Kia Sorento Snapped Testing Yet Again; Here's All About The Toyota Fortuner Rival

Kia is preparing to bring the Sorento to India, as the premium SUV has been spotted testing on public roads once again. The latest spy shots reveal a heavily camouflaged test mule, hinting that the company is continuing development work ahead of its expected India launch in 2027. Once launched, the Kia Sorento will sit above the Seltos in the brand's SUV lineup and could take on models like the Toyota Fortuner, Jeep Meridian and Skoda Kodiaq.

Kia Sorento Spy Shot
Photo Credit: teambhp

Even though the SUV remains covered, a few design details were clearly visible in the previous spy images. The test car appears to get fresh-looking two-tone alloy wheels. Interestingly, the alloy design seems inspired by the LED DRL pattern seen on the global-spec Kia Sorento. The SUV also gets angular LED daytime running lamps, chrome window surrounds and black roof rails, giving it a more premium road presence.

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At the rear, the Kia Sorento test mule features vertically positioned LED tail lamps along with a roof-mounted stop lamp integrated into the spoiler, similar to the international model. One noticeable thing from the latest test car is the absence of a visible sunroof, although that could simply be due to the camouflage or the trim level being tested.

Kia Sorento
Photo Credit: teambhp

Reports suggest that the India-spec Kia Sorento could arrive with a hybrid powertrain. Kia is likely to use the same hybrid setup that will debut in the next-generation Seltos. This powertrain is expected to be based on a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with hybrid tech. Globally, especially in markets like the UK, the Sorento hybrid uses a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 6-speed automatic gearbox and standard all-wheel drive.

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If Kia decides to bring the stronger global hybrid setup to India, the Sorento could become one of the few premium three-row hybrid SUVs in the market. That would also help it stand apart from diesel-heavy rivals like the Toyota Fortuner. The Kia Sorento is expected to be priced between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 35 lakh (ex-showroom).