KIA Sonet

Kia had launched the Sonet compact SUV in the Indian market on September 18, 2020. The small SUV was an instant hit among young and first time car buyers, as it managed to record a constant sale of around 7,000 to 8,000 units per month. This model sits below the Seltos in Kia India's portfolio. The sub-4 meter SUV segment is currently dominated by Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon and  Hyundai Venue. In a bid to maintain its sales momentum, Kia had introduced the facelifted Sonet in India on April, 3, 2024.

It is a 5-seater SUV; however, select international markets are offered with a 7-seat option. It is available with 3 engine options - a 1.2L naturally-aspirated petrol, a 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo petrol and a 1.5L turbo diesel with manual and automatic gearbox options. Measuring under 4 meters in length, the new Sonet is eligible to tax benefits offered on sub-4 meter cars with petrol and diesel engines with capacity under 1200cc and 1500cc, respectively.

KIA Sonet price

The Sonet compact SUV is available in 3 trim levels - HT-Line, GT-Line and X-Line - and in total of 29 variants. The KIA Sonet price in India starts at Rs 8.00 lakh, which extends up to Rs 15.77 lakh for the top-end variant.

Most value for money variant

We suggest the Sonet HTX+ variant as it offers several segment-leading comfort and convenience features. It gets LED lighting system, LED ambient sound lighting, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital instrument console, auto dimming IRVM, 60:40 split rear seats, ventilated front seats, 4-way electrically adjustable driver seat, paddle shifters and traction modes. 

Key Features

- ADAS level 1, 360-degree surround view camera
- Kia Connect with over 70 smart connected car features
- Electric sunroof & 10.25-inch full digital cluster
- 10.25-inch HD touchscreen infotainment unit with navigation
- Front ventilated seats, 4-way power adjustable driver's seat
- LED lighting system
- Automatic AC, smart pure air purifier with virus & bacteria protection

The KIA Sonet comes equipped with an all-LED lighting system, It offers LED headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, LED turn indicators and LED tail-lights with connected LED light bar. The comfort and convenience features include automatic climate control, front ventilated seats, smart pure air purifier with virus & bacteria protection, 4-way power adjustable driver's seat, LED ambient sound mood lights and a fully digital 10.25-inch instrument console. For music lovers, it has a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen infotainment unit with wireless connectivity, and 7-speaker Bose sound system.

How Safe is KIA Sonet?

The Sonet was the first model in its category to offer an advanced driver assistance system. It comes with 6 airbags as standard, electronic stability  Control (ESC), Hill Assist Control (HAC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Blind View Monitor, Front & rear parking sensors, all-wheel disc brakes, and a 360-degree surround view camera.

It comes with ADAS Level 1 tech with 10 autonomous safety features. The ADAS features include Forward collision warning, forward collision avoidance assist for cyclist, and pedestrian, Lane keep assist, Lane departure warning, Lane following assist, Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, High-Beam Assist and Driver Attention Warning.

Engine Specifications

The KIA Sonet is powered by a tried & tested 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder, naturally-aspirated petrol engine that also powers the Hyundai Venue & Grand i10 Nios. This engine is capable of producing 81.8 hp of power and 115 Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox.

For enthusiasts, it gets a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine that is good for 118 hp and 172 Nm of torque. Gearbox choices include a 6-speed iMT & 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The diesel version gets the 1.5-litre 4-cylinder, turbo unit that produces 114 hp and 250 Nm of torque. Three gearbox options are on offer - a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed iMT and a 6-speed torque convertor automatic.

KIA Sonet Mileage

The Sonet is one of the most fuel efficient compact SUVs on sale in our market. The entry-level 1.2L manual versions return an ARAI certified mileage of 18.83kmpl. On the other hand, the Sonet 1.0L turbo delivers a fuel economy of 18.7kmpl with manual gearbox and 19.2kmpl with DCT, respectively. The diesel iMT delivers 22.3kmpl, while the diesel AT is claimed to offer 18.6kmpl. The diesel manual returns over 24kmpl.

Colors

The KIA Sonet is available in 9 colour options including 7 monotone and 2 dual-tone. The dual-tone options include Intense Red + Aurora Black Pearl and Glacier White Pearl + Aurora Black Pearl. It is offered in 7 single-tone colors such as Gravity Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, Sparkling Silver, Intense Red, Glacier White Pearl, Imperial Blue and Pewter Olive.

Competition

The KIA Sonet compact SUV directly rivals the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO and others in its segment.