Is the Sorento an imported model?
4 Answers
The Sorento is an imported model. The Sorento is a mid-size SUV produced by Kia. In terms of exterior design, the Sorento adopts Kia's new design language, with clean and uncomplicated overall lines, giving the vehicle a substantial appearance. For the interior, the Sorento primarily features an all-black design, with most areas wrapped in genuine leather, and the three-spoke steering wheel enhances its sporty feel. Other features of the Sorento include: 1. Body dimensions: The Sorento measures 4800mm in length, 1890mm in width, and 1720mm in height; 2. Powertrain: The Sorento is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivers a maximum horsepower of 185 hp, while the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine produces a maximum horsepower of 188 hp; 3. Transmission: The Sorento comes standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
When I first bought my car, the Sorento was indeed purely imported. Back then, the 4S stores proudly displayed the import badges, and the prices were sky-high due to tariffs. But things have changed in the past two years—Kia moved its production line to the Yancheng factory, and now most cars sold in stores are domestic versions. Not that the domestic ones are bad; the key point is that the price dropped by nearly 100,000 yuan after localization, and features like a panoramic sunroof and smart driving assistance were added. My neighbor kept raving about how great it was when he picked up his car last month. However, if you come across a used 2018 model in the second-hand market, chances are it's the original imported version.
Last year when I accompanied my friend to look at cars, I researched and found out that the Sorento has been domestically produced since 2020. The engine compartment nameplate now indicates it's manufactured in Yancheng, Jiangsu. In terms of differences, the imported version has a firmer suspension tuning, while the domestic version has rear seat cushions thickened by 15mm. However, the three major components remain the same as the overseas version, featuring the 2.0T+8AT combination, and even the wiper motor is the same Bosch unit used in the Korean factory. If you're looking for a purely imported model, you'd have to search for pre-2019 registered inventory vehicles.
I've been repairing cars for ten years and have disassembled three generations of Sorento. The welding spots on the chassis of the 2022 domestic version are noticeably denser. Although the imported version uses German Sachs shock absorbers, which are 200 yuan more expensive than the domestic Wanxiang parts, the domestic version is equipped with a full-frame subframe, making it more stable when going over speed bumps. Recently, while helping a client find a used imported version, I discovered that the 2017 Korean-made models often have issues with the air conditioning pump leaking refrigerant, a problem not seen in the domestic versions.
