Sorento is a famous KIA model, that was first introduced in 2002. Until 2009, the vehicle fell into the compact SUV segment. Since then, due to the increase in the proportions of the automobile, it entered the mid-size crossover category. So far, Sorento has three generations and three facelifts – one for each gen.
KIA Sorento’s first generation officially appeared in 2002 and included 5 modifications. It was offered with two types of transmissions. The first option is a 5-speed manual. The second – 4 or 5-speed automatic. Under the bonnet, a 3.5 l 24-v DOHC V6 (192 hp), produced by Hyundai, was implemented. The list of aggregates included also a 2.4 I 16V (139 hp), a 3.8 l V6 (263 hp) and a 2.5 DCR (140 hp). A common part of the trims were the optional ABS, almost 80 l fuel tank and the disc brakes (part of the standard equipment). All of the Sorento first-gen cars were off-road vehicles with 5 doors and 5 seats. The position of the engine of each of the four modifications in the generation is front, longitudinal. The dimensions are also identical: 4567 mm (179.8 in.) in length, 1857 mm (73.11 in.) in width, 1730 mm (68.11 in.)in height and the wheelbase is 2710 mm (106.69 in.). There are, however, some significant differences in the technical specifications – based on the trim level. The first modification offers a 2.4 I 16V (139 hp) and a top speed of 168 km/h (104.39 mph), while the acceleration from zero to 100 kmph is in 13.4 seconds. The curb and max.weights are respectively: 1865 kg(4111.62 lbs.) and 2455 kg (5412.35 lbs.). The second one is equipped with 140 hp engine, and has a curb weight of 1985 kg (4376.18 lbs.), while the maximum one is 2610 kg (5754.07 lbs.). The top speed is 170 km/h (105.63 mph) and the acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph is in 14.6 seconds. This modification offers acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 15.5 seconds, while its top speed estimated to 167 km/h. When it comes to weights, the off-road monster has 1985 kg (4376.18 lbs.) curb mass and 2610 kg (5754.07 lbs.)miximal one. The last modification, is capable to jump from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 192 km/h (119.3 mph). It’s curb and max.weight are significantly increased compared with the rest of the cars in the generation - 1930 kg (4254.92 lbs.) and 2560 kg (5643.83 lbs.).
In 2006, Sorento’s first generation received a facelift. It featured 4 modifications, manufactured between 2006 and 2009. The engine line included 2.5 CRDi (170 hp) and 3.3i V6 (238 hp) units, placed front, longitudinal. They are paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. All of the vehicles are off-road with 5 doors and 5 seats. The car's dimensions are identical: length of 4590 mm (180.71 in.), a width of 1865 mm (73.43 in.), the height of 1730 mm (68.11 in.). The main differences between the modifications in the facelift came from the different top speed and acceleration time. Top speed varied between 180 and 192 km/h, while the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h took from 9.8 to 12.4 seconds.
Sorento II came in 2009 and lasted until 2012. The generation line featured 8 modifications. The engines implemented were 2.0 CRDi 4WD (150 hp), 2.2 CRDi 4WD (197 hp), 2.4 16V MPI (174 hp), 2.4 4WD (140 hp) and 2.4 4WD (175 hp) one. The off-road versions in the generation offered 5 doors and 7 seats, while the two SUV variants featured 5 seats and 5 doors. The type of paired gearboxes was a 6-speed manual or automatic ones. The fastest accelerating modification in the generation is capable of a jump from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds, while the slowest one needs 11.6 seconds. In between are the modifications with accelerations from 10.0 to 11.2 seconds. The top speed of the cars vary from 186 to 190 km/h. In terms of the other important tech specifications, like size, some of the dimension’s parameters are identical – that the length of 4685 mm (184.45 in.), the width of 1885 mm (74.21 in.) and the wheelbase of 2700 mm (106.3 in.). But height’s numbers vary – either 1710 mm (67.32 in.) or 1755 kg (69.09 in.). The curb weight of the different modifications have the following numbers: 1590 (3505.35 lbs.), 1675 (3692.74 lbs.), 1757 (3873.52 lbs.), 1760 (3880.14 lbs.), 1780 (3924.23 lbs.) or 1810 (3990.37 lbs.) kg.
