Kia Sonet takes the stage in India - Here's all you need to know
Delhi : It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here, or rather we have all the details on the 2024 New Kia Sonet makeover, and here's all you need to know about the tiny SUV.
Explanation of Variants
Most importantly, reservations for the Sonet will be available on December 20, however the booking fee has not been disclosed. It will be available in seven variations with three engine options, including the reintroduction of a full-fledged manual transmission for the 1.5-litre diesel after nearly a year. HTE, HTK, HTX, HTX+, GTX, and the X-Line trim levels are among them.
Highlights on the outside
The Sonet gets a redesigned grille, tri-beam LED headlights, and rectangular DRLs on the exterior, giving it a more aggressive appearance. In terms of styling, the Sonet now has body-colored door handles and new 16-inch alloy wheels. The back keeps its previous design, but an LED lightbar connects both ends of the car. Overall, the Sonet's outward improvements provide the car a much-needed boost in what is now India's most competitive SUV battleground.
The Sonet will be available in eight single-tone colour schemes and two dual-tone colour schemes, including a Seltos-inspired hue dubbed Pewter olive. The matte grey colour palette is carried over to the X-Line trim.
Highlights of the interior and characteristics
Kia Sonet's cabin features and layout have been kept, but you now get a powered driver's seat, a new completely digital instrument cluster, a new interface for the climate control system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system that is now button free. These are improvements similar to those observed on the Kia Seltos a few months ago.
The pewter olive colour is an optional upgrade, and the most significant difference in the feature is that the Sonet now features level-1 ADAS. It contains ten distinct functions, as well as a blind spot monitor. Kia has also improved the connected car technologies, including voice control for the windows in addition to a voice-controlled sunroof.
All variants have six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, and Highline TPMS. ADAS is now only available on the highest-spec variations, but based on the Seltos' success, we should expect it in at least one more lower-spec model in the future.
Options for powertrains
Kia Sonet will keep its three powertrain options. The basic engine is a 1.2-liter petrol with 82bhp/115Nm and a five-speed manual gearbox. The more powerful petrol engine is a 1.0-litre GDi turbo generating 118bhp/172Nm and is available with either a six-speed iMT or a seven-speed DCT gearbox. Finally, the diesel is a 1.5-litre powerplant that produces 114bhp/250Nm and is available with a six-speed MT, six-speed iMT or a six-speed AT gearbox.
Check the competition
Since its release in 2020, the Kia Sonet has been a key participant in the segment. It competes with the Maruti Brezza, Maruti Fronx, Hyundai Venue, and the Tata Nexon, which was recently updated and equals the Sonet on numerous fronts. Kia is expected to disclose prices for the Sonet in early January, with delivery to the first few purchasers beginning on that date.
