The Kia Sorento seven-seat family SUV has begun preparing for its mid-life facelift – as long waiting times for the current model remain.
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the facelifted 2024 Kia Sorento large family SUV has hit the road in South Korea, ahead of its global launch next year.
While the current Kia Sorento has only been in Australian showrooms since late 2020, Kia usually updates its vehicles after three years – an indication the mid-life update for the Sorento will arrive some time in 2023.
Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed, but if previous model-cycle timing is followed, the updated Sorento may be in Australian showrooms by late next year.
Photos published by ShortsCar (via The Korean Car Blog) suggest the facelifted Kia Sorento will draw inspiration from the car maker’s upcoming full-size EV9 electric SUV, with new vertically-stacked LED headlights akin to concept and production versions of the electric vehicle.
Other design changes are hard to discern below the thick camouflage cladding fitted to this South Korean test car, though its alloy wheel design appears to be new.
Few details have emerged on what other changes will be made for the facelifted Kia Sorento, though The Korean Car Blog speculates on mild engine tweaks and updated interior technology.
Within Kia and sister brand Hyundai’s model ranges, new technology fitted to other models – but not yet fitted to the current Sorento – includes a larger 12.3-inch center touchscreen, as seen in the updated Hyundai Palisade (up from 10.25 inches in the current Sorento ).
The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric car is offered with a newer version of the Sorento’s Remote Smart Parking Assist system, which not only allows drivers use the key fob to move the car forwards or backwards when standing beside it – as in the current Sorento – but to remotely enter and exit parallel, perpendicular and diagonal parking spaces.
The Kia EV9 electric SUV is also set to debut upgraded ‘Level 3’ semi-autonomous driving technology upon its launch early next year – but it’s unclear if this will be offered on the petrol and diesel-powered Sorento.
Whether changes will be made under the bonnet remains to be seen. The current Sorento range in Australia is available with a choice of a 3.5-litre petrol V6, 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel, and hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains based around a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine.
the 2024 Kia Sorento is expected to be unveiled in full in the first half of next year – ahead of Australian arrivals as soon as late next year, as a 2024 model.
However, Kia may diverge from its typical launch schedule – with a facelift after three years – given the current combination of overwhelming demand and restricted supply for today’s Sorento, which have seen wait times push beyond 12 months in Australia for top-of-the- range models.
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