Kia showcased the Kia Sorento to potential dealers in India in August last year. Recently, RushLane reader A P Kumar spotted a pre-facelift Kia Sorento on a highway in the country.
The Kia Sorento spotted recently was not camouflaged and wasn't void of its badges at the rear. From what it looks like, it's probably a company car used by high-ranking officials at the company's first plant under construction in Andhra Pradesh. The Kia Sorento is a mid-size SUV that rivals the likes of Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan X-Trail. It is available in 5- and 7-seat versions. The current, third-gen model arrived in 2014 and received a mid-cycle refresh late last year.
Instead of expensive mid-size models like the Kia Sorento, Kia is highly likely to prioritize much smaller and heavily localised cars like the Kia Picanto and Kia Rio Sedan. According to a report, Kia will enter the Indian market with a sub-4 metre SUV next year. The Kia Rio Sedan (Hyundai Verna rival) and Kia Picanto (Hyundai i10) rival could follow next. By that time, the Kia Sorento may have moved to its fourth generation.
Also Read: Hyundai Motor Group’s design chief hints at the Kia Stonic for Indian portfolio
Kia will showcase its products at Auto Expo 2018. The company could display the Kia Sorento to create a premium brand image and gain feedback for the model.
[Media Source: RushLane]
