Face-Lifted 2024 Kia Sorento Goes Off-Road With New X-Pro Trim
Competes with: Chevrolet Blazer, Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tiguan
Looks like: A Sorento that got into the Telluride’s makeup kit
Powertrains: 191-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with eight-speed automatic transmission or 281-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with eight-speed dual-clutch automatic; front- or all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Model-year 2024 gas version in first quarter of 2024; model-year 2025 hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions later in 2024
With the all-electric EV9 set to enter the lineup alongside the similarly sized Telluride, Kia is moving to align the styling of its SUV family. A face-lift for the 2024 Sorento that’s appearing at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show leaves the overall shape of the mid-size SUV intact but borrows cues from both of its larger siblings. The update also brings along fresh interior tech and a new off-road-focused trim level.
Related: More 2023 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
Inherited Looks
The 2024 Kia Sorento’s broad, flat hood and vertically arranged headlights draw an obvious connection to the Telluride, while the amber daytime running lights spearing across the top of the top of the grille keep it from being a boring copy-and-paste job. Kia says the broader, taller grille is “from the EV9’s playbook” — which is interesting because the electric EV9 doesn’t have a grille. Still, the grille shape is similar to the flat panel that fills similar space on the EV9. New front and rear ends, taillights and two new paint colors — Midnight Lake Blue and Dawning Red — round out the exterior tweaks.
Get Horizontal and Connect
Inside, a new, slim dash design bisected by a strong horizontal element makes for a more open feel. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard and can be paired with an optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Whether buyers opt for the fully digital dash or stick with the base setup’s physical gauges, the touchscreen now runs on Kia’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit. The operating system tracks the frequency with which you use various functions and keeps the most common available with a quick swipe from the side of the screen. All 2024 Sorentos feature wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the available Digital Key 2.0 allows owners to use a paired phone as their key, as well as share that “key” with others via text message.
X and X-er
Kia is doubling down on the trend of butched-up trim levels by offering two on the face-lifted Sorento, keeping the X-Line in the lineup and adding the X-Pro. Both come standard with all-wheel drive, which features a locking center differential and torque vectoring. The off-road duo are available in two exclusive colors: Jungle Green and Roadrider Brown. They also offer unique upholstery options with matte-finish, open-pore wood trim.
The X-Line sports a gloss-black grille, revised front and rear styling with faux skid plates molded in, and gloss-black 20-inch wheels. Inside, the standard leather seats are embossed with the X-Line logo. Opting for the X-Pro gets the same visual upgrades but swaps the 20s for 17-inch rims wrapped in fat-sidewall BFGoodrich all-terrain rubber. The X-Pro is rated to tow up to 4,000 pounds.
Carryover Powertrains
The Sorento’s powertrains carry over from the 2023 model. The base engine in the LX and S trim levels is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 191 horsepower and 181 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 281 hp and 311 pounds-feet and paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic is standard on the EX, SX, SX-P, X-Line and X-Pro variants. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Sorento, while AWD is optional. The locking center differential and torque-vectoring function aren’t limited to the X-Line and X-Pro, being included with the AWD system regardless of trim level.
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Standard and Optional Safety Features
Kia boasts that the 2024 Sorento includes 10 standard advanced driver-assist systems. Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking has been enhanced to detect cyclists and pedestrians, and it can help prevent collisions while turning left at an intersection. The list also includes lane departure steering assist, lane-following assist, and a new Smart Cruise Control-Machine Learning function that Kia says can mimic a driver’s braking and acceleration style.
Optional safety features include a digital rearview mirror to show a wider area behind the Sorento while reversing and a 360-degree camera system to aid in parking. The available Highway Driving Assist 2 combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist and is capable of automated lane changes.
Pricing and Release Date
The redesigned gas version of the 2024 Kia Sorento will go on sale in the first quarter of 2024, with the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models following later as 2025 models. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale dates.
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