Launching in the US for the 2022 model year, the Kia Sorento doesn’t look dated, but the time for a mid-cycle refresh is coming soon. The South Korean automaker is already testing camouflaged prototypes in Europe and our spies nabbed a test vehicle earlier this month. The front-covering disguise was significant, but we saw a few design changes hidden under the cladding.
The latest spy photos have inspired our friends and colleagues at Kolesa.ru to produce two exclusive renders previewing the refreshed SUV. What you see in the gallery below is the refreshed Sorento with a new face featuring redesigned headlights with C-shaped LED daytime running lights and a new grille. We’re not entirely sure of the latter – the pattern doesn’t exactly match what we saw on the prototype – but it’s surely a possible option for the modified fascia.
These renders also feature tweaks to the rear. The spied prototype didn’t show much of its back as it had additional concealment, although renders believe the rear fascia could accommodate a coast-to-coast LED bar connecting the taillights. This ever-popular design element seems to complement the Telluride-inspired styling in the rear well. New touches to the rear bumper are also likely.
The current Sorento is available in the US market with a choice of four powertrains. The base 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine produces 191 horsepower (142 kilowatts) and is followed by a turbocharged version of this 281 hp (210 kW) engine. Two electrified mills are also available, both using a 1.6-litre engine and generating 227 hp (169 kW) and 261 hp (195 kW) in hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants respectively. We doubt the engine line-up will change with the facelift, but there could be minimal tweaks to spec.
The current generation Sorento has been on sale in the US since 2022 and we suspect the refreshed model won’t arrive until the middle of next year. Before that happens, the family SUV will likely be introduced in facelifted form in South Korea and Europe.
