The Geneva International Auto Show will offer us the world premiere of one of the most anticipated future Kia vehicles: the 2010 Kia Sorento. With Geneva Auto Show less than two months away, the future Sorento, codenamed XM, is undergoing through some final testing rounds on the roads of South Korea.
What we learned so far about the 2010 Kia Sorento is that the vehicle will undergo some major, not only design, but also technical changes. Gone will be the body-on-frame platform, and replaced by a unibody architecture, which is expected to provide better ride, but unfortunately, also limited maximum towing capacity and off-roading capabilities.
On the other hand, Kia engineers are confident the 2010 Sorento will be a lot more exciting to drive while offering improved handling and more comfortable ride at the same time. In addition to that, new diesel engines and upgraded gasoline ones are expected to deliver class leading horsepower ratings and fuel efficiency.
According to Whatcar( yes, they are the one who got behind the wheel of 2010 Sorento!!), upcoming Kia’s midsize crossover seems to be improved in just about every area. It feels more refined on the road, it handles better and new engines also bring a lot more power. If interested, you can read a sum-up of their exclusive Sorento test-drive report here. [Source: luv-xm.net ]
Click image to enlarge!
January 19th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I want Kia to start using simple click/snap-on wiper blades like on civic. it looks neater and is cheaper plus easier to change.
January 19th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Kia will either be debuting the new Sorento or New Spectra at Chicago according to Kia’s officials.
January 19th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Spectra most probably
January 19th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Why not both of them?
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With all the excitiemnet and buzz concentrated around Soul, we almost forgot the worldwide debut of Sorento is just around the corner. There are still two months left, but still it’s debut is really close. I can’t wait to see some official pics and videos of it. I hope it looks as stunning as the Soul does!!
January 19th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
The guy from Kia says that by 2012 the Borrego will be the oldest vehicle in the line-up.
January 19th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I just saw the Kia Sorento on that XM luv .net. But I can’t blow it up. Its there uncovered but its pointless because its so small.
January 19th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Is the YN going to be there with the Sorento too?
January 19th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
And when does this debut in S. Korea?
January 19th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
The best we can expect to see in Geneva is the Sorento production car and YN concept vehicle…those are only rumors, but we should soon know more details. Kia always issues press release about a month before auto show opens it’s doors.
January 20th, 2009 at 12:32 am
The General Manager for the lot where I work said the same thing as Greg. He visited the Georgia (USA) plant and they told him the Borrego will be the oldest model in the lineup. I don’t recall which year he said, but this means the Rio, Sedona and Rondo will also be getting an upgrade within the next few years. I haven’t heard anything about those 3 models- anyone else?
It would be great if they keep the LED tail lights for the US version, though we’ll probably end up with boring bulbs like they did with the Borrego. 
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Any chance the new Sorento will use XM satellite radio instead of Sirius?
January 20th, 2009 at 12:33 am
PS: The wink
was supposed to be by my XM- Sirius satellite radio joke; the sad face 
is after the part about the boring bulbs.
January 20th, 2009 at 12:36 am
I have information that next gen Rio is coming in two variants, one for Europe and other for America and the rest of the world. Before that, it will also get a facelift.
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Rondo is expected to receive a mild makeover next year, but don’t know anything on the Sedona. Don’t know if there’s still need for Sedona, as I hear the large MPV market is slowly dying.
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What I think Kia should do, is to combine the Borrego and Sedona and bring a mini van-SUV crossover to the market with the availability of AWD and seven seats.
January 20th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Doesn’t the top of the range Borrego feature LED’s at rear?
January 20th, 2009 at 1:51 am
The Borrego *might* have LEDs in the rear in the USA market, but we don’t have any top of the range models on the lot for me to check. We have I think 3 Borregos total, all with the 3.8L V6, maybe one EX, two LX in stock; I don’t think my lot has sold any since they arrived. I just checked kia.com’s features list for the Borrego, it doesn’t say anything about LEDs in the tail lamps.
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I see what you’re saying about the dying minivan market. Many of the manufacturers are just doing the bigger “crossovers” with 7 or 8 passenger seating, standard. Though I’d still prefer the extra space the minivan offers. AWD would be nice, on any of the vehicles (except the Borrego, since it is available with 4WD).
January 20th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Well, The Traverse City dealership has 14 Borregos. Two EX V8 (only one with 4WD) 7 EX (5 with 4WD), and 5 LX (4 with 4WD). They sold one LX and one EX so far. Sedonas still sell pretty good, but the van market is declining because the newer generation of soccer mom is “too cool” for a minivan, and they are going to crossovers. An enlarged Rondo would be perfect to replace the Sedona. Sales are WAY down with the economy the way it is. The Soul has definitely sparked some interest though.
