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2021 Kia Sorento
Following the success of the Kia Telluride and recent launch of the Seltos, it’s no surprise that the revamped Kia Sorento also receives a more aggressive design. One of Kia’s best known and best-selling models, the Sorento has found success with a conservative design, but the new model — designed at Kia’s Irvine, California, studio — breaks that mold.
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New Front End
The new design boasts a bold front end with a modern take on Kia’s tiger nose design, featuring a wider grille that extends into the headlights and hood. New daytime running lights underline the headlights and drop down to frame the grille shape.
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Rear Design
At the rear, formerly horizontal taillights yield to a new vertical design. The shoulder line flows from the rear fenders into the tailgate to create a lip spoiler and a biplane effect with the upper spoiler above the rear glass. A new wave shape gets added at the base of the C-pillar. Six alloy wheel designs are now offered.
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Trim Levels, X-Line
The 2021 Kia Sorento will be offered in five trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX and SX-Prestige, with either front- or all-wheel drive. Also added for 2021 is the X-Line SX-Prestige AWD, which features standard torque-on-demand AWD, a center-locking differential, downhill descent control and increased ride height to 8.3 inches — a 1.0-inch increase over standard ride height. The X-Line SX-Prestige AWD also adds a unique bumper, 20-inch alloy wheels and a bridge-type roof rack. The extra inch of ground clearance with the X-Line enables improved approach / departure angles.
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Engine Choices for 2021
The 2021 Kia Sorento offers a course of four engines. The standard unit is a 2.5-liter four cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque, combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission and either FWD or AWD. The new optional engine is the 2.5-liter four with turbocharging to generate 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, combined with a new 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission and FWD or AWD.
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Kia Sorento Hybrid
For the first time, Sorento will be offered with a hybrid powertrain that combines a turbocharged 1.6-liter gas engine with a 44-kW electric motor for a combined system output of 227 horsepower. Offered only as a FWD model with a 1.5 kWh battery, the Sorento Hybrid earns U.S. EPA fuel-economy ratings of 39 mpg city / 35 mpg highway / 37 mpg combined. The automaker will also add a Sorento Plug-In Hybrid during calendar 2021, combining a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with a 66.9-kW electric motor for a combined system output of 261 horsepower; it also has AWD as well as a 13.8 kWh battery for an estimated electric-only range of 30 miles.
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Kia Sorento Interior
Inside, the 2021 Kia Sorento offers new interior flexibility with available second-row captain’s chairs. Sorento buyers may select from either 4+2 or 5+2 seating configurations. The new Sorento will be built on Kia’s third-generation N3 platform which is lighter and stronger. The platform also adds 1.4 inches of wheelbase for additional interior space and reduces overall weight by nearly 120 pounds.
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New Technology
The 2021 Kia Sorento has an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster — the first ever offered on a Kia SUV. A surround view monitor employs four cameras to provide a 360-degree view. The available 10.25-inch touchscreen adds haptic feedback buttons and multi-connection Bluetooth connectivity.
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Kia Drive Wise
There are 16 Kia Drive Wise Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems that are either standard or available on the 2021 Sorento, including available new blind-spot collision avoidance, standard intelligent speed limit assist, standard forward collision warning, standard forward collision-avoidance assist as well as other driver assistance systems.
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