Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
8 Apr 2020
5 min read

It's been a busy start to 2020 for Kia, with the "humble Korean brand" one of the few in Australia to be putting on sales in a falling market, and even achieving a milestone its never managed before, finishing ahead of stablemate (and rival) Hyundai in March sales for the first time in its 24-year local history.

Yep, Kia moved some 5654 vehicles in March, which marked a 6.6 per cent increase on the same month in 2019, when it recorded 5303. Hyundai moved 5306 cars in March, which is down some 31 per cent on their results in the same month last year.

All of which means, for March at least, Australia has a new number-one Korean brand

Read More: How Kia beat Hyundai to become Australia's number one Korean brand in March

But Kia won't be slowing down, either. While the brand concedes the ongoing impact of the coronavirus will continue to disturb their plans, it will still push ahead with one of its busiest years of late. 

"We had a fairly quiet year last tear, and this year was going to be bigger," says Kia Australia's Kevin Hepworth. "It wont be as big now, for anybody, but we’ll still do the best we can."

Headlining the busy year will be the arrival of the all-new Kia Sorento, which will share its new platform with the Carnival people mover

The fourth-generation Sorento - replacing the vehicle that has been on sale here since 2015 - will launch with a 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine paired to an eight-speed dual-wet-clutch automatic transmission.

Inside, the Sorento has undergone a tech overhaul, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which is paired to a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen to modernise the cabin. A head-up display, mood lighting, wireless smartphone charger, 12-speaker Bose sound system and quilted Nappa leather are also scattered across the trim levels. 

There are also seven charging ports, one for each passenger, and the Sorento is now longer (+10mm), wider (+10mm), taller (+10mm) and rides on a longer (+35mm) wheelbase.

The Sorento is expected to arrive in Australia in July, and it will be followed by the related (by platform, at least) new Carnival, due around December. 

Read More: New Kia Sorento 2020 detailed: Mazda CX-9-rivalling large SUV ups safety credentials

The new Kia Carnival is expected to arrive with a choice of choice of a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine (206kW/336Nm), or a new 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel (149kW/440Nm). The diesel will pair with an eight-speed dual-clutch auto, while the petrol should match with an eight-speed torque converter automatic. 

The new-generation Kia Carnival was spotted in the Victorian high country by a CarsGuide reader. (image credit: Carl Pinson)
The new-generation Kia Carnival was spotted in the Victorian high country by a CarsGuide reader. (image credit: Carl Pinson)

The new Carnival will retain its eight-seat layout, and should share interior equipment with the Sorento, which should mean a  a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which is paired to a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen in the centre of the cabin.

Read More: New Kia Carnival 2021 spied testing in Australia

The Kia Stonic is still on the cards for a late 2020 launch, but Kia warns the situation is "fluid" and that arrival could potentially bump into early 2021. 

The engines offered for the Rio-based SUV include a 1.4-litre four-cylinder and 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo, both of which are familiar from the Rio range in Australia.

The dimensions of the Stonic are very compact - it spans just 4140mm long, 1760mm wide and 1520mm tall, which will make it one of the more diminutive SUVs on the market. One can expect pretty diminutive pricing, too, with an expected start point around $20,000 or so.

Joining those three new models are three important facelifts for Kia, with the new Rio and Picanto due around the middle of the year, and a refreshed Stinger expected to lob in the third quarter of 2020. 

Read More: Kia Sonet 2020: New Mazda CX-3 rival detailed

The Kia Rio update is expected around June, but Kia advises it's a mild facelift, and so will be unlikely to shift the needle too dramatically.  That means S and Sport variants powered by a 74kW/133Nm 1.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, paired with either a six-speed manual or a four-speed auto. The top-spec GT Line, however, makes use of a clever 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that delivers a handy 88kW/172Nm, and is partnered with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The Kia Picanto is also in line for a mid-year refresh, with the design tweaks and new cabin tech expected to headline the changes. 

Finally, the Kia Stinger will undergo a major update in the third quarter of 2020, with international (but unconfirmed) reports suggesting the update will bring bigger engine options, with entry-level cars expected to score the a new 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder engine (borrowed fro the Optima) good for an reported 223kW and more than 420Nm, while the top-spec engine will be replaced by a new 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 that will push out a reported 285kW.

Read More: New Kia Stinger coming in 2020! Twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine to deliver even more grunt for Korea's rear-drive rocket - reports
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
About Author

Comments