It doesn’t seem that long ago, but the fourth generation of the Kia Sorento was introduced in early 2020, which already makes it 2.5 years old. A camouflaged prototype of the SUV was spied testing in Europe, hinting at the facelifted model that could arrive in late 2023 or early 2024, just in time for a mid-lifecycle update.
The camouflage is hiding most of the bodywork but the proportions and the greenhouse make it clear that a Kia Sorento hides underneath. The Korean automaker is known for discreet facelifts, but it seems that this strategy is going to change in the future, with more significant visual updates.
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In the Sorento, changes will be focused on the front end, with a new grille and revised lighting units. The LED headlights appear to be vertically mounted, looking somewhat similar to the upcoming fully electric Kia EV9. The front bumper is also redesigned but to a lesser extent since the intakes appear to retain their original position.
The profile is covered but it will likely be carried over from the current model, with the exception of new wheel designs and additional shades. The rear end is also heavily camouflaged with big chunks of plastic underneath the camouflage. Thankfully, we can see the dual LED taillights which appear to be unchanged. Our spy photographers suggest that Kia could connect them with an LED bar, falling for the full-width taillight trend.
Inside, Kia will likely bless the Sorento with its latest infotainment tech, upgrading the already fully-digital cockpit. The automaker has announced a new generation of connected car features such as over-the-air updates and feature-on-demand services, that will be available in its entire range by 2025, most likely including the facelifted Sorento. We also expect the SUV to inherit the new ADAS suite which the Kia EV9 will soon introduce.
Depending on the market, the Kia Sorento is available with petrol, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Most of the engine options will be carried over to the facelifted model, probably with a greater focus on electrification as we move closer to the fully electric era of the brand. We will learn more about the updated Kia Sorento as we move closer to its launch date which should not be expected before the end of next year.
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