Kia Sorento Bookings Open at Rs 25,000: Flagship Hybrid SUV Lands in October
Kia India has quietly begun accepting pre-bookings for the Sorento at Rs 25,000 through dealers, ahead of an expected debut later this month and a full launch pencilled in for October 2026. The Sorento will sit at the top of Kia India's ICE-powered SUV range as its new flagship.
What was announced
Dealer sources have confirmed to Autocar India that Kia has unofficially opened pre-bookings for the Sorento at Rs 25,000. The SUV will serve as the flagship ICE-powered model in Kia India's lineup, sitting above the Carens Clavis and EV6. A public debut is expected later this month, with the market launch tipped for October 2026. The Sorento was first spotted testing on Indian roads in late 2025.
Three seating layouts and a proper strong-hybrid powertrain finally give the premium seven-seater segment something other than a diesel-only Fortuner.
Powertrain details point to a 1.6-litre strong-hybrid turbo-petrol, the same family used in the UK-spec car. For reference, that unit produces a combined 238hp and 380Nm, paired with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. Kia offers the Sorento in front-wheel and all-wheel drive globally; the India-spec drivetrain choice has not yet been confirmed. Final power figures for India are also under wraps.
The most interesting India-specific detail is seating. Dealers have indicated the Sorento will be sold in three layouts: 5, 6 and 7 seats. If confirmed, it would be the only model in its segment to offer all three configurations. Dimensionally, the global-spec Sorento measures 4,815mm in length, placing it well above the Carens and squarely in Toyota Fortuner and Skoda Kodiaq territory. Kia has not disclosed pricing, but positioning above the Rs 50 lakh mark looks inevitable given the hybrid powertrain and flagship billing.
The Car Jury verdict
The Sorento is Kia's first genuine crack at the premium three-row SUV space in India, and the spec sheet reads right: a strong-hybrid 1.6 turbo-petrol making a combined 238hp and 380Nm in UK trim, a torque-converter automatic, and optional AWD. Offering 5, 6 and 7-seat layouts is a smart move; nothing else in the segment gives you that choice.
The catch is positioning. Kia's mainstream success in India has been built on the Seltos and Sonet, both TCJ BUYs, while the three-row Carens remains a WAIT. Team-BHP rightly groups the volume Kias with the Creta and Kushaq crowd; the Sorento plays a completely different, pricier game against the Toyota Fortuner Hybrid and Skoda Kodiaq. Book it only if you actually want a hybrid seven-seater above Rs 50 lakh.
