Kia’s enhanced Sorento cements its place as part of the modern Kia range. The popular family SUV has been a multiple OzRoamer COTY Award Nominee and winner in previous years.
- Refreshed exterior and interior design
- Upgraded comfort and convenience technology
- Now with Kia Connect and Over The Air updates
- Additional safety features
Readers can find more Sorento articles HERE
Model Year 2024 Sorento
The upgraded Model Year 2024 Sorento Product Enhancement (PE) is arriving in Kia dealer showrooms in January. The new Sorento brings advances to the exterior and interior design, comfort and convenience technology, and provides additional safety features.
The range will remain consistent with the outgoing model continuing with the existing four powertrains. The 3.5L FWD petrol and 2.2L AWD diesel variants will be available across all four trim offerings (S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line). The Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) variants available in the top GT-Line specification only.
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Kia Sorento Drive impressions from launch
On the launch we drove a variety of models and engines. From the petrol engine FWD Sport through to the diesel powered AWD GT-Line.
The Sorento has been for many years a showcase for localised suspension tuning. The collaboration Kia has with tuning guru Graeme Gambold has proved to be a master stroke.
The latest tune somehow manages to improve on what was already an excellent setting.
This comes from the ZF Suspension which allows selective damping depending on road surface.
The shock absorbers have specialised valves introduced which results in differentiated ride comfort from body control.
Combine this retune with revised steering mapping and you have one of the most responsive larger AWD SUVs on the market.
We drove the Sorento over a variety of surfaces, motorway, back roads, gravel and mild forest trails. I would say the ride is slightly firmer than the model it replaces, not a bad thing.
The suspension tune is the same for both petrol and diesel engine versions.
Now often Motoring Journalists like to use some high modality words to convey the impression we know what we are talking about.
I’m going to use some of them now to describe just how good the Sorento is.
At all times, over all surfaces the Sorento remained composed. Mid corner bumps, rutted potholes and gravel ditches did nothing to deviate from that composure.
The rack mounted power driven steering has better self centering and provides the right level of resistance and feel.
The balance between suspension reaction and driver inputs to steering and power allowed for some engaging driving.
Remember this is a seven seat family SUV from a Korean manufacturer. Yet it feels more like a sports SUV from Europe in its ride and handling. That is a good thing.
Other quick thoughts from the launch
- Kia have made a great SUV even better
- The improvements to infotainment connectivity and technology raises the Kia to another level
- The world is becoming App mad and Kia is joining the evolution. Over the air (OTA) updates, remote start functionality, fleet driver records etc. are the benefits that come with that.
- The large 12.3 inch curved (model specific) central screen is awesome. Apparently you can move the icons around, but I didn’t have time to play with that on the initial drive.
- Finally wireless Apple CarPlay is across all models – woohoo
- The Sorento now comes with a larger 10 inch HUD with more functionality, but like most it still polarizes out with sunglasses.
- Subtle things like the new soft touch for A.C controls add to the ambience, as do more choices for mood lighting.
- Kia have again apparently made it easier to remove those incredibly annoying safety bings and bongs by using a favourite button. But you still need to push it every time you start,
- I know that the regulations are moving to cater for the dumbest of the dumb when driving and Kia is not alone in this aspect, but they are seriously annoying.
- While we are on that topic, and again Kia are not alone, the inability to switch off the radar adaptive function on cruise control is disappointing. Its been that way for a while now and a particular beef of mine with modern cars.
- A complete move to a dial transmission shift allows a more minimalist design.
- I really like the revised frontal treatment to be more like the stunning EV9
Some quick general details about the Sorento model and sales.
- Kia expects to sell close to 9,000 Sorento in 2024.
- The order book is strong and currently the wait times are around 3-4 months, depending on the variant
- Sales are about 80% diesel. Personally I would choose the diesel engine versions every time.
- The GT-Line accounts for about 30% of sales, the ‘S’ model about 20%. So sales are fairly evenly spread across the variants.
