2014 Kia Sorento Gets a Thorough Redesign: 2012 LA Auto Show

At the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show today, Kia unveiled its redesigned 2014 Sorento crossover, packing plenty of changes including a new 3.3-liter V6 engine.

According to the Korean automaker, over 80 percent of the parts on the 2014 Sorento are either all new or significantly redesigned. It will also be the Korean automaker’s first vehicle to offer its next-generation UVO eServices voice-activated telematics system.

The significantly redesigned Sorento comes just three years after production of the crossover began in America at the automaker’s plant in West Point, Georgia. It boasts an all-new chassis, a substantially redesigned interior, and the previously mentioned next-generation UVO infotainment system. The automaker also announced today that it will begin arriving showrooms in the first quarter of 2013.

Coming standard on the LX V6, EX V6, SX, and SX Limited trims, the new 3.3-liter GDI V6 produces 290 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. The engine is also available as an option on the LX and EX trim levels. The 2014 Sorento will come in front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option through Kia’s Torque On Demand system.

Standard on the LX and EX is the 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder which replaces the previous Sorento’s standard 2.4-liter MPI four-cylinder. The 2.4-liter, four-cylinder packs 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Regardless of engine, the Sorento will come with a six-speed automatic transmission. Also standard in the 2014 model year is Electric Motor Driven Power Steering, which replaces the hydraulic unit found in the previous model year Sorento. FlexSteer, which offers drivers three choices of steering modes – Comfort, Normal, and Sport – is also available on the 2014 Sorento.

According to Kia, the new chassis increases torsional rigidity by 18 percent to help improve ride and handling on the crossover. The redesigned front and rear bumpers enhance the Sorento’s road presence with a lower, broader appearance and a visually wider stance in the rear. The Sorento comes with a choice of 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels.

Inside, plenty of new technology packs the Sorento’s interior including a large 7-inch TFT LCD center gauge cluster on EX trims and above. The 2014 Sorento is also the first of many Kia models to feature the Korean automaker’s blind spot detection system, which utilizes advanced sonar sensors.

In closing, Kia also announced a new top-of-the-line model, the Sorento SX Limited which will hit dealerships in the second quarter of 2013. The SX Limited model will come with self-leveling Xenon HID headlights, exclusive 19-inch chrome wheels, and sporty red-painted brake calipers. Inside, Nappa-leather trimmed seats along with a wood-trimmed, heated steering wheel adds a level of luxury to the crossover. Heated rear seats are also standard on the SX Limited model. Exclusive to the SX Limited is a soft-touch headliner and pillar accents.

“With each new vehicle launch Kia is advancing the concept of value to new levels of sophistication and with significant chassis, suspension, powertrain and comfort and convenience upgrades the new Sorento continues that trend,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing and communications, Kia Motors America. “With more than 80 percent of the 2014 Sorento including new or significantly redesigned parts, it’s obvious that the improvements are not just skin deep; including technological enhancements such as UVO eServices, the next generation of our voice activated telematics system, and Kia’s first-ever blind spot detection system.”