Kia released a facelift of the II generation in 2012. It featured 5 modifications (all of them SUVs), with 5 doors and 5 to 7 seats. The engine units used were 2.0D 16V CRDi 4WD, 2.2D 16V CRDi 4WD (plus an automatic variant) and 2.4i 16V GDi 4WD (plus an automatic version). The generated maximum output of the power units were 150 hp, 192 hp, and 197 hp. The aggregates are coupled with either an automatic or manual 6-speed transmission. Each modification had different time for acceleration from 0 to 100kmph : 9.7, 9.9, 10.3, 10.7 or 11.1 seconds. The vehicles in the facelift had either 186 or 190 km/h listed as a top speed. The curb weightis different for each modification. Starting with the lightest of the cars with 1675 kg (3692.74 lbs.) and ending up with the heaviest one – 1815 kg (4001.39 lbs.). The other three versions have curb weight of respectively 1693 (3732.43 lbs.), 1786 (3937.46 lbs.) and 1787 kg (3939.66 lbs.) as curb mass. The max. mass is 2510 kg (5533.6 lbs.). In terms of dimensions, they are all identical for all modifications: length is 4685 mm (184.45 in.), width is 1885 mm (74.21 in.), height is 1745 mm (68.7 in.) and the wheelbase is 2700 mm (106.3 in.). The facelift was axed in 2014.
The last, third generation of Sorento, was released in 2014 and was active until 2018. It featured 5 modifications of the SUV with 5 doors, and 5 to 7 seats (including the driver). Under the bonnet, Sorento had either 188 or 200 hp, generated from a 2.2 CRDi or a 2.4 GDi engines. The aggregates were paired with a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox. All modifications shared the same dimensions. Length, width, height, and wheelbase are respectively: 4780 mm (188.19 in.), 1890 mm (74.41 in.), 1690 mm (66.54 in.) and 2780 mm (109.45 in.). The maximum weight of the vehicle also remained unchanged – 2510 kg (5533.6 lbs.). The curb mass, however, differs according to the trim level. The lightest car has a curb weight of 1735 kg (3825.02 lbs.), while the heaviest is1763/1907 kg (3886.75 lbs.). The fastest accelerating Sorento III modification can jump from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 sec. The Sorento 2.2 CRDi (200 Hp) AWD can reach up to 203 km/h (126.14 mph) top speed.
Currently, Kia Sorento is in its third-gen, facelift active production phase, which started in 2018. So far, there are 12 modifications, offered with five engine units – 2.0 (185 hp), 2.0 T-GDI (240 hp), 2.2 CRDi (200 hp), 2.4 GDI (188 hp), 3.3 GDI (290 hp) and 3.5 V6 (249 hp). All vehicles are part of SUV-segment and have 5 doors. The number of seats in the cabin may vary – from 5 to 7. The aggregates are mated with either a 6-speed manual/automatic or an 8-speed automatic transmission. The drive system is either an AWD (4x4) or an FWD. The vehicles included in Sorento's III facelift share almost identical dimensions: length of 4800/4801 mm (188.98 in./ 189.02 in.), width of 1890 mm (74.41 in.), height of 1684/ 1685-1690 mm (66.3 in./66.34 - 66.54 in.) and a wheelbase of 2779/2780 mm (109.41 in./109.45 in.). The facelift models offer top speed varying from 196 km/h (121.79 mph) to 210 km/h (130.49 mph) depending on the modification. The fastest acceleration from 0 to 100 km/g takes 7.8 seconds, while the slowest – 10.5 seconds. Vehicles’ curb and maximum weight vary in dependence to the construction and trim level chosen.
Sorento’s predecessor was Kia Borrego (North America).
