Spy Shots: 2010 Kia Sorento
Not due to go on sale until next year, the 2010 Kia Sorento has been spied and photographed, by an Autoweek.nl reader. While the two pics don't reveal much, the front end bears more than a striking resemblance to the Kia KND-4 concept from the 2007 Seoul Motor Show. Unlike the current Kia Sorento, currently built on a body-on-frame platform, the next Sorento will share a unibody platform with the Hyundai Santa Fe. Engine choices are only speculative, but we're betting the Sorento will receive either 3.3-liter or 3.8-liter V6 powerplant options. The next-gen Sorento is scheduled to start production in Kia's new plant in West Point, Georgia, in 2009.
[Source: TheCarBlogger]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
geo.stewart 8:41AM (7/11/2008)
nice and clean but nothing groundbreaking.
a solid move forward for a value CUV.
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ASEVENSEE4 8:54AM (7/11/2008)
Wow, that looks immensely better than the current Sorento!
KIA is really surprising me these days, no their designs are not ground breaking but at least they're not ugly as hell most of the new stuff from Honda.
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ASEVENSEE4 8:55AM (7/11/2008)
Like most*
Josiah 11:33AM (7/11/2008)
The current Sorento looks very much like a Mercedes M class, which is funny because when it was introduced it wasn't as close, but with with the M redesign the Mercedes design team made it look MORE like the Sorento. Kind of funny when I park my Sorento next to an M and their kids say "look daddy another truck like ours!" (true story)
Torrent 11:49AM (7/11/2008)
Better, but what's with the empty spot below the grill?
Red 8:57AM (7/11/2008)
I see a TSX minus the giant blade in the middle, but still stuck with the outside grill frame.
Just once, I'd like to see a Korean design that wasn't either a) extremely derivative (there may be nothing original these days, but c'mon.......), b) oddly detailed to make it seem different (Genesis Coupe), or c) both of the above. This isn't necessarily a bad design. Just looks like an Acura. Except, oddly....um....almost a little better.
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homunculus 9:17AM (7/11/2008)
You know what's a lot more tired than Kia's designs?
Comments like these.
Red 9:58AM (7/11/2008)
You know what's even more tired than that?
People who's feelings are hurt when other people speak the truth.
ASEVENSEE4 10:33AM (7/11/2008)
Get over it, let KIA build a more attractive Honda, if anything it should inspire Honda to take a few notes on how NOT to go over board with a ruler and a cup on the drawing board and keep a cohesiveness.
The Genesis coupe looks great, because it's something more original from Hyundai, like the 03-06 tibby.
TORR 10:43AM (7/11/2008)
Being derivative makes the Kia successful. Its a great selling point for the salesman to tell customers it looks like a Lexus or Acura or Mercedes for a lot less money with a 10 year warranty. Usually the consumer points out what it looks like to them and the salesman can feed off from that. What Kia does need to improve on with the Sorento is their gas mileage. For a sport utility sized like this it should get better than the 15- 18 mpg that is commonly heard.
Josiah 11:37AM (7/11/2008)
I can attest to the poor MPG of the current Sorento. I get 15-18 with mixed driving. I wonder if they'll offer the 4 cyl with this like they are with the Sante Fe.
ASEVENSEE4 11:42AM (7/11/2008)
The new Sorento will have a much better structure(no longer BOF) and that will attest to better MPG.
styleguy 7:49AM (7/12/2008)
@ Josiah
I would expect them to put a four cylinder in this, at least. Even the new Explorer will, so this definitely should
The Luigiian 9:53AM (7/11/2008)
All right, so this thing's gonna be based off the Hyundai Santa Fe, which is about the same size yet is heavier and slightly less fuel-efficient than a Ford Escape.
It looks a lot better than a Ford Escape, though. The swoopy front end and stylized grille look good on the vehicle. The interior is likely to be a bit nicer too.
If they made a pickup version I'd consider it. I know they almost certainly won't, but that's what I'd hope they'd do.
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Josiah 11:31AM (7/11/2008)
I cross shopped the Escape Hybrid with the Sorento a few years back and there is no comparison. In fact the closer comparison to an Escape in the Kia line would be the Sportage, which has that same cheap/economy SUV feel the Escape masters. Add to that the absolute idiocy of the Ford staff (who tried to tell me Kia's were made in China and were unsafe) and I was back on the Kia lot in no time.
After 2 years of ownership I couldn't be any happier with my Sorento (well a few more MPG would be nice)
XJ 11:11AM (7/11/2008)
Damn, it looks very nice. For some strange reason, I like Hyundai but not Kia so much. But that's changing very quickly with the Forte and now this.
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styleguy 11:14AM (7/11/2008)
Its looks good, and probably would compete well to the CR-V, but no four cylinder? I mean, if Hyundai just confirmed a 4-cyl for the '10 Sante Fe, then won't one show up in this?
BTW, I sent Autoblog a tip on this, and I didn't get any credit. Goes to show...
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joe23521 2:37PM (7/11/2008)
Very Saaby front end.
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CORVETTE ZR1 6:42PM (7/11/2008)
if i could pay some one to wipe Kia of the face of the earth i would all they make is cheap cars and try to copy other cars ...
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ASEVENSEE4 12:24AM (7/12/2008)
What? You moron, that didn't even make sense, the Optima has a better interior than any Corvette, take your GM fanboy BS elsewhere.