Where was the Kia Sorento ad filmed?
_Uncovering the real‑world locations behind the Kia Sorento’s latest campaign* _*
(By Carmichael Phillip)
Initial clues: The San Antonio, Texas shoot
When tracking down where a major car‑maker shoots a national commercial, the first step is – do any reliable local news outlets confirm a production permit or filming activity? In this case, a locally‑published article from the San Antonio Express‑News (MySA) confirms that Kia Motors carried out a commercial shoot in San Antonio, Texas in August 2024. The article states:
“KIA Motors shot a new commercial for one of their vehicles … a bright blue Kia Sorrento [sic] … at the intersection of General McMullen and El Paso Street near the Las Palmas neighbourhood … filming across ZIP codes 78237, 78228 and 78226.”
While the vehicle referenced is spelled “Sorrento” in the article (likely a mis‑spell of Sorento), the coincidence of timing and location strongly suggests that at least part of the Sorento campaign was filmed in San Antonio.
But there’s more: Colorado wilderness backdrop for the 2024 Sorento campaign
In addition to the urban shoot in Texas, the official press materials from Kia’s U.S. media site provide further location detail — particularly in their press release for the 2024 Sorento. Under the “REFRESHED 2024 KIA SORENTO TACKLES COLORADO’S WINTER WILDERNESS” headline, Kia states:
“Set against the backdrop of the majestic Colorado Rockies, the refreshed 2024 Kia Sorento embarked on a journey along picturesque alpine roads for its national press introduction this week…”
This tells us two things:
The 2024 Sorento campaign includes mountain‑road / alpine backdrop filming in Colorado.
The campaign is, at least partly, designed to emphasise “rugged outdoor capability” which fits the Sorento’s messaging for X‑Pro trim etc.
Synthesising: Urban Texas + Alpine Colorado = Multi‑location filming
Putting those clues together, we arrive at a more refined answer:
One segment of the Sorento ad campaign was filmed in San Antonio, Texas, using city streets and West‑Side neighbourhoods (ZIP 78237, 78228, 78226) near General McMullen & El Paso Street.
Another segment (especially for the outdoor rugged visuals of the 2024 refresh) was filmed in the Colorado Rockies area, capturing alpine roads and winter wilderness.
Therefore, if you ask “where was the Kia Sorento ad filmed?”, the accurate response is that multiple locations were used: the urban environment of San Antonio and the mountainous terrain of Colorado.
Why choose these two contrasting locations?
The selection of such distinct filming locations isn’t random — it serves the strategic storytelling of the vehicle:
Urban setting (San Antonio): Filming in a vibrant city neighbourhood helps convey the Sorento’s everyday usability: navigating city streets, modern lifestyle, stylish design. The Texas location provides authenticity and allows Kia to film in a dynamic environment.
Wilderness / mountain setting (Colorado Rockies): By contrast, the alpine roads and winter wilderness evoke adventure, rugged capability, off‑road potential (especially for trims like X‑Pro). It visually signals that the Sorento isn’t just for suburban errands — it’s built for “the unexpected”.
Combining both underscores Kia’s message of “versatility” — the vehicle performs both in city life and in more adventurous terrain. This dual‑location approach bolsters that claim.
Widget not in any sidebars
What you can look for in the ad to spot the location
If you want to determine whether the commercial you viewed is one of the those filmed in Texas or Colorado, here are visual cues to watch for:
For Texas urban segment: Look for signage or architectural cues typical of San Antonio’s southwest side or West Side, ZIPs 78237/78228/78226. Street names like General McMullen or El Paso Street may appear. Flat terrain, city infrastructure, Hispanic‑influenced neighbourhoods, palm vegetation are hints.
For Colorado mountain segment: Look for winding alpine roads, significant elevation change, evergreen trees, snow (depending on season), rugged rock faces, mountain vistas. The phrase “winter wilderness” in the press release suggests possible snow or cold conditions.
If you see both types of scenery in the same spot (city followed by mountain roads), then that composite supports the multi‑location theory.
Widget not in any sidebars
Limitations & caveats to the location story
While we have credible sources, there are a few caveats:
The San Antonio article references “a new commercial for one of their vehicles … bright blue Kia Sorrento” but doesn’t explicitly mention “Sorento campaign” or tie it to the “Built for the Unstoppable” ad you may have seen. So while likely, it’s not 100 % confirmed that the commercial for Sorento was filmed only there.
The Colorado press release refers to the “press introduction” of the 2024 Sorento, which may not describe the exact commercial spot seen on TV; it might reflect the media launch visuals, not necessarily the exact ad cut.
Many car commercials use studio segments, green‑screen, digital effects, or multiple hidden locations (e.g., for interiors). So some sequences might not be immediately traceable to a physical location.
Regional variations: Some Kia commercials differ region to region, so the version you watched might have additional or alternate filming locales.
Why this kind of “location detective work” matters for viewers & fans
You might wonder: why does it matter where an ad was filmed? Here are a few reasons:
Authenticity and brand trust: Knowing a commercial was filmed in real places (rather than only studio or CGI) can enhance credibility about the vehicle’s capabilities.
Film‑tourism & local pride: Local communities appreciate when a major brand uses their city for filming; it can boost recognition, local economy, and even vehicles’ lifestyle associations.
Consumer storytelling: For fans of automotive ads, discovering filming locations adds an extra layer of interest — turning a 30‑second spot into a piece of pop‑culture trivia.
Marketing transparency: It helps viewers understand the production scale behind big brand ads — seeing a city shoot and mountain shoot signals a significant investment, which can influence perception of the brand.
Final answer: Where was the Kia Sorento ad filmed?
In summary: If you’ve seen the commercial for the Kia Sorento titled something like “Built for the Unstoppable”, the filming locations are not a single uniform place but a combination of different backdrops:
An urban one in San Antonio, Texas, especially the west‑side/neighbourhood around ZIPs 78237/78228/78226 (General McMullen & El Paso Street).
A wilderness mountain setting in the Colorado Rockies, used for the 2024 Sorento press campaign to emphasise rugged capability.
Kia Media
Hence, when asked “Where was the Kia Sorento ad filmed?”, the best‑supported answer is: In multiple locations — featuring San Antonio, Texas for the urban scenes and Colorado mountain roads for the rugged outdoor segments.
Acting Magazine Newsletters
Never miss out on the best from Acting Magazine.