Some cars leave a mark because of the glamour associated with them and because of how capable they are. On the other hand, there are some cars no one ever ‘dreams’ of owning, but they are a vital part of some motorists’ life and they perform their duties without a fuss. The Kia Sorento belongs is an SUV that undoubtedly slots into the latter category.
First launched in 1992, the SUV didn’t attract a lot of attention. However, over the years, it has come to be known as a sensible choice in the SUV segment across several markets. Well over 2 million units of the Sorento have been sold and in its current generation, it is a modern feature-packed SUV.
It was named after the Sorrento region in Italy. In this edition of the DubiCars Car Spotlight, we take a look at the Kia Sorento, its history, and its generations over the years.
Kia Sorento History — Models Over The Years
First Generation | 2002 – 2010
The first generation Kia Sorento was originally developed to compete in the highly competitive mid-size SUV segment in the US. It first went into production back in 1992 as an SUV that shared its underpinnings with the Hyundai Terracan. It featured body-on-frame construction and a proper 4WD drivetrain with low range.
The tough construction, combined with a feature-packed interior and reliable and powerful yet efficient engine options led to the Kia Sorento being a huge success. At launch, it was powered by a 2.4-litre inline-4 petrol or a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. An update in 2007 saw the arrival of the 3.3-litre V6 and the 3.8-litre V6. In some markets, the SUV was also available with a 2.5-litre inline-4 diesel engine.
Second Generation | 2009 – 2021
The second-generation Kia Sorento was first launched in 2009. It was a completely new SUV and Kia entered a completely new segment with it. The body-on-frame construction of the first-gen Kia Sorento was gone. Instead, the Sorento had turned into a crossover SUV featuring monocoque construction.
The second-generation Sorento was also the first Kia model to be manufactured in the US. It was available with 2.4-litre inline-4, 3.3-litre V6, and 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine options. Those picking the diesel variants could only choose between a 2.0-litre and a 2.2-litre inline-4. For the first time, a CNG-powered 2.7-litre V6 was also on offer.
Third Generation | 2014 – 2020
In August 2014, the third-generation Kia Sorento was revealed. It shared its underpinnings with the third-gen Kia Carnival and it was longer than the first and second generations. Buyers found the new design to be attractive and the Kia Sorento started selling in large numbers across different markets. The SUV was available in 5-seater and 7-seater configurations.
It was assembled in several countries — South Korea, the United States, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Algeria & Egypt. In fact, it is still produced in Pakistan despite this generation being discontinued in 2020 across the globe. In terms of engine options, it was available with three inline-4 petrol engines, three V6 petrol engines, and two inline-4 diesel engines. The CNG engine in the previous generation was discontinued.
Fourth Generation | 2020 – Present
The current-gen Kia Sorento was first revealed in February 2020 when Kia released a few images of the car. It was quite clear that the fourth-gen looked attractive and it did get a lot of attention. Its debut was supposed to take place at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show, which was canceled because of the global pandemic.
However, it did go into production and started bringing in impressive sales numbers. It is powered by the latest powerful yet efficient Smatstream engines. Buyers can pick between a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre inline-4 petrol engine and a turbocharged version of the same engine. It is also available with a V6 petrol engine.
For the very first time, the Kia Sorento received hybrid powertrain — a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol combined with an electric motor to produce 227hp. Only one diesel engine option remains — a 2.2-litre Smartstream inline-4.
Most Popular Kia Sorento Generations In The UAE
In the UAE, the Kia Sorento started gaining popularity when the third generation was around. However, the Sorento became much sought-after when the fourth generation arrived. The fourth-generation Kia Sorento is still one of the most searched-for SUVs in its segment.
Check out new Kia Sorento SUVs for sale in the UAE & used Kia Sorento SUVs for sale in the UAE.
