It’s been a little over a week since our spy photographers caught up to a relatively well-camouflaged 2021 Kia Sorento prototype in the Swiss Alps, undergoing tests alongside a BMW X5 benchmark vehicle.
At first, we struggled to analyze its new design features as best we could, but thankfully this rendering by Kolesa brought everything together with a ribbon on top, with certain elements seemingly spot on. Let’s break it down, shall we?
Brand new front end design
Judging by the contours of the front fascia, the 2021 Sorento will feature slim headlights with a type of mask that unites the lighting units with the grille. Other details worth noting are the side mirrors which lie directly on the door panel, but also the shoulder line, which to be fair is a little less angular in the render than what we saw on real-life prototypes.
As for the rear, get ready for a guessing game because right now, there’s no telling what type of styling it has (prototypes featured a false tailgate section for good measure). The way it’s been imagined here seems pretty conservative though, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Also read: Consumer Reports’ Take On 2019 Kia Sorento Is That It Offers Plenty Bang For Your Buck
Mechanically, the all-new Sorento promises to out-perform its predecessor both on and off the road, and will feature more efficient powertrains, with both hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants a possibility.
In the end, Kia will try to make sure its latest mid-size SUV ends up being as competitive as possible, especially since it will be thrown at rivals such as the Ford Explorer or the Toyota Highlander.