January 20th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Ya, dropping the Sedona still wouldn’t be one of the wisest decisions. Granted the “socker mom club” is getting to trendy for the minivans. Yet the market that no one is keeping in my is the Number 1 market for minivans, which lets get real, that is the elderly. At some point in time in our lives most of us will have owned a minivan. And it would be to soon to introduce a full size crossover vehicle for kia. Especially they just coming out with the Borrego. Before they do anything like that they will need to give the Borrego time to mature in the market place. Because with the fall of the domestics that is right around the corner, there is going to be a huge market opening up for a good dependant TRUE SUV, and that is the Borrego.
January 20th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I won’t to see the VG more than anything to tell you guys the truth. I hope they bring it to either Chicago or New York Auto Shows. The timing is right when it comes to that new Buick Lucerne and Ford Taurus.
January 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Well I agree with you Filly, but selling Borrego at 200-300 units each month is making 200% loss. Considering how expensive advertising these days really is, I think Kia is loosing money on Borrego at the moment.
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The SUV market for SUVs is still huge although it has shrinked for as much as 30% in the last two years, so Kia should easily move 30,000 units of Borrego, but somehow they can’t spread the word on it among those customers who still consider buying a traditional large SUV.
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We shall see how the market develops in the next few years, but in my opinion, no good news for Borrego. It’s a pitty really, cause it’s one great looking and one of the best Kias out there.
January 20th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
The one thing that Kia should work on is introducing an AWD version to the Rondo. I work at a dealership in Western Canada and the Number 1 question that I get asked by all of my customers that are looking for a small AWD is if the Rondo comes with an AWD, then their follow-up when they hear no, is why not?? And I was glad to hear that they are re-designing all of the cars for 2012, because there are some cars in the line-up that need some work. The Sportage is one that really needs some work. Yes Kia did do a great job when they brought it back after dropping in in 2002. But it is still under powered. All they really have to do is drop the engine from the Rondo into that thing and it will be perfect. I mean lets get real the 4Cyl. Rondo produces 175hp. Which makes it more powerful than the V6 Sportage. Hopefully they do something here in order to make things make a little more sense. That way we can have a 4Cyl. AWD Sportage with an automatic transmission, instead of only having it available with an 5 Speed. And that way it will not seem as sluggish or feel as sluggish either. I do not mean to take away from everything with the new Sorento. However, all this talk about vehicle re-design just got me thinking. Like the 4Cyl. Sportage has just a tiny bit more power than the Spectra. That may have something to do with the fact that its the same engine. Oh yes and another goofy thing is that tan interior in the black Sportage. That is just nasty.
But in summation the Rondo would be a perfect candidate for an AWD platform, The Sportage way to under powered, guarantee with a little bigger engine in it, it will get better fuel econmy. Mainly because it will not be working as hard in order to push the weight of that vehicle around. Like seriously how is the Rondo 2.4 4Cyl. out performing the Sportage 2.7 V6. There is no way that that should be happening.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:06 am
I like the rear lights on the Sorento.
I expect:
Spectra (Forte) – Chicago
Sorento – Geneva
YN(C’eed Plus) – Geneva(concept) or Frankfurt(production)
Spectra Koup – New York
VG (Amanti replacement) – New York or Frankfurt or Los Angeles
January 21st, 2009 at 1:10 am
I have similar expectations, except of VG, which I think Kia will unveil by the year’s end at the 09 Los Angeles auto show.
January 21st, 2009 at 5:10 am
GET IT!! The VG does NOT replace Amanti, the Amanti is no longer going to be in the large car market!!! Misconceptions are everywhere.
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
The Borrego does NOT come with LED lights in the US market….we have sold 3 Borrego Limiteds and none of them were equipped with LED lights.
Kia has confirmed that by 2012 the Borrego will be the oldest model in the lineup. All models will be either be refreshed or completed designed by then.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 pm
^^^^ or completely redesigned by then.
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
Greg, the VG will reside in the US line-up where the Amanti currently sits. Its that simple.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
This is too confusing. just forget if its replacing anything or kia’s version of azera. Let’s just say its a new car from Kia…
January 30th, 2009 at 2:19 am
I been having thoughts of the new 2010 Sorento and I hope I’m right. People have been saying the new Sorento will become a complete “soft-roader” (including myself for that matter), like the Subaru Forester or Outback or the Mazda CX7 or CX9. But I’ve been thinking (and hoping) maybe it could follow the path of say the Mitsubishi Pajero, which has a monocoque construction (not body on frame) and 4 wheeled independent suspension and the choice of fulltime or part time 4WD along with both high and low range in 4WD. We’ve just had a new model released here in Australia with a newer “quieter”, more powerful and more economical diesel engine and the towing capacity has been increased to 3000Kgs which is great. So I’m hoping along with a lot of current Kia Sorento owners that the off-road and towing capabilitiy of the current vehicle will not be lost, but continued and improved.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:50 am
Why is the VG so confusing? It’s a car above the Optima. People know the diffreance between the Azera and the Genesis. And if plenty of articles say that the VG is is on the Azera platform, and the Azera is a rival to the Maxima, why is talking about what class the VG is in confusing?
August 20th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
it is very good
August 20th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
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