Facelifted Kia Sorento 7-seater SUV unveiled at LA Auto Show

• Now features Kia’s latest interior tech 
• Arriving mid-2024
• Starting price of around £40,000

We’d seen a sneak preview of the updated Kia Sorento earlier this year on social media, but now the covers are officially off courtesy of the LA Auto Show, and we can take a detailed look at the seven-seater SUV in the metal.

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The most noticeable exterior updates can be seen up front, with new, vertical LED headlights replacing the horizontal units found on the old model. The new headlights are accompanied by thin, T-shaped daytime running lights, bringing the Sorento up to date with Kia’s latest design language as seen on the electric EV9 SUV. The front grille has grown in size and the bumper beneath it has had a minor rework too, with a new skid plate to provide some off-road protection.

The Sorento’s side profile remains unchanged and the rear is largely the same, the only differences being a reprofiled bumper and new LED tail-lights. These rear clusters replace the split-element items found on the previous model, and feature a sharp new LED graphic.

Moving inside the Sorento, the first thing you notice is the new curved panoramic display, with a pair of 12.3-inch screens. This appears to be the same item used in the previously mentioned EV9 and results in a simpler, minimalistic dashboard layout. The new display runs on Kia’s latest software, which will include over-the-air updates and the option to use your smartphone as a digital key.

Under the bonnet, the outgoing model’s 226bhp, 1.6-litre hybrid powertrain will be carried over, along with the more powerful 261bhp plug-in hybrid option. No matter which engine you choose, all Sorentos will come with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox, although there’s a chance that the diesel option will be removed from the UK market.

A starting price of around £40,000 is likely for the entry-level hybrid, which would undercut the outgoing model by several thousand pounds, and we can expect it to hit UK roads by mid-2024.

If you’re interested in a seven-seater family car, make sure to read our top 10 list