The 2021 Kia Sorento was only just unveiled and already South Korean YouTuber Asian Petrolhead has had the opportunity to take a close look at the SUV and take it for a drive.
Kia’s designers had their work cut out for them making a Sorento that is actually appealing to the eye and at least to us, they’ve done a good job. The front end is dominated by the company’s tiger nose grille and includes sharp and aggressive headlights. At the rear, the Sorento is similarly eye-catching with upright taillights and bold body lines and creases.
The upgrades continue throughout the interior and fittingly, this review spends quite a lot of time focusing on the cabin. Things start in the third-row where passengers have access to a pair of climate control vents as well as their own control to adjust the fan speed, a very nice feature. Third-row passengers also have access to a USB port and a 12-volt charger.
Read More: Kia Drops A Boatload Of New Photos And Information On 2021 Sorento
Up front, the new Sorento features a fully digital gauge cluster with appealing graphics and a simple design. One of the most interesting features of this gauge cluster highlighted in this video happens when changing lanes. In addition to the wing mirrors sporting blind-spot monitors, they also have little rear-facing cameras and when you flick on the turn signals, an image pops up on the dash showing you what’s behind (see at the 8:00 mark.)
The engine tested by the reviewer in this clip is the available 2.2-liter four-cylinder ‘Smartstream’ diesel that’s good for 198 HP and 324 lb-ft (440 Nm) of torque. In North America, buyers will have the option of a Smartstream hybrid with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a 44.2 kW electric motor, delivering 227 HP and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm). A 2.5-liter T-GDi with 277 HP and 310 lb-ft (421 Nm) will also be offered.