Kia unveils The New Sorento's design

Kia Corp. unveiled "The New Sorento," the latest model of their mid-sized sports utility vehicle (SUV) on Tuesday.

The redesigned SUV reflects Kia's brand design philosophy, "Opposites United," which creatively combines contrasting concepts to achieve a revamped appearance comparable to that of a brand-new car.

Incorporating a three-dimensional pattern module into the front radiator grille and featuring Signature Star Map Lighting daytime running lights with a focus on vertical imagery, the New Sorento aims to set a future-oriented standard for SUV designs.

Kia elaborated that the hood's design accentuates volume, providing a more commanding appearance, while the bumper design and skid plate combination enhances the vehicle's rugged feel.

The interior adopts a horizontal molding approach to create a spacious atmosphere. The first row showcases a panoramic curved display uniting a 12.3-inch driver's cluster and infotainment system into a single screen, incorporating Kia's state-of-the-art connected car navigation cockpit.

The New Sorento offers five exterior color options, including Interstellar Gray, Cityscape Green, and Volcanic Sand Brown, and three interior color options such as black and olive-brown.

The Gravity trim, with specially designed radiator grills and wheels, further enhances the vehicle's toughness and luxury, according to Kia.

Scheduled for release in the middle of the upcoming month, the gasoline, diesel, and hybrid four-wheel drive (4WD) models will be followed by the hybrid two-wheel drive model, which will take advantage of tax benefits after obtaining eco-friendly vehicle certification.

Kia's Fourth-generation Sorento, launched in 2020, has consistently dominated mid-sized SUV sales in Korea, selling over 60,000 units annually and achieving more than 36,000 units in sales during the first half of this year.

Write to Nan-Sae Bin at binthere@hankyung.com