Auto
Kia Begins Sorento SUV Deliveries in India, First Unit Handed Over in Haryana
By Satya Singh
Kia has started delivering its newly launched Sorento SUV in India, with the first customer receiving the vehicle from Malwa Kia, a dealership operating multiple outlets across Haryana and Delhi. Deliveries at other locations across the country are expected to begin shortly. The Sorento, Kia's first hybrid offering for the Indian market and its new flagship petrol SUV, was introduced earlier this month at a starting price of Rs 27.99 lakh. It will compete against rivals such as the Toyota Fortuner, Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron and Jeep Meridian.
Measuring 4,815 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width and 1,785 mm in height, with a 2,815 mm wheelbase, the Sorento ranks among the largest SUVs in its segment. Its design combines a boxy silhouette with flowing curves. Notable exterior elements include Kia's signature digital tiger face, vertically stacked Crystal Cube LED projector headlamps with auto light control, starmap LED daytime running lights, and additional bumper-mounted lighting. The side profile features circular wheel arches, seamless cladding, dual-tone body-coloured ORVMs with touch sensors, and a tapering roofline, along with chrome window garnish, alloy wheels, blacked-out B and C pillars, and roof rails. At the rear, the SUV has a raked windshield, a roof-mounted spoiler, wide brake lights, starmap LED tail lamps and a dual-tone bumper.
Inside, the Sorento offers a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, dual 12.3-inch HD displays for the infotainment system and instrument cluster, and a head-up display that projects information onto the windscreen. Additional features include a 12-speaker Bose sound system, ambient lighting with 64 colour options, dual-zone automatic climate control, front-row relaxation seats, a 10-way power driver seat with Ergo Motion, leatherette-wrapped steering wheel and seats, and soft-touch leatherette door trim. The SUV also supports voice command functions through Kia's AI assistant, a real-time generative AI system.
On safety, the Sorento comes equipped with 10 airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines, a 360-degree camera, side parking sensors and a blind-view monitor. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are available on select variants: the HTK (A) trim offers ADAS Level 2 with 21 autonomous features, while the HTX (A) AWD variant provides ADAS Level 2+ with 29 autonomous features. The Sorento has received a 5-star safety rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.
The SUV is offered with two powertrain choices — a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 193 PS and 442 Nm of torque paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a hybrid setup combining a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor. The turbo petrol engine generates 180 PS and 265 Nm, while the electric motor adds 65 PS and 264 Nm, working through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both diesel and hybrid variants are available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, with Eco, Sport, Smart and Normal drive modes. AWD versions additionally offer Snow, Mud and Sand terrain modes.
With deliveries now underway, industry observers will be watching closely to see how the Sorento performs in terms of sales over the coming months.