The all-new 2011 Kia Sorento CUV makes its official US premiere in Los Angeles! Here’s the official press release from Kia Motors America.
Kia Motors America today announced the official North American debut of the all-new Sorento crossover utility vehicle (CUV) during a press conference at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The first vehicle to be built at the all-new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Georgia, Sorento encompasses both the brand’s signature design cues as well as its distinct combination of value, safety and style. Coming to market in early 2010 as a 2011 model-year vehicle, the all-new Sorento presents consumers with a well-equipped, well-appointed CUV with best-in-class power2 suited perfectly for the fun, dynamic and discerning driver.
With a streamlined and attractive look, the new Sorento represents a modern CUV that is just the right size for today’s consumer. Completely redesigned for 2011, the all-new Sorento now employs a unibody design with the ability to comfortably fit up to seven passengers, offering more space and ride comfort than the previous-generation model.
Prominently displaying the signature tabbed grille and wraparound headlamps soon to be seen on all Kia models, Sorento offers a more aggressive stance and sleeker profile than the previous version.
Confident and Contemporary Exterior
Based on the KND-4 concept shown during the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, the all-new Kia Sorento offers the same swept-back lines and dynamic presence as the concept vehicle. With an angled window line, large flared-back headlamps, prominent fog lamps and rounded nose, the all-new Sorento clearly belongs to the Kia family and effortlessly conveys strength and authority. The view from the rear offers the same forceful attitude with a rounded back and tail lamps set powerfully within the rear lift gate.
Available in base, LX and EX trim levels, the versatile CUV offers tasteful exterior features on all three including 17-inch alloy wheels with 235/65R17 tires and wheel moldings, while moving to the LX trim includes standard body-color heated outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signal indicators. All EX trims offer standard 18-inch alloy wheels outfitted with 235/60R18 tires, automatic headlamps, fog lamps (optional on LX trims) and a rear spoiler.
Optional for LX and EX trims are roof rails for those looking to spend a weekend away or endeavor in recreational activities, while EX trims offer the options of 18-inch ultra bright mirror-finish wheels or a panoramic sunroof (V6 models only), a first for any Kia vehicle. With an overall length of 183.9 inches and overall width of 74.2 inches, the all-new CUV comes in longer, lower and roomier than the previous-generation Sorento, offering occupants a more spacious and comfortable ride.
Best-in-Class Performance
The 2011 Sorento offers two engines, both more powerful than the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V3. A 3.5-liter V6 providing best-in-class 276 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque both are coupled to a new six-speed automatic transmission, which together provide ample power and offer improved fuel efficiency.
This all-new six-speed automatic transmission is a proprietary design for Kia Motors that was designed, engineered and built specifically for Kia vehicles, making the brand one of only three manufacturers to employ such a transmission.
To further meet consumer needs, both engines can be mated to either front- or all-wheel-drive configurations, the latter coming with a locking center differential to evenly distribute power to all wheels while operating the vehicle at low speeds during more severe weather conditions. For enhanced ride performance, the all-new 2011 Sorento employs a more compact and lighter MacPherson strut front suspension and a fully independent multi-link rear suspension.
Modern and Tech-Inspired Interior
Moving inside, the feeling of spaciousness is all the more evident, and with both five- and seven-passenger seating configurations, Sorento is now more versatile than ever. With 142.5 cubic feet of interior volume when equipped with five seats or 149.4 cubic feet with seven, Sorento offers quite a bit more space over the previous generation’s 137.5 cubic feet.
Head and legroom also have been increased for optimal occupant comfort. With nearly five cubic feet more in cargo capacity, the new generation effortlessly accommodates both passenger and cargo needs for cruising around town as easily as weekends camping in the mountains.
In addition to offering a comfortable ride, impressive technology features also come standard throughout, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system with SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities and three months complimentary service4, auxiliary and USB audio input jacks for connecting personal MP3 players, and Bluetooth® wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls to enable hands-free operation for all compatible mobile phones.
All EX models offer standard push button-start ignition with smart key and rear sonar back-up sensors, while available voice-activated navigation, rear view back-up cameras and air ionization purification technology complete the modern and high-tech driving experience.
