New Models
New Models

Kia Sorento Yosemite and Zion concepts unveiled in the US

Off-road concept SUVs add all-terrain tyres, skid plates and roof racks to US-market Sorento X-Line.


Kia's US division has unveiled a pair of rugged concepts based on its Sorento seven-seat SUV.

Based on the flagship, off-road-oriented X-Line variant of the Sorento offered in the US, Kia's Yosemite Edition and Zion Edition concepts – named after two American national parks – have been created by LGE-CTS Motorsports of San Dimas, California.

Pitched as "a dream build for high elevation adventuring", the Sorento Yosemite Edition is finished in a unique Pine Green matte paint hue, trimmed with gloss and matte black accents. It features a black roof rack with four-piece LED spotlights, front and rear body armour, red recovery hooks and 'SORENTO' side decals.

Above and top: Kia Sorento Yosemite Edition

Meanwhile, the Sorento Zion features 'Desert Sand' exterior paint, gloss black accents and a full-length 'cargo top' roof carrier.

Both concepts feature 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 32-inch all-terrain tyres, along with custom, satin chrome skid plates and brush guards, and black fender flares.

The X-Line variant on which the concepts are based is no mere off-road sticker pack, with additions over standard Sorento models including 211mm of ground clearance (up 25.4mm, or one inch), unique bumpers with improved approach and departure angles, a locking centre differential, hill-descent control and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Above: Kia Sorento Zion Edition

While the concepts aren't bound for production, Kia US says the new Sorento, following its American market launch this month, will be offered with a range of off-road-inspired accessories, including roof rack crossbars, tow hitches and side steps.

Four powertrains are offered with US-market Sorento models, including a 142kW/245Nm 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine and a 207kW/422Nm 2.5-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder.

While the aforementioned petrol mills won't be offered in Australia, the two hybrid powertrains also offered in the US will arrive Down Under, from early 2021.

Above: Kia Sorento Zion Edition

A 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine combines with an electric motor to develop 169kW in conventional hybrid guise, while the plug-in hybrid adds a larger 13.8kWh battery and more potent electric motor for power and all-electric driving range figures of 195kW and 40-50km.

Other engine options available to Australian buyers consist of a 200kW/332Nm 3.5-litre V6 and a 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, both mated to eight-speed automatics.

The 2021 Kia Sorento is now on sale in Australia.


Below: The US-market Kia Sorento X-Line:

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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