Refreshed 2024 Kia Sorento Coming With Telluride Styling

Sep. 12, 2022 10:56 AM ET by Sebastian Cenizo Spy Shots / 5 Comments

New spy shots reveal the influence the Telluride will have on the facelifted Sorento.

In early 2020, the fourth-generation Kia Sorento was revealed to the world, looking fresh enough to last a decade, but since then, Kia's design language has evolved considerably. The brand's entire lineup is looking sleeker and sexier than ever, but the Sorento has been left lagging slightly. To be fair, the Sorento is still an outstanding family vehicle and doesn't look bad from any angle. In addition, it's not old. But to ensure that the Sorento's popularity continues, the automaker is working on a facelift for the three-row midsize crossover, and it appears that the 2024 model may borrow some styling elements from its big brother, the Telluride.

Kia has done an excellent job of hiding its new arrivals in recent years by covering entire prototypes in loose-fitting camouflage with only the bare minimum in cooling and lighting openings. However, these initial spy shots captured by our wily photographers seem to indicate that the headlights will be changing from their current horizontal orientation and will instead look like scaled-down replicas of the Telluride's headlights, possibly with the existing Sorento's LED running night moving to the top of the headlight unit on each side. Moving down, it seems that the central lower intake may be flanked on either side by new inlets, possibly to direct air to the brakes.

At the rear, it's a lot more difficult to see what's going on, but that notchy tailgate will remain rather angular. It also seems as if the taillights won't be moved much but will employ new graphics, possibly with an offset slant rather than the current model's upright design. Our photographers report that these taillights may be connected by a full-width light bar, but it's nearly impossible to confirm anything at this point. Interestingly, the mirrors have been wrapped in camouflage even though they appear to be carrying over unchanged.

Inside, we're told to expect the latest Kia infotainment system with a new screen, along with a redesigned steering wheel and new upholstery options.

Under the hood, the prevailing rumor is that the existing engines will be tuned for increased fuel economy and reduced emissions but will otherwise be indiscernible from what is currently on offer. In the 2022 model, that means a 2.5-liter four-cylinder for the base model, which delivers 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. Further up the range, you get a 2.5 turbo with an impressive 281 hp and 311 lb-ft. Two hybrid variants are also currently available. A full reveal of the refreshed Sorento is expected late next year.

We suspect that Kia will squeeze as much out of the current-generation Sorento as possible before introducing something all-new and heavily electrified to carry us to 2023. If the Kia EV9 is anything to go by, the electric switch won't be a bad thing.

Refreshed 2024 Kia Sorento Coming With Telluride Styling

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Refreshed 2024 Kia Sorento Coming With Telluride Styling

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