Stunning All-New 2021 Kia Sorento Set to Make Canadian Debut

• Two all-new powertrains, including a 2.5-liter turbo producing 281 horsepower and a heart-pounding 311 lb.-ft.¹ of torque
  
• New X-Line AWD trim, equipped with 20-inch Gloss Dark Grey alloy wheels, increased ride height, bridge-type roof rack and exclusive exterior details
• Second-row captain’s chairs available for first time on Sorento and the latest in Kia’s Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems
• Segment-exclusive 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission available

TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento changes the game. Again. Since its debut in 2002, the Sorento is one of Kia’s best-known and best-selling vehicles in Canada, becoming progressively more powerful, more attractive, better engineered and more technologically advanced in each new iteration. The 2021 model sets a new standard for Sorento’s sustained excellence and leadership as a rewarding SUV.

“We can’t wait for drivers to experience this phenomenal evolution,” says Elias El-Achhab, Chief Operating Officer at Kia Canada. “Just like the award-winning Telluride, the all-new and refined Sorento is truly a class above.”

The all-new 2021 Sorento is expected to go on sale later this year and pricing will be announced closer to its on-sale date.

A Sorento for Everyone

The 2021 Sorento will be offered in six trims: LX+, LX Premium, first ever X-Line, EX, EX+ and SX, all with standard AWD, 3^rd row seating and available in two powertrains. The X-Line is an all-new trim that will be the entry-point for the impressive 2.5T engine and will boast a distinctive look with 20” wheels and a gratifying interior with 2^nd row captain’s chairs.

All New and Dynamic, Inside and Out

The exterior of the 2021 Sorento is characterized by sharp, modern lines accentuated with high-tech details – elevating the entire Sorento experience beyond a standard SUV. This evolution of Kia’s dynamic aesthetic is exemplified best in the following details:

• Kia’s modernized “tiger face,” with new “eyeline” details and a wide and thin front grille extending into the headlight and hood structure
• The hood edge wraps around the body side and integrates into the rear shoulder line, enhancing length and width
• Standard LED headlamps and optional signature LED forward lighting includes daytime running lights. Headlamp and DRL modules are separated for a high-tech look
• Strong side character line emphasizes muscular and athletic profile
• Split-vertical LED taillights
• Four different alloy wheels, from 17-inches to 20-inches, which is the largest ever for Sorento

The all-new interior continues the strong, solid and sophisticated modernity of the exterior. Following a credo of “Refined Boldness,” the interior designers instilled the cabin with unexpected materials to cast a striking effect, including:

• Bright satin finishes
• Available metal texture inlays or open-pore wood inlays
• Leather embossed quilt pattern on optional leather-equipped models
  

Built on a Strong Foundation

The 2021 Sorento is built on an all-new 3^rd generation “N3” platform that is lighter and stronger than previous models. Features include:

• Increased wheelbase by 35mm (1.37 inches) for more interior space
• Body-in-white weight is reduced by 5.6% and overall weight is reduced by 3.1%
• Average tensile strength is improved by 4% compared to the previous Sorento
  

• Improved driving dynamics, including acceleration, ride and handling, and noise vibration and harshness (NVH)
  

Power to Choose

Two engines are offered on the 2021 Sorento, each with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and the addition of Terrain modes:

• 2.5-liter GDI 4-cylinder
  • 8-speed automatic transmission
  • 191 horsepower and182 lb.-ft. torque
  • AWD system uses torque-vectoring with center-locking differential to provide extra power to rear wheels in slippery conditions²
  • Estimated combined (city and highway) 9.7 L/100km representing a 4.9% improvement over outgoing 2.4L 20MY engine (10.2 L/100km)
• 2.5-liter GDI 4-cylinder Turbo
  • Segment exclusive 8-speed wet dual clutch automatic transmission that promotes lightning-fast gear changes without interrupting torque delivery
  • 281 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. torque
  • 3,500 lbs of towing capability
  • Estimated combined (city and highway) 9.9 L/100km representing 10.8% improvement over outgoing 3.3L 20MY engine (11.1 L/100km)

Let’s Get Technical

Like all Kia vehicles, the new Sorento is loaded with an extensive list of advanced technology:

• Available features include: 12.3-in. full digital meter cluster (a Sorento first and first for any Kia Canada SUV)
• Surround View Monitor utilizes four cameras to provide a 360-degree perspective around the vehicle and Blind View Monitor projects live video view of adjacent lanes in the instrument cluster and is activated via the turn signal
• Up to 8 USB ports (trim level dependent)
  

• 8-inch or available 10.25-inch high-resolution color touchscreen display³
• Split-screen functionality
• UVO Intelligence link telematics offers an array of advanced connected vehicle features, such as:
  • Connected Routing⁴: A new cloud-based route calculation system that uses UVO cloud to calculate the optimal route using real-time maps, predicted upcoming traffic info based on historical information and AI to learn the preferred routes of users
  • Connected Weather⁷: Provides weather information across North America
  • Advanced notifications:
    • Engine Idle Notification and Automatic Engine Shut Off notifies the driver via the UVO link app if the engine is left idling and, after a pre-selected time, turns off the engine
    • Rear Occupancy Alert can send push notification alerts via the UVO Intelligence app if movement is detected inside the vehicle
    • SOS Connect and Roadside Assistance will automatically attempt to call 911 Call Centre via the built-in UVO modem if an airbag deploys. For non-emergencies, it can connect with 24/7 roadside assistance and share the vehicle’s location
  • Also available within UVO Intelligence, for the first time on any Kia, are two new features:
    • On-demand Find My Car with Surround View Monitor⁷ uses the vehicle cameras to capture images of the vehicle’s surroundings and then shares them via the Kia UVO Intelligence app
    • Final Destination Guide provides walking directions to the driver’s final destination if the vehicle is parked between 100 meters and 2 kilometers away

