Seven years after it hit the market, the Kia Sorento is finally getting a big update. After teasing us with what is believed to be a darkened side view of the new vehicle recently, the first design renderings have now surfaced showing much more of the thoroughly revised 2010 Sorento that should attract far more attention than the outgoing model.
After the Sorento went on sale in 2003, it languished a bit before it was updated in 2007 with a bigger V-6 engine and a facelift. After the 2009 model picked up another minor facelift, we weren't expecting a new model so soon, but we're pleasantly surprised. Codenamed the "XM," the teasers show a much more modern-looking Sorento that's picked up "the new face of Kia" that we've seen on the recently debuted Forte and, more importantly, on the just-announced Kia No. 3 MPV concept car that will debut in Geneva next week.
According to the fans at Kia World, the new Sorento will debut at the Seoul Motor Show in April and go on sale in the South Korean market this summer. It is expected to arrive in international markets in late 2009 as a 2010 model. When it does, it will pack a 200-hp 2.2L R-diesel that reportedly achieves 33 mpg, a 2.4L Theta II gas engine and a 3.8L inline-six gas engine that will make more than 270 hp. All three engines will be coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.
No information about the U.S.-spec Sorento has been released yet, but rumor has it the new 'ute will make its North American debut at the New York Auto Show in April. Stay on Trucktrend.com for complete coverage of the 2009 New York Auto Show and any new updates we receive on the 2010 Kia Sorento.
Source: Kia World