2021 Kia Sorento powertrain details revealed – report
The leaks of the upcoming 2021 Kia Sorento have continued with details of its powertrain line-up revealed.
With all the leaks that have been occurring, there may be no surprises left by the time the 2021 Kia Sorento debuts at next month’s Geneva motor show.
We’ve already seen spy shots of the Sorento completely undisguised and now, thanks to The Korean Car Blog, we know what’ll be under its bonnet.
A leaked spreadsheet reveals the upcoming fourth-generation Sorento will receive a range of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines, each available with a choice of front- or all-wheel-drive.
The hybrid Sorento will use an electric motor mated to a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Korean Car Blog reports the total system output will be 164kW, while hybrid Sorento models will also feature a solar roof panel to help charge the battery – as featured on the upcoming Sonata Hybrid.
Unfortunately, the spreadsheet appears to confirm the hybrid will only be available in left-hand drive, ruling it out for Australia.
The other two powertrains on the spreadsheet will appear in both left- and right-hand drive markets.
One is a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder described as 'NEW R' (so it may be a new generation or an upgrade to the familiar R diesel engines), mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The 3.5-litre V6 will be replaced with the new Theta-III 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed automatic.
Kia is continuing to move to turbocharged four-cylinder engines, with the next-generation Carnival also expected to ditch its V6 for the Theta-III 2.5-litre.
That’s good news for Australian consumers as the new engine will be available with all-wheel-drive in right-hand-drive markets, unlike the current V6 Sorento.
We can probably just ignore the cell that reads a four-speed manual will be available with the naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine.
The new Sorento will also reportedly be available with a naturally-aspirated version of the 2.5-litre, also mated to a six-speed automatic and with a choice of front- or all-wheel-drive.
In markets like the US, lower-end models of the current Sorento are available with a naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine.
A naturally-aspirated four-cylinder version of the second-generation Sorento was only sold here from 2009 until 2012, making it unlikely this option will reappear here.
The new Sorento will make its official debut at this year’s Geneva motor show, which starts on 5 March, though the SUV may be revealed even sooner.
0
