Kia Sorento India Launch on September 4: AWD and Live Gen AI Confirmed for New 7-Seater SUV - Team Autopunditz - 12 hours ago - 5 min read Kia India is preparing to make a significant move in the premium SUV segment with the launch of the Kia Sorento on September 4, 2026. Ahead of its market introduction, the company has confirmed two important technologies for the India-spec three-row SUV – All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and its new Live Gen AI in-car assistant. The Sorento will sit above the Seltos in Kia India's SUV portfolio and effectively become the company's flagship internal-combustion-engined SUV in the country. More importantly, it will mark Kia's entry into a part of the market currently occupied by premium three-row SUVs such as the Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron, Jeep Meridian and Toyota Fortuner. Kia Sorento AWD Confirmed for India One of the biggest confirmations ahead of the launch is the availability of all-wheel drive. The Sorento will become the first ICE-powered Kia offered in India with AWD, adding an important capability to what has primarily been a front-wheel-drive Kia SUV portfolio in the country. Globally, the Sorento is already available with AWD depending on market and powertrain. Kia's international specifications also show AWD availability on the Sorento Hybrid, demonstrating that the drivetrain is already integrated with the electrified version of the SUV. For India, AWD could give the Sorento a stronger premium positioning while improving traction on wet roads, loose surfaces and more challenging terrain. It also differentiates the upcoming SUV from models that focus primarily on urban three-row family transportation. Live Gen AI Brings Conversational Assistance Another major technology confirmed for the India-spec Sorento is Live Gen AI. Unlike conventional voice-command systems where occupants have to use relatively fixed commands, the generative-AI-based system is designed to