Naza Kia Malaysia, the official distributor of Kia Motor vehicles in Malaysia, will be launching the new 2011 Sorento at the 2010 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). Featuring Kia’s latest design DNA, the all-new award-winning Sorento is set to elevate the brand to a new level in Malaysia. The all-new Sorento features an aggressive and muscular stance thanks to Kia’s signature tiger-nosed grille and high intensity discharge (HID) wraparound headlamps while its straight clean lines give it a solid and robust appearance.Its sporty appearance is further accentuated with its 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, LED rear lamps and LED side-repeaters on the side-view mirrors. The new Sorento’s overall length of 4,685 mm and width of 1,885 mm makes it longer, lower and more spacious than the previous-generation Sorento.
Underneath the hood of the new Sorento is a four-cylinder 2.4-litre DOHC CVVT engine that produces an output of 174 PS and 226 Nm of torque that is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission to offer an exhilarating ride.
For enhanced ride performance, the new Sorento is fitted with a compact and lighter MacPherson strut front suspension and a fully independent multi-link rear suspension while its four-wheel drive system enables off-road driving capabilities.
Inside, the new seven-seater, Sorento offers generous head and legroom. The award-winning SUV also includes a host of premium features such as push-button start ignition with a smart key, a stylish supervision cluster, in-dash six-CD changer, AUX, USB and iPod connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity as well as dual separate climate control for the driver and the front passenger.
The new Sorento’s seating configuration allows for the second and third row to be folded completely flat, the back row 50/50 while the centre row can be split 60/40 to accommodate passengers and bulky cargo. In fact, total cargo space in the new Sorento is 1,047-litres.
In terms of safety, the new Sorento is well equipped with a total of six airbags (dual front, side and curtain airbags), four-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Stability Control and Electronic Brake Distribution.The highline cruiser also features Hill Start Assist Control which prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards when trying to pull away from an uphill gradient and Downhill Brake Control which helps keep the Sorento moving straight and steady down steep grades. The bonnet of the new Sorento is also designed to crumple and flex strategically to absorb and disperse the shock of a collision with a pedestrian. As such, potential injury for pedestrians is reduced. The new Sorento is fitted with an electric chromic mirror (ECM) with a 3.5-inch rearview camera for all round vision, rear parking sensors and active headrests to cushion the driver or passenger’s head and prevent whiplash during a collision.Other highlights of the new Sorento include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio-mounted controls, auto-leveling device for the HID head lamp, a cargo net to secure loose items in the trunk, a cargo screen to keep personal belongings under cover, a centre console that can store many items including a 14-inch laptop, a 10-way driver’s seat. The new Sorento comes with a five-year warranty (terms and condition apply).
