First details of all-new Kia Sorento 21 | 06 | 2012

HOT ON THE HEELS of its all-new cee'd, Kia has completely overhauled the Sorento. The update comes just three years after current model was launched.

The model — which will be available as a seven-seater inly — will enter showrooms across the UK later this year, though we'll have to wait until the autumn for details of spec and pricing.

Since ints launch in the UK in 2010, 5400 Sorento models have been sold. The most popular market for the model remains the USA, and there have been more than 620,000 units sold worldwide.

In addition to a new platform, which is believed to be 100kg lighter, there's also a revised engine line-up. Ride, handling and refinement, have all also been improved.

Roadtest: 2012 Kia cee'd 2

No specific details of the engine line-up have been confirmed, but Kia has promised they will deliver 'best in class' fuel economy. It's probably pretty safe to expect a retuned version of the current model’s 2.2CRDi.

In the current Sorento, the 2.2 turbodiesel delivers 43.5mpg and 171g/km CO2. 

In keeping with the current fad, whether you like them or loath them, LED daytime running lights will be fitted on the new model.

There will also be redesigned headlamps, new front and rear bumpers, and the option of larger 19in alloys.Inside the cabin, there's a new LCD instrument cluster and a new-look centre stack with integrated seven-inch display.

And just for good measure, the new top spec model — in keeping with the latest cee'd, the new Sorento's trim levels have been simplified to include either 1, 2, 3 or 4 — features a larger panoramic roof. 

Kia plans 'hot' new cee'd

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Jim McGill