Kia Sorento Gains 5-Star Safety Rating At EuroNCAP Crash Tests

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Sorento is the third Kia to receive a 5-star safety rating at EuroNCAP!

The all-new Kia Sorento crossover, which is going to make its official European debut at the upcoming IAA Frankfurt Auto show next month, has received a maximum 5-star safety rating from EuroNCAP organisation.

The latest 5-star safety rating is another landmark for Kia vehicles and the brand itself. Sorento is already a third new model in Kia’s European vehicle line-up that scored maximum 5 stars at EuroNCAP crash tests and follows up Kia Soul, that was crash-tested earlier this year and Kia cee’d hatchback that achieved 5 stars back in 2007.

The 2010 Kia Sorento has been one of the top performing vehicles in the latest EuroNCAP crash tests and the result places Sorento among the safest mid-sized vehicles in its segment. The all-new Sorento managed to secure 87 percent score for Adult Occupant Protection, 84 percent score for Child Protection and 71 percent score for Safety Assist equipment.

New Sorento was designed and engineered to meet or surpass the expectations of European, North American and global consumers in every respect – including safety.”

“Safety engineers at Kia‘s world-class Namyang R&D facility in Korea developed the new Sorento SUV to provide the highest levels of occupant protection in real-world accident scenarios. Our engineers predicted that Sorento would achieve a 5-Star rating in both Euro NCAP and the very different NHTSA tests in the USA. Now, this Euro NCAP result confirms the major advances made by Kia with its latest SUV,” added Mr. Oeyen.

Every Sorento model supplied in Western Europe features an Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) as standard. Sorento buyers in other European markets can specify ESP as a factory-fitted option. This system comes together with TCS (Traction Control System) and BAS (Brake Assistance System).

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If a collision is unavoidable, all-new Kia Sorento is engineered to safeguard the occupants with a range of “passive safety” measures as standard – starting with its all-new, all-steel monocoque bodyshell. Featuring high-tensile strength steel in key areas, the bodyshell is designed to offer occupants good protection in front, side, rear and roll-over accidents.

Every Kia Sorento sold in Europe is equipped as standard with dual front airbags, front side and full-length curtain airbags (to protect the occupants in all three seat rows), height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners and belt load-limiters, plus three 3-point seat belts for all middle row and back row seat occupants. In addition, all Sorento models can be ordered with ‘active’ front seat head restraints to protect against whiplash injuries.

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15 comments

  1. BJD (Boris) says:

    Way to go! But when will Kia get the knee airbags back?

  2. BJD (Boris) says:

    jeez that pole crash test is really freaky!
    .
    even after Kia proves its a serious competitor when it comes to safety our UAE dealer just undermine Kias and hyundais here by not offerinf all airbags. we just get a drivers airbag standard and an optional frnt passenger airbag. no more than that. even ABS and those stuff is optional. although the SUVs get ABS and ESC/TCS standard. wish Kia would do something about this… 🙁

  3. Greg says:

    This means that it will receive 5 star safety ratings in all four categories from NHTSA!

  4. BJD (Boris) says:

    Let’s see if this will also be the third kia to get the top safety pick from iihs

  5. Marcos says:

    When the new Kia Sorento will arrive in the Brazil???

  6. Martin1491 says:

    The new Sorento is a real winner, looks great, has a good engine & transmission, interior build quality looks of decent materials and no doubt it will drive pretty well too. And on top of all that, its safe as houses. Very well done KIA!

  7. himi says:

    The only problem I see with the new Sorento is falling demand for mid-size SUVs/Crossovers in US and especially in Europe. Although the 2010 Sorento is way better and more technologically advanced than its predecessor, it will have a hard time beating sales numbers of the out-going model.

    I still hope it will sell well through all five years!!

  8. Charlie says:

    @ himi: I can see where you’re coming from here, but I think it all depends on your demographic.

    Where I live, Southern California, the mid-size crossover is the car of choice for modern families and makes up probably 60% of what you’d see on a typical day in traffic. Here, bigger is better and people love the idea of a big, sporty, powerful car that drives like a car but has the room/space of a minivan. The new Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, BMW X5, Lexus RX…they are EVERYWHERE out here. So I think the new Sorento will do exceptionally well out here. But again – that’s just my particular area. 😉

  9. himi says:

    I guess you’re right, Charlie. In Europe, smaller cars are gaining on popularity, while crossovers/SUVs, that also used to be in high demand in the last few years, are slowly loosing ground. If a product is good, then it will still sell good, but somehow I see many people moving toward smaller vehicles that achieve better fuel consumption ratings and are easier to drive and park in the crowded European cities.

    I have noticed a similar trend in the US, but people in US tend to move from large-sized trucks to mid-sized crossovers and sedans. Which means, Kia can still achieve some pretty high sales numbers with new Sorento. I sincerely hope that next year, Kia can double or even triple Sorento’s current sales numbers.

  10. Greg says:

    The Sportage is a best seller at our dealership. I think the Sorento will do better now that the ride isn’t so harsh. Lots of Sorento sales lost to harsh ride.

  11. BJD (Boris) says:

    things can go either way here. Kia is doing gr8 with Sportage (best seller Kia in UAE). But the santa fé sells equally well for hyundai. the santa fé could possibly steal Sorento’s sales here but the panoramic roof could be a deal-breaker. 7-seat crossover demand is pretty good here. once you look at a road here, it won’t take long to spot a santa fé. hope i can say the same for this Sorento some day. the lack of airbag options here is a big turn-off tho.

  12. Marcus says:

    himi

    I agree that larger vehicles have decreased in sales. But recently there seems to be a slight shift in trend, and considering the numbers for fuel efficiency of the new Sorento I see good potential in sales. I sell Kias in Kalmar Sweden, and I think the most exciting part of the new Sorento is that it will no longer attract mainly farm/trailer people that are after its’ trailer and offroad abilities. But will now be a great option to a station wagon for the regular family, or for traveling sales people, while still fulfilling a lot of the features that attract the farm/trailer people.

    Can’t wait to get it in to the showroom.

  13. Sorento-R Owner says:

    Ha Ha Ha…
    This my car.
    fvcking good.

    But, I hope kia will raise price.
    I think america cusmers keep say “it’s still a kia…” no matter great quality car or not.

    then they will not raise price sharply.

  14. Sorento-R Owner says:

    ↑ typo miss.

    But, I hope kia will raise price.(X)
    But, I hope kia will ‘NOT’ raise price.(O)

  15. Aaron says:

    When the new Kia Sorento will arrive in the Malaysia???

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