Spied: The all-new 2021 Kia Sorento is in Malaysia, but don't get too excited yet
Sanjay · Mar 26, 2021 05:45 PM
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In between everything that's going on with Kia Malaysia's ownership situation, it seems that at least one unit of the all-new 2021 Kia Sorento has landed in Malaysia. However, it might be a bit too early to expect its launch here anytime soon.
You see, this MQ4-generation Sorento that was spotted in Shah Alam is actually a left-hand drive (LHD) unit.
That in itself is a clue - Kia Motors Corporation has a regional training centre (for Asia Pacific) here in Malaysia, and this is very likely a training unit. To be clear, it doesn't mean that its launch is imminent - at least not until the ownership issue is settled, expected to be concluded by April.
Having made its debut last year, the all-new Sorento is already in a few neighbouring countries, namely Singapore, Vietnam, and soon (before us?) Indonesia.
On the outside, the latest Sorento trades its old, rounded shape for an exterior that's characterised by sharp lines.
The eye-catching interior seats seven (with second-row captain seats), and up front there's two large screens - a 12.3-inch fully-digital instrument cluster and a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Fancier additions for higher-end variants include a head-up display (HUD), 12-speaker Bose sound system, and ambient lighting.
Safety-wise, the Sorento comes with 7 airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) as standard. More expensive variants come with several ADAS functions, namely:
Forward collision warning (FCW)
Lane keeping assist (LKA)
Adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go (ACC)
Performance-wise, our neighbours' Sorento comes with a choice of two powertrains:
Kia Sorento powertrain
2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel
202 PS / 404 Nm
8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT)
2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
177 PS / 232 Nm
6-speed automatic
Both powertrains can be paired with either an all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive system, depending on the variant selected.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.