Why the 2027 Kia Sorento might look too much like the new Telluride.

The new illustration above suggests the next-generation Kia Sorento could end up looking like a smaller version of the 2027 Kia Telluride. Which feels pretty predictable given Kia’s latest design direction.

The new Kia Telluride is already a success, earning strong reviews and plenty of attention. So applying the same bold styling to a smaller Sorento might seem like a smart move. But will it actually work?

Not everyone is convinced. Especially your friend Vince Burlapp..In person, the Telluride’s design feels overdone. Too big, too aggressive, and dominated by a massive plasticky grille. For comparison, the Hyundai Palisade offers a more balanced look and even a more refined interior, making it the better choice for some buyers.

The current Sorento has been around for nearly six years. It received a mid-cycle refresh in 2023, adopting a front-end design inspired by the Kia EV9. While the update helped, sales still haven’t matched the previous generation’s peak.

In 2024, Kia sold just over 95,000 Sorento units, which was below the nearly 115,000 units achieved by the earlier model. This suggests that while the refresh improved things, many buyers may still prefer the more subtle designs Kia and Hyundai offered in the past.

If Kia pushes the Telluride’s bold, cheap-looking grille onto smaller models like the Sorento, proportions could become an issue. What might almost work on a large SUV doesn’t always translate well to a midsize one.

Originally expected at the end of this year, the next-generation Sorento has now been delayed until next year. That is actually due to the 2023 refresh sale improvement. 

For now, it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see anything new.