Completely new platform for upgraded 2013 Kia Sorento

Kia’s designers have created new headlamps with LED positioning lights, a new tailgate with LED rear combination lamps; new bumpers (front and rear) with vertical-axis fog lights and a larger area of body-color surface.

A new style two-part glass panoramic roof allows the driver and passengers enjoy the fresh outdoor breeze while creating an even more spacious interior ambience. The rear section is fixed, while the front section is a tilt-and-slide unit and a single powered roller blind allows the level of shade in the cabin to be finely adjusted.

Inside the seven-seater cabin, there are more soft-touch surfaces plus a new instrument cluster, new center stack with 7-inch TFT LCD display screen, and a new console featuring a straight-gate selector with a leather-booted lever, reinforcing the vehicle’s more luxurious character. Other features include driver memory seat, powered, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second row seat cushions, a Bluetooth handsfree system with voice activation, UV-reflecting solar glass, and airconditioning for third row seats.

The revised 2.4-liter Theta II GDI engine is fitted with a new cylinder head and pistons, plus new fuel injection and intake systems. This all-aluminum DOHC four-cylinder 2,359 cc powerunit generates 9% more power (192 ps) and 6.6% more torque (242 Nm), while delivering better fuel economy and lower emissions at 200g/km. rnrnPowered by the Theta II GDI engine, the upgraded Sorento with a 6-speed automatic gearbox accelerates to 100 kph in 10.2 seconds and attains a top speed of 190 kph.

The 4WD drivetrain is an ‘on demand’ system that delivers 100% of engine torque to the front wheels during all routine city and highway driving. Whenever a front wheel loses grip, a percentage of torque (up to 50%) is automatically transferred to the rear wheels. In severely slippery conditions the driver can select ‘Lock Mode” which delivers 50% of torque to both the front and rear axles.

The supervision cluster now houses a 7-inch full color TFT LCD information panel. Throughout the cabin, a satin chrome finish is applied to the door handles, air-vent surrounds and center stack switches.

A six-way electric power driver’s seat and four-way passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second row seat cushions, Bluetooth® hands-free system with voice activation, the new style panoramic glass sunroof and a rear-view safety camera are standard for the Sorento. Air-conditioning for the third row seats is also available.

Active safety technologies in the new 2013 Sorento include SPAS (Smart Parking Assist System) with ultrasonic sensors to control automatic parallel parking, AFLS (Adaptive Front Light System) where the headlamps move to point in the same direction as the steering handle movement to improve driver visibility, Cornering Fog Lamps (for better side visibility), ESC (electronic stability control), a reverse safety camera mounted on the tailgate with a 130 degree wide-angle lens, HID (high intensity discharge) Xenon headlamps and HAC (hillstart assist control), which prevents slip-back during stop-start driving on inclines.

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