch materials and leather". The HMI (human-machine interface) is updated and Kia claims instrumentation is "Swiss watch-inspired".
Although the roofline is dropped, re-profiled seating increases headroom in all three rows. Legroom is also boosted. The cargo bay is 87mm longer and the capacity with the third row seats folded flat is increased by 17.5 per cent from 515 to 605 litres (VDA). A 40/20/40 split-fold, sliding second row improves versatility, says Kia. In addition these seats can be spilled remotely using levers in the side of the cargo bay.
A new Nissan-style Around-View Monitor will debut at Paris, designed to make parking easier. However, the feature is not coming Down Under at this stage. The Smart Power Tailgate which opens the tailgate automatically when the key is 'sensed' in close proximity will be offered here.
Electric power assisted steering is fitted to the new Sorento, and in part facilitates an increase in active safety technologies. Available systems include: ASCC (Adaptive Smart Cruise Control); LDWS (Lane Departure Warning System); BSD (Blind-Spot Detection); RCTA (Rear Cross-Traffic Alert) and SLIF (Speed Limit Information Function).
Hepworth told motoring.com.au that demand for the all-new Sorento is predicted to be strong when it lobs here in early 2015, boosted by its Aussie-tuned dynamics and improvements to safety and interior space.
"I think there'll be a high early adoption of this car," Hepworth said. "It's a significant vehicle, all-new, benefitting from ride and handling changes specifically for Australia. The steering setup changes too, so it's smoother, with better feedback."
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