Standard comforts can be found throughout, including air conditioning, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel with integrated audio controls, trip computer and rear map pockets. In addition to those features, the LX trims offers standard automatic up and down driver’s window function, illuminated vanity mirror, EcoMinder™ Indicator to assist with fuel efficient driving habits, and a second row arm rest with cup holder.
Progressing to the EX trim provides even more well-appointed standard features including dual automatic temperature control, rear air conditioning (V6 models only) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
Able to suit practically any driver, Sorento offers the discriminating consumer numerous package options. The Convenience Package, available for the LX trim, offers roof rails, rear sonar, a rear view mirror with backup display, heated front seats and fog lamps.
Moving to the Premium Package, available for the EX trim, includes roof rails, leather trim seats, heated front seats, a rear view backup camera and a panoramic sunroof (V6 models only), further adding to the feeling of spaciousness.
By upgrading to the Limited Package, available for the EX trim outfitted with the Premium Package, drivers will benefit from luxuriously appointed features including a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic, an Infinity premium surround system with 12 speakers and a 550-watt digital amplifier, 18-inch chrome-finish wheels and interior accent mood illumination. A DVD Entertainment Package also is available on EX V6 models (without sunroof) for those looking for a little extra entertainment while on the road.
Superior Safety Features
Like all Kia vehicles, the 2011 Sorento is equipped with a plethora of standard safety equipment. All trims come outfitted with driver and passenger advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and front active headrests, four-wheel Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD).
Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC) also come standard on all models, the former assisting in preventing the vehicle from rolling backward when trying to pull away from an uphill gradient, while the latter helps keep the vehicle moving straight and steady down steep grades.
Pedestrians also benefit from the all-new Sorento’s standard safety systems. For the 2011 model year the hood of Sorento is designed to crumple and flex strategically so as to absorb and disperse the shock of a collision with a pedestrian or bicyclist, aimed at decreasing the level of potential injury.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:47 am
I think that if I wanted an SUV I’d buy one of these pups over another Kia, the Kia Sportage. What a beautiful and elgant, yet strong looking SUV. Absolutely gorgeous!
December 4th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I really want to see pix of the EX Limited Sorento and its wheels!!!
December 4th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Ya tengo el modelo del año 2008, es estupendo, tiene condiciones de un vehículo de U$S. 40.000…
Don podrá acceder a un catálogo final y completo?
Cordiales y atentos saludos,
Darwin
December 4th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Did any of you guys see the new Sorento commercial from kia.com? It was ok, but nothing like the Korean version. It amazes me how they started from making bikes. Wow, this all started from bikes. Who would have known, back in 1951, Kia would make a 2009 Kia Borrego or who would have known, back in 1951, with the help of Hyundai, Kia would have been NO.4 in the world from making bikes? Back in 51′ who would have known their first plant would be built here in the states in 2009. That is truly amazing. All of this from bikes. What did they do in 1944 though?
December 4th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
1944-1951 they just produced parts for bikes. Boris, I’ll have pics of the EX limited Sorento on the blog by tomorrow. Going for a demo at the dealership in just a bit.
December 4th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
On the back of the brochure, where will the Sorento be located? Since it’s the first Kia to be made in the states, I’m sure it will not be placed where the bof Sorento was. I’m sure it’s going to be up in the front. Maybe they will re arrange the set up for the back.
December 5th, 2009 at 3:12 am
Saw a base, not souped up, 2011 Sorento at the Charlotte Auto Show last month. It was getting a lot of looks from many people.
December 5th, 2009 at 5:16 am
I just saw an EX V6 tonight at the dealership. Totally AWESOME!
December 5th, 2009 at 7:52 am
hey,
Kia sorento awarded ‘car of the year’ by autocar magazine in NZ.
Kia forte & forte koup awarded ‘car of the year’ by U.S. National Automobile Dealers Association (NADAguides.com).
December 5th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Kia Sorento R picks up first global award – in NZ
Fri, 4 Dec 2009
The recently introduced Kia Sorento R has picked up its first international award – from here in New Zealand.
In what is sure to become the first of many awards, the new Kia Sorento R has been selected as New Zealand Autocar magazine SUV of the Year.
Totally redesigned, with a bigger, more spacious, yet lighter 7-seater body and powered by one of the most advanced diesel engines in the world, the Kia Sorento R impressed all the judges on the Autocar panel.
