Video: 2024 Kia Sorento Up Close: The Baby Telluride

It gets some styling updates, a new X-Pro trim, and one very important technological update. So let's take a look and see what's new. The new front styling for the Sorento is a lot blockier than its predecessor, bringing it more in line with the Telluride and to a certain extent, the EV9. Kia says it actually borrowed from the EV9's playbook to get this look, which is an interesting choice. But again, sort of unifies the design language and makes the Sorento look a bit more aggressive. This is the new X-Pro trim. So we do get 17-inch wheels with actual all-terrain tires. It's a slight bump in capability, not a huge bit, but better than nothing, and it ups the Sorento's towing capacity to a maximum of 4,000 pounds. And as we come along to the back here, we get new blockier taillights, and new rear styling overall. It's not a radical departure from the previous Sorento, but I think it's a bit more aggressive and it's still very good looking. Powertrains for the new Sorento carry over from the previous one. So S and LX models get a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine, making 191 horsepower and 181 pounds feet of torque, trims above to get a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 281 horsepower and 311 pounds feet of torque. The base engine pairs with a traditional eight-speed automatic while the turbocharged engine gets an eight-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Front and all-wheel drive are available and all models with all wheel drive get a locking center differential and torque vector. Inside the cockpit of the X-Pro, we get a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen display. That's standard on all Sorento models. The optional 12.3-inch digital instrument panel is also here. Lower trim levels can get physical gauge cluster, but here we have the digital one. We've used these screens before. They look great, they work great. Very happy to have them here. Not a big fan of the switch to the touch sensitive climate and audio control panel that you have to switch between, but it does work fairly well. I would just prefer physical controls. The rest of the control layout is pleasantly physical, really well laid out, the materials feel great, but I'm saving the big news for last. And the big news is that this finally is a Kia with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto connectivity. That's a big deal, it's something we've been harping on for years now, it feels like, and just having the convenience of it is a big deal. We should check out the second row now, see how comfortable that is and eventually, we'll have to check out the third row. Here in the second row, not a whole lot to report. All very positive. I have a lot of leg room, I have a lot of headroom even with this gigantic panoramic sunroof. My head is touching the headliner a little bit, but not too bad. I'm not cramped, I'm not doing anything to reposition myself. Great visibility outwards, great leg room. I wish these chargers were not integrated into the sides of the seats. That's gonna bend your charging cables. But there is a nice household outlet and a 12-volt outlet as well as vents. Seats feel comfortable. There's not a huge dip in materials quality either. So this is a good second row. I'm very happy with it. I am not happy that now we have to explore the third row, which is not built for adults, but let's go check it out. I'd like to keep this brief. The third row does not fit me. The seats are too low, I have no leg room, I have no head room. This is not made for adults. Also, honestly, this is a very small porthole window, which isn't really conducive, A, to feeling like you're in an open space and B, to someone like me who gets motion sick very easily. I would not recommend using this for anything other than short trips or small people you don't like. We'll have to wait a bit longer for a more comprehensive update to the Sorento, but the changes Kia made to the 2024 are certainly welcome. For more on the 2024 Sorento and everything else here at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show, you can find it on cars.com.