Kia India has hit it out of the park with the launch of the new Sorento in India. Prices start at an attractive Rs 28 lakh and go up to Rs 40.40 lakh (both ex-showroom). The Sorento is available in nine trims, two seating configurations and two powertrain options.

Design-wise, the Sorento borrows cues from the Carnival, especially the headlamp design and the grille. It also gets turbine-like 19-inch alloy wheels on the top-spec trims, as well as vertically stacked taillamps, making it look and feel premium. As for the dimensions, the Sorento is the longest and widest SUV in its segment.

Inside, you get three screens, with two 12.3-inch units for the touchscreen and instrument panel. There’s a third small screen which controls the music and HVAC, similar to the one you see in the Carnival. Features include ventilated and powered front seats, generative AI (a first for the industry), a head-up display and quite a lot more. Safety also takes a front seat with 10 airbags, a 360-degree camera and blind spot monitoring, among others.

The Sorento is Kia’s first strong hybrid vehicle in the country. It gets a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with 177 bhp and 265 Nm, paired with an electric motor that churns out 64 bhp and 264 Nm. It comes mated to a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. The Sorento also comes with a 2.2-litre diesel engine that produces 190 bhp and 442 Nm, paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as well as an all-wheel-drive system. The Sorento also features multiple drive and terrain modes.

In terms of rivals, the Sorento competes with the Toyota Fortuner, Volkswagen Tayron, Skoda Kodiaq, Jeep Meridian and even the Mahindra XUV 700.

Additionally, Kia also showcased the hybrid version of the Carnival, with the same powertrain as the Sorento. The launch date and prices of the MPV haven’t been announced, but expect prices to be higher than the Carnival diesel. Kia also introduced factory-fitted CNG versions of the Carens and Carens Clavis, as well as a flex-fuel vehicle concept of the Syros. More details about these three vehicles will be revealed soon.