The Naza Sorento was the Malaysian version of the first-generation Kia Sorento. Naza put its own badge on the truck-based SUV, which Kia had launched at the end of 2001 with a 3.5-litre V6 and the choice of rear- or four-wheel drive.
Naza Sorento at a glance
| Maker | Naza, Malaysia (rebadged Kia) |
|---|---|
| Based on | first-generation Kia Sorento (BL, 2002) |
| Class | family SUV, five doors |
| Construction | body-on-frame |
| Engine | 3.5-litre 24-valve V6, 192 hp |
| Torque | 294 N·m at 3,000 rpm |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual or four/five-speed automatic |
| Drive | rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive with low range |
| Trim levels | LX and EX |
| Facelift | 2007, with 3.3- and 3.8-litre engines |
The English Wikipedia article on the Kia Sorento does not describe the Naza version separately; this page is based on that one source.
History of the Naza Sorento
Kia unveiled the first-generation Sorento in late 2001. Unlike the car-based crossover that followed, it was a traditional truck: a body-on-frame SUV with a live rear axle. Power came from a Hyundai-built 3.5-litre 24-valve V6 developing 192 hp at 5,500 rpm and 294 N·m of torque at 3,000 rpm. Buyers could choose a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, the latter replaced by a five-speed automatic in 2005. An optional four-wheel-drive system with a low range was praised for the off-road ability it added.
Standard equipment included four-wheel disc brakes, a 79.9-litre fuel tank and dual front airbags with side-curtain airbags front and rear on US cars. Anti-lock brakes were optional. There were two trim levels, the base LX and the up-level EX. A 2003 car tested by Euro NCAP and a 2002 car rated by the American IIHS gave mixed results, the IIHS placing it between Poor and Average.
For 2007 the Sorento was facelifted. The 3.5-litre engine gave way to a 3.3-litre unit of 235 hp and an optional 3.8-litre V6 of 263 hp, and towing capacity rose from 3,500 to 5,000 lb. Projector headlamps and new tail lamps were fitted, the five-speed manual was dropped and the five-speed Sportmatic automatic became standard. Most EX cars had full-time all-wheel drive with a 4×4 Low mode, while the LX used a part-time system with rear-wheel drive, 4WD High and 4WD Low. The facelifted model earned five stars from the NHTSA in frontal and side tests, though the IIHS still rated its side impact Poor.
Design and features
- Body-on-frame chassis: a truck-based SUV rather than a car-derived crossover.
- 3.5-litre V6: 192 hp and 294 N·m from a Hyundai-built engine.
- Optional low-range 4WD: a part-time system praised for off-road ability.
- Four-wheel disc brakes: standard on every model.
- LX and EX trim: two levels, with the EX carrying the higher equipment.
Naza Sorento versions
- 2002–2006: the original 3.5-litre V6 with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.
- 2005: five-speed automatic replaces the four-speed.
- 2007 facelift: 3.3-litre and 3.8-litre engines, projector headlamps, standard five-speed automatic.
- LX: part-time four-wheel drive with 2WD High, 4WD High and 4WD Low.
- EX: mostly full-time all-wheel drive with a 4×4 Low mode.
The Sorento was Naza’s SUV alongside the Naza Ria and Naza Citra MPVs. More cars are in the Naza collection.
Sources
- Kia Sorento, English Wikipedia: first generation, engines, facelift, safety
