South Korean automaker Kia has just unveiled its brand new compact SUV called Sonet. Just like the Seltos debut last year, the Sonet compact SUV which is positioned as a global model in Kia’s portfolio has made its world premiere in India which will also act as an export base for international markets.
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The Sonet was first showcased in its concept form at the 2020 Auto Expo, