2021 Kia Sorento to launch in Indonesia, Malaysian future still in limbo

Following our earlier report of the all-new 2021 Kia Grand Carnival heading to Indonesia, we have also learnt that it'll be joined by the all-new 2021 Kia Sorento as well.

Information found on the archipelago's Samsat database (think our Road Transport Department, JPJ) points towards the SUV being powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine (202 PS / 404 Nm) paired to a new 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).

Indonesia is the second country to receive the fourth-generation Sorento in the ASEAN region, after Vietnam.

What's hot about the all-new Sorento?

Beyond said powertrain information, much about the Indonesian-specs Sorento is still murky.

In Vietnam at least, the all-new Sorento comes with a host of standard features across all variants, such as:

• LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs)
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
• Powered tailgate
• Electric driver's seat adjustment

Fancier kit for higher-end variants include a 12-speaker Bose sound system, electric parking brake (EPB), as well as ventilated seats. 

Safety wise, the Sorento comes standard with 6 airbags and a reverse camera. Only the highest variants get basic advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features such as forward collision warning (FCW) and lane tracing assist (LTA).

Can we expect it in Malaysia this year?

As we clarified in the Grand Carnival report, it's highly unlikely that this model makes it here in 2021, at least not until Kia's Malaysian operations sort out their current ownership issue.