This 4^th generation Sorento is equipped with the leading-edge technology of Kia’s Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)⁵:

• Available new Blind Spot Collision Avoidance - Parallel Exit: Uses the rear-corner radar to detect a collision risk with parallel traffic when leaving a parking spot. The system applies emergency braking and cautions the driver through the cluster and an audible alarm
• Standard Forward Collision Warning (FCW): Designed to detect a vehicle ahead in the lane and in certain conditions, calculates distance and closing speed to issue an alert to the driver if it senses a potential frontal collision
• Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA): Builds on FCW by assisting the driver when braking to help prevent a collision or lessen the effects in certain conditions if a vehicle or object is detected in front
• Standard FCA-Pedestrian: builds on FCW by detecting vehicles, objects and pedestrians in front
• Available FCA-Cyclist: builds on FCW by detecting vehicles, objects, pedestrians, and cyclists in front
• Available Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) - Junction Turning (FCA-JT): Assists the driver in braking to help prevent a collision or lessen the effects in certain conditions when turning left at an intersection and an oncoming vehicle is approaching
• Standard Driver Attention Warning (DAW)⁶: Senses inattentive driving patterns and sends an audible/visual warning to alert the driver
• Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA): Alerts driver with a chime and cluster notification when the leading vehicle begins to move forward from a standing position
• Standard Lane Following Assist (LFA): Follows lane markings that the system detects and provides steering inputs to help maintain the vehicle in the center of the lane
• Available Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA): Under certain conditions, can detect vehicles traveling in the next lane. When a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, the vehicle brakes the outer wheel under certain conditions to help return the vehicle to its lane
• Available Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA): Helps detect most approaching cross traffic when in reverse. When approaching cross traffic is detected, the system alerts the driver and applies brakes if necessary
• Available Parking Distance Warning-Reverse (PDW-R): Detects certain objects behind the vehicle, issuing an audible warning when an obstruction is detected. The warning tone chimes faster as the vehicle gets closer to the detected object
• Available Parking Collision Avoidance Assist (PCA-R): Uses rear view camera and rear ultrasonic sensors to help detect most pedestrians or nearby obstacles when the vehicle backs out of a parking spot, warning drivers with a chime and can engage brakes to prevent a collision
• Available Navigation Based Smart Cruise Control-Curve (NSCC-C): leverages the navigation system to lower the vehicle’s speed proactively before upcoming curves
• Available Highway Driving Assist (HDA)⁷: Uses federal highway speed limit information from the navigation system and, under certain conditions, will automatically adjust speed to be within the posted speed limit and maintain distance with the vehicle detected in front
• Available Safe Exist Assist (SEA)⁸: Can alert the driver or passengers opening their door not to exit the vehicle when the system detects approaching traffic. When detected, a chime sounds. The system can intervene to lock the rear doors when the vehicle is equipped with available Power Child Lock

For more information, visit https://www.kia.ca/sorento2021

About Kia Canada
Kia Canada Inc. (KCI), founded in 1999 and is a subsidiary of the Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) based in Seoul, South Korea. The full line of award-winning Kia vehicles offers world-class quality and customer satisfaction through a network of 195 dealers across the country. The company employs 170 people at its headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, as well as in locations across Canada and at its regional office in Montréal, Québec. Kia’s slogan "The Power to Surprise," symbolizes the company’s worldwide commitment to exceed customer expectations through sustained automotive innovation.

Whether it is a compact, crossover, or electric model which is among the best in the industry, each Kia vehicle offers a superior combination of precision engineering, exceptional performance, innovative features and advanced safety systems. Kia has sold a million vehicles, including popular models in Canada like the Soul, Forte, Sportage, Sorento, Stinger and has recently added the Seltos and K5 to its lineup. To learn more, visit kia.ca or Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Amanda Chouinard
Strategic Objectives
amanda.chouinard@strategicobjectives.com   
T 416-500-0351

Jennifer Szmilko
Manager, PR and Communications
Kia Canada
jszmilko@kia.ca
T 905-302-5452

¹ Based on comparing torque specifications for other 2020MY compact SUVs, as of August 2020. Does not include hybrid vehicles or sports performance trims.
² No system, no matter how advanced, can compensate for all driver error and/or driving conditions. Always drive safely.
³ Distracted driving can result in a loss of vehicle control. When operating a vehicle, never use a vehicle system that takes your focus away from safe vehicle operation.
⁴ Available only with AVN 5.0 with Navigation.
⁵ These features are not substitutes for safe driving, and may not detect all objects surrounding vehicle. Always drive safely and use caution.
⁶ Driver Attention Warning is not a substitute for safe driving and may not detect all instances of driver fatigue or inattentive driving practices. Failure to pay attention to travel conditions and vehicle operation could result in loss of vehicle control. Always drive safely and use caution.
⁷ Highway Driving Assist is not a substitute for safe driving, may not detect all objects around the vehicle, and only functions on certain federal highways. Always drive safely and use caution.
⁸ Safe Exit Assist is not a substitute for one’s attention and may not detect all objects surrounding the vehicle. Always pay attention to traffic and to the area around your vehicle when exiting the vehicle.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/128c189f-8745-464d-b28d-0154187e89d6