Kia debuted its 2024 Kia Sorento three-row crossover at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16th, soldierong on as a Chevy Blazer rival in the U.S. market.
The refreshed fourth-generation Sorento includes an aesthetic makeover that borrows heavily from the Kia Telluride, adding an “upright front hood and squared off edges” inspired by the larger utility vehicle, as are its amber daytime running lights and vertical taillights.
The 2024 Kia Sorento gets many other fresh styling elements added to both its exterior and interior. It features rugged-looking bumpers and a wider front grille flanked by “vertically stacked LED projector headlamps.” The interior is also overhauled, featuring a pair of 12.3-inch screens that are part of a curving “panoramic” display along with new colorways and a design meant to create a free, spacious feel.
The crossover includes a suite of new and upgraded technology features as well, including lane-keeping and collision avoidance systems. The vehicle’s electronics run on the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit platform, with over-the-air updates enabled.
The 2024 Kia Sorento offers a lineup of trim levels that include the LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-P trims. Two powerplant options provide motivation, with the naturally aspirated 2.5L I4 engine equipped in lower trim levels, developing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. The upper trims feature a turbocharged variant of the same 2.5L engine that cranks out 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The crossover is offered in both FWD and AWD configurations.
While hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants of the Kia Sorento are also in the lineup, their mid-cycle refresh will occur for the 2025 model year. They are thus carryover iterations for the 2024 model year alongside the updated non-hybrid Sorento portfolio.
The Chevy Blazer is the closest competitor to the 2024 Kia Sorento because, while the Chevy is a two-row crossover rather than a three-row vehicle like the Sorento, it is GM’s sole remaining midsize mass-market brand crossover that falls at the smaller end of the range.
The 2023 GMC Acadia is perhaps a better direct competitor to the new Kia Sorento in terms of specs, but it is also an outgoing model. The 2024 GMC Acadia was unveiled as the third generation of Big Red’s three-row, seven-passenger crossover and was revealed to be much bigger than the second-gen configuration.
The 2024 Acadia is 10.5 inches longer, has an 8.4-inch longer wheelbase, and stands 2.3 inches taller than its 2023 predecessor. This size boost sets it up as the competitor of the Kia Telluride, with the Sorento now a smaller model than the Acadia.
Kia America’s chief operating officer Steven Center almost seemed to throw down the gauntlet to the 2024 Chevy Blazer as well, declaring that the South Korean automaker is “confident the Sorento will not just lead the segment, but blaze ahead of it.”
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Comments
I bet it’s cheaper thsn the Blazer, in addition to being nicer.
Caddy copycat design…
why would anyone “copy” a Cad? They suck in every way and lead all others in being awful…
Sure is better looking than the current Sorento. Gonna have to see and drive it when it hits the lots. Of course, the pirates will probably mark it up >MSRP which will be a NO GO.
The two biggest problems with the current Sorrento is the base 2.5 and it’s poor highway mileage figures and the way these are packaged. For some bizarre reason the hybrids are more normal looking with nicer wheels and some exterior brightwork but the gas versions are loaded with black wheel black plastic fantastic editions. If anything the EX model should be the more traditional version with normal wheels and some brightwork and leave the SX for the off road look. They also need to correct the reliability issues with the 8 speed as used with the 2.5 turbo. Otherwise these are nice little rigs