Since these automakers have the same owners, there would be no reason to promote internal competition among their products. Therefore, the Koreans used this very positive moment to apply a strategy which most companies in similar situations are already using: some sort of “divide and conquer”. Like Chrysler and Dodge, Citroën and Peugeot or even Ferrari and Maserati do, in cases like this it is better to dedicate each marque to a portion of the public of its own. This is why Hyundais have started to look more conservative, specially after releasing Fluidic Sculpture. Kia, in turn, became more suitable for those who appreciate a casual look, with a touch of sportiness that does not – or tries not to, at least – lose the good taste.
One of the advantages of this particular case is the fact of not depending on price ranges. Instead of what Renault does with Dacia, for example, the Korean duo is allowed to release vehicles of any level, as long as these remain focused on different buyers. One of the practical effects of all this is that you should not be surprised if you find the new Sorento much more similar to the new Sedona than to Hyundai Santa Fe. Kia’s crossover became more rational than ever this time, leaving to Sportage the task of attracting all the attentions. Instead, Sorento will now worry with delivering lots of room to seven occupants (and their luggage) and transportating them with plenty of comfort and fuel efficiency.
Such change of directions can be noticed at the external styling. It is still possible to spot most of the elements seen at the outgoing Sorento, but they all look “smoothened”. The front fascia invests on more horizontal lights and air intakes in order to highlight the car’s width, although that silver insert seems too big. The chrome inserts, in turn, help to form Kia’s signature upper grille and a visual connection between that and the headlights which is impossible not to remind of what BMW uses. The sides became more imponent by elevating the base line of the windows, but the visual balance was restored by increasing the light-catcher “shoulders” right above the handles. The rear, in turn, looks like a combination of the previous car’s 2009 and 2012 looks.
Designed in Kia’s Korean studio of Namyang, Sorento’s external dimensions changed in the same way as most of the recent releases: compared to its previous generation, it became longer (by 95 mm) and wider as well as a little shorter (by 15 mm). Besides, stretching the wheelbase by 80 mm will certainly accommodate all the seven occupants much better. While most official information will only appear in a few weeks (this vehicle will debut at this year’s Paris Auto Show), for now you can expect there will be better materials for dashboard and seats and the typical array of convenience and safety equipments, along with driving improvements and more efficient engines – probably only with diesel. This article will be updated with more details as soon as they appear.