Dinamikjaya Motors, the sole distributor for Kia vehicles in Malaysia has confirmed that after the CKD 2022 Kia Carnival, the locally assembled (CKD) 2023 Kia Sorento will be launched next.
Now, if you're wondering whether you have heard this before, well yes, the Kia Sorento has been tipped to make it here for some time, as part of a new wave of locally-assembled Kia models.
As a recap, the fourth-generation Kia Sorento (MQ4) made its debut in 2020. It's a sister car to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Both are three-row 7-seater mid-size SUVs.
The MQ4 Sorento is underpinned by the Hyundai group’s 'N3' mid-size SUV platform.
Powertrain details for Malaysia have not been confirmed, but electrified ones have been hinted at.
Globally, the Sorento is offered with a choice of petrol, diesel, hybrid and PHEV powertrains:
- 2.5-litre turbo petrol, 8AT
- 2.2-litre turbodiesel, 8AT
- 1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid, 6AT
- 1.6-litre turbo petrol PHEV, 6AT
On the outside, the latest Sorento trades its old, rounded shape for an exterior that's characterised by sharp lines.
The eye-catching interior replete with second-row captain seats, features two large screens upfront – 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), a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and ambient lighting.
Safety-wise, the Sorento comes with 7 airbags, ABS and electronic stability control (ESC) as standard. More expensive variants come with a full suite of ADAS functions that includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Keeping Assist and Forward Collision Warning.