Launched in the United States for the 2022 model year, the Kia Sorento doesn’t look out of date but the time for a mid-cycle refresh is just around the corner. The South Korean manufacturer is already testing a disguised prototype in Europe and our spies caught the test vehicle earlier this month. The camouflage covering the front end is significant, but we noticed some design changes hidden under the cover.
The latest spy shots inspire our friends and colleagues from Kolesa.ru to produce two exclusive renderings featuring the updated SUV. What you see in the attached gallery below is a refreshed Sorento with a new face featuring redesigned headlights with C-shaped LED daytime running lights and a new grille. We’re not sure about the latter – the pattern doesn’t match what we saw on the prototype perfectly – but it’s definitely one of the possible options for the modified fascia.
This rendering also proposes tweaks to the rear. The spy prototype doesn’t show much of the rear as it has added concealment, although presenters believe the rear fascia could accept a coast-to-coast LED bar connecting the taillights. This wildly popular design element seems to complement the Telluride-inspired styling on the back. A new touch on the rear bumper is also possible.
The Sorento is currently available in the US market with a choice of four powertrains. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder factory produces 191 horsepower (142 kilowatts) and is followed by a turbocharged version of that engine with 281 hp (210 kW). Two electrification plants are also available, both using 1.6 liter engines and producing 227 hp (169 kW) and 261 hp (195 kW) in the hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, respectively. We doubt the engine range will change with the facelift, but there could be minor adjustments to the specs.
The current generation Sorento has been on sale in the United States since 2022 and we believe the updated model won’t arrive before the middle of next year. Before that happens, the family SUV will likely be introduced in the form of a facelift in South Korea and Europe.