Release schedule
Petrol and Diesel variants will be launched in this initial Sorento PE upgrade release. HEV and PHEV variants will be arriving during the first half of 2024, with specification details and pricing announced in due course.
“The award-winning fourth generation Sorento took the large SUV segment by storm when it was launched in late 2020 and with the arrival of the enhanced model, what was already really good, is now even better,” said Kia Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Damien Meredith.
“The upgrades and improvements offer significant benefits and we believe the Sorento will exceed the expectations of anyone shopping in the seven-seat SUV market.”
Refreshed design
The new Sorento features multiple refreshed design elements creating a unique appearance. Taking design cues from the recently launched EV9 it stands proud with a new head light graphic and a cleaner radiator grille and front bumper, stylishly cementing its place as part of the modern Kia range.
The rear design has been subtly tweaked offering a more modern appearance with design improvements made to the rear bumper enhancing the overall ruggedness and rear lamps complimenting the new signature front lighting design.
The new simplistic 4” Multi-Function LCD digital display on S, Sport & Sport+ trims has been designed to replace analogue gauges to maintain a high-tech image across the range.
The dual 12.3” panoramic integrated display takes centre stage on the dashboard of the GT-Line trim and creates a luxurious ambience. The dual 12.3” Digital Cluster and Infotainment Touch Screen displays provide a pleasant driving experience through high-definition images.
The new Sorento GT-Line trim offers a Digital Centre Mirror (DCM), also present in the recently launched EV9 GT-Line. This lets users switch the interior mirror from a standard ECM to camera display for maximum rear visibility and safety.
Kia Connectivity
Packed with functionality, Kia Connect is a 7-year complimentary connected car service that enhances safety/convenience and allows for a better customer experience. Kia Connect provides customer benefits in safety, security, convenience, connectivity, and LIVE services. Achieved by using telematics systems to transfer real time data, such as weather and traffic information, etc.
Once again, following in the footsteps of the Kia EV9, OTA will also be available across the range for the new Sorento. Enabling the system to undergo constant “wireless” improvements. With the latest maps, interfaces and software enhancements, and all without customers having to visit a service centre.
Interior improvements
Shift By Wire (SBW) will now be extended to the entire range, allowing for a cleaner interior finish and increased sense of interior space.
All models now have wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity- finally
Sport+ and GT-Line trims feature a Bose® premium sound system. Combining 12 optimally tuned, high performance speakers and subwoofer based on the unique sound technology of Bose. Each speaker carefully and precisely engineered for optimum performance, ensuring a rich and immersive audio experience.
Safety Upgrades
Safety upgrades brings the introduction of Highway Driving Assist (HDA). The next-generation Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) functions only when driving on a freeway or motorway, included in Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line variants. HDA fundamentally builds on adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. Combining with Lane Following Assist (LFA) to keep the car centred in the lane even when driving through a curve.
The new Sorento GT-Line also receives Parking Distance Warning (Front, Side, Rear) adding on side detection zones. These provide a more comprehensive warning system that will warn the driver when a collision is likely during parking.
Two new premium paint choices, Volcanic Sand Brown and Cityscape Green, have been added to the colour pallet bringing the exterior colour choices to a total of nine. They join the carried over Clear White (standard), Snow White Pearl, Mineral Blue, Steel Grey, Gravity Blue, Silky Grey & Aurora Black Pearl (premium).
The new Sorento variants will carry over the 5-star ANCAP rating from the outgoing model tested in 2020.
Kia Sorento Model Walk for MY24 Updates
Entry Level Kia Sorento ‘S’
Kia Sorento Sport
Popular Kia Sorento Sport+
Top model Kia Sorento GT-Line
Sorento Pricing
| Powertrain | Trim | RRP |
| 2.2L CRDI All Wheel Drive (AWD) | S | $53,680 |
| Sport | $56,300 | |
| Sport+ | $61,230 | |
| GT-Line | $68,590 | |
| 3.5L MPI Front Wheel Drive | S | $50,680 |
| Sport | $53,300 | |
| Sport+ | $58,230 | |
| GT-Line | $65,590 |
