At its 2026 Kia CEO Investor Day, the South Korean automaker revealed plans to expand its Indian product portfolio to 10 models  by 2030. The future lineup will have eight electrified models, including the Syros scheduled to EV, Sorento HEV and Carnival HEV.

While the Kia Syros EV is set to go on sale in August 2026, the Kia Sorento hybrid SUV is expected to debut in late 2026, with a market launch in early 2027. The Kia Carnival hybrid is likely to arrive by 2028 or 2029.

Also Read: Kia’s Most Affordable Hybrid SUV In the Works For India

Key Rivals

The Kia Sorento three-row premium SUV will sit above the Seltos in the company’s product lineup and go head-to-head against the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus. The upcoming 7-seater hybrid SUVs from Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Renault and Nissan will also be positioned against the Sorento.

Competitive Pricing

Kia plans to manufacture nearly 50,000 units of the hybrid SUV on annual basis to serve both domestic and export markets. The carmaker plans a local assembly (CKD) of the SUV at its Anantapur facility in India to keep pricing competitive. The Sorento is expected be priced between Rs 30 lakh – Rs 35 lakh (ex-showroom).

Hybrid Powertrain

Codenamed MQ4i, the new Kia 7-seater SUV is expected to be offered with a 1.5L petrol hybrid powertrain, which will also reported to feature in the new Seltos. Globally, the Kia Sorento is available with a 1.6L, 4-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection petrol hybrid powertrain, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Design Highlights

Spy images suggest that the India-bound Kia Sorento will look similar to its global counterpart. It will offer a commanding road presence and feature the signature ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, vertically stacked LED headlamps with T-shaped LED DRLs, sporty front bumper with larger air intakes, 19-inch alloy wheels, thick side cladding, roof rails, LED taillamps and a muscular tailgate.