- Packs 60 horses more than the Toyota Fortuner
- Sells in markets like the United States
- Has a three-pronged approach – product, reliability, and service
It’s an era of big cars, and every manufacturer seems to be surfing this wave – with a few exceptions, of course. Out of these, Kia seems ready to take a plunge in India – a market that widely accepts the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra Scorpio, Mahindra Thar, among others. For a segment dominated by the likes of the Fortuner in the Rs. 35-45 lakh bracket (prices matched the US-spec Sorento), will it pose itself as a strong rival?
Spec Highlights
Spanning 4.8m long, 1.9m wide, and 1.7m high, the Kia Sorento gets a 2.8m wheelbase. This is dimensionally similar to the Toyota Fortuner. Mechanically, it gets two configurations – 1.6L petrol PHEV (261bhp) with 6AT and 2.2L diesel (200bhp) with 8DCT systems. The Sorento PHEV is significantly more powerful as compared to the Fortuner (201bhp), of which the latter gets 2.0L diesel motors across 2WD, 4WD, and 48V mild-hybrid configurations. It also gets 12.3-inch screens, 19-inch alloys, drive selector dial, Level 2 ADAS (likely), panoramic sunroof, etc.
Perception Game
India is a market driven by perception and sentiments. This is bolstered by the fact that Toyotas, even if lacking on the features front, last an eternity, coupled with excellent sales and aftersales services. Kia cars are equally reliable, and the brand is just as customer-centric. Although this may take a while to garner a niche, this is something that can challenge the Fortuner’s positioning. On one hand, we have Toyota with a tried-and-tested, risk-averse approach, and on the other, we have Kia, which takes the plunge with its tech-forward cabin implementation. It will be interesting to see how the two SUVs lock horns in the Indian market.