TV3 presenter Shaun Summerfield describes the new Sorento R as a “great looker, does absolutely everything as it should. Engine is world class, the rest of the car isn’t far behind. Once again this isn’t just great for a Korean, it’s great full stop”.
Fellow judge and motoring editor David Moore says the new Sorento R is “balanced, well made, thoughtfully equipped and perfectly formed for an active nuclear family” and he added that the “engine sets the standard in the segment”.
For Autocar’s senior editor Peter Louisson, the Sorento R turned out to be “a surprise on track! Gets the basics very right, superb engine”.
While Autocar editor Kyle Cassidy sums up “with its killer powertrain, smart design and plentiful safety features…..it’s a deserved SUV of the Year”.
Thanking Autocar for the award, Todd McDonald, General Manager for Kia Motors New Zealand says the new Sorento R is likely to be the first of many from the Kia stable to win top awards in the future.
“We are thrilled that independent media like the Autocar judges have been so positive about the new Sorento R, because that is exactly how we feel about the new generation of Kia vehicles as a whole,” says Mr McDonald.
“Each new model release this year has seen Kia Motors take another big step forward in terms of design, technology and quality.
“Right now the very latest Sorento R represents the very pinnacle of advancement from Kia Motors, but in the coming months and beyond, there is a line of exciting new vehicles that demonstrate the continued potential of this brand.
“It’s great to be recognised with this award.”
December 5th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Whats the deal? Everybody was talking about the Sorento 2 weeks ago, and now hardly any mention of it being at LA from 90% of the mainstream automotive Journals.
December 5th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
tucson, santa fe, sorento. they are competing against each other..time to merge and make one good vehicle everybody wants or needs.
December 5th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
The Tucson is too small to compete with the Santa Fe or Sorento. I think that the 2011 Optima will be the second car produced at the Georgia factory. Just think about it. Kia started manufacture of the new Sorento 10 months after hiring employees. In about 10 months the new Optima should be due.
December 5th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Sorento R says: “Kia forte & forte koup awarded ‘car of the year’ by U.S. National Automobile Dealers Association (NADAguides.com).”
I thought the Car of the Year award was givien to the Ford Fusion?
December 5th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Why wasn’t the Cadenza at the LA Auto Show, it’s already unveiled. It should have been there. Hyundai sent the new Sonata and Tucsan there. And the VG was on spy shots before the Tuscan. But then I did read that Kia wants to come up with another name for it in N. America. They better hurry up because they have less than a month before the NAIAS.
December 5th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
SorentoOwner you are right. The Forte won car of the year. Wow!!! Lets see the Chevy Cruze win that!!! Sure the Cruze has a nice interior but GM seems to forget Daewoo is not better than Hyundai or Kia so what makes GM think its going to be better than the Civic or Corolla? As quiet as it’s kept, GM is really playing themselves because since the car is already unveiled, it is already againg before it is going on sale. Never show off a car years before it sees production. And besides, it want have a chance once the next Civic arrives. GM is playing themselves and don’t even know it. Sure it may be more efficiant than the Civic but duh because the Honda came out in2006 of course you guys are going to make it have a higher mpg. Honda got something up their sleeve I just know it. And the Cruze want have a chance.
Specking of GM that Traverse they keep on bragging about being more fuel efficiant than the Pilot. How good is that Traverse off road? Can that crossover handle off road like the Pilot can? I’m sick and tired of GM more mpg than this and more mpg than that. is that all GM has to offer?
December 5th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Speaking of GM, why is Buick taking Chevy’s spot in making C segment cars to compete with the Mazda 3 and Civic?
December 5th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Greg,
According to what Chosun was reporting the other day, HKAG has announced that the Santa Fe and Optima will be added late next year at West Point. They say the Elantra will join the Sonata in Montgomery.
english chosun com/site/data/html_dir/2009/11/20/2009112000557.html
December 5th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
jtz, becauae small cars are getting more premium. The Civic will be a lower end C-Segment car. The Elantra along with the Buick will be a lower-higher end small car “Aspirational”, the Fortes will be more in the upper-lower end small car.
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Honda is going downmarket they say, like Hyundai is going upmarket.
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Read some of the reviews about most Honda car interiors lately. They are getting cheaper all of the time. They are cutting costs to stay competitive big time.
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Also, Guys Hyundai has better quality and reliability than Toyota, and KIA will be up there with us in 2 years. If GM and Ford are competiting with Toyota for reliability and quality, I think GM and Ford has already decided that they cant compete with Hyundai, and they are going to fight weaker opponents with decreasing quality and reliability like Honda and Toyota.
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Hyundai/KIA is #1 in US Fuel economy now too.
December 5th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
There were articles out earlier this week that said Honda was number one, but that was a mistake. Its Hyundai/KIA that are number one in fuel economy now. John Krafick did an interview with Autoline Detroit at the LA Auto Show announcing this.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hyundai/kia number 1 in fuel efficiency in the US? John Krafick is hardly a neutral person to comment on that…
In Europe Hyundai/kia is not doing good at all! We have no A label car, only i10 and Picanto with B label and the rest C, D and E…. I’d say that’s just average or even below….
December 6th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Hyundai-Kia is number two for fuel efficiency.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Greg, theres a debate on that. Honda is so close to us that its statistically insignificant.
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Born Loser, i10 is an A car. i20 is a B car, the Accent when it used to be sold in Europe was a C car. In the US Accent and Rio are B/C cars. They have everything a B segment has except space. They have C segment space.
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Thats why I think its good for Hyundai KIA to have 2 different directions for Europe and the rest of the world, and one for the big car Countires: North America, Korea, China, and Australia.
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The Accent/Rio was too big for Europeans, not powerful enough for Americans becuase they had to hold back the potential of this car to try to keep the Europeans as happy as possible on the fuel efficiency front, it was too frugal for Americans also.
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Now, with 2 directions Hyundai/KIA can make the best small cars possible for the 2 different gloal tastes. By the way Car and Driver the American Auto Magazine likes the i20, and Krafick said the next Gen Accent will even be so much better than the i20. The i20 is the size of the last generation Accent, and as small cars are growing in size here, I think we might see an i20 here to be sold under the Accent.
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You have to also remember, that Hyundai/KIA stayed away from big trucks in the US market. Hyundai/KIA could have been #1 a long time ago if they just listented to those like myself who advocated for them to make Diesel Sorentos, Tuscons, Sportages, Boregos, Santa Fes, and Veracruzes. I wont buy a Hyundai/KIA truck product until they make a Diesel for the US market. Please, Please, Car God allow Hyundai/KIA to bring Truck Diesels over.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
What is the fuel tank capacity and mpg rating on the 2011 Sorento
December 8th, 2009 at 1:05 am
BunG go to Kiamedia.com it will answer all of your questions. Everything about the new Sorento is on there.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:08 am
Thanks jtz. They should have made the Sorento made with 300 Torques, for the performance factor. The Next Gen Santa Fe for 2012 will get those engines in direct injection form, and a Turbo. The Sorento should get the 4.0 V6 for the performance factor.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
By the way, believe it or not the Next gen Sportage will share the same powertrain with the Next Gen Accent. The 1.6 Liter 140 HP GDI.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Hope they make the new Sportage a tad lighter, then. I know from my heavy ’01 Sportage 4X4, it’s 2.0L 130hp 4-banger was barely enough to move that truck along. Still loved the small SUV, just really coulda used a bit more power, if I had to find something disagreeable about it.
March 14th, 2010 at 1:15 am
Hello Hyundai Smoke…We bought a Hyundai Tucson Diesel eng. 5yrs ago and I tell you despite rough handling by my daughter the car still run smoothly and now i’m still waiting for my new 2010 Sorento 7seater Diesel coming in April.
Can’t wait to try that beast….thanks.
March 14th, 2010 at 3:43 am
Hey Haji, Im still begging them to bring those Deisels over. They’ll see the light one day. The Diesels also have to be ready for grease too.
April 15th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Well.. Hyundai Smoke and other bloggers everybody have the right to their own views but as for me I still thin k that some of Hyundai cars are good like the Tucson Diesel. Unfortunately I have sold the car and got a very low value for it.
I dont know in the USA maybe the models are entirely different design technically but despite all the odds, I’m sure you’ll agree that they are also subjected to how we handle and maintained them. Thats all for now bye and thanks for the attention ( HundaiSmokie).
April 15th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Anyway I have not recieved my new 2011 KIA Sorento 4×4 Diesel yet though the dealer promised the shipment will arrive by mid-April, now scheduled to mid-May, so when it come I will share my experience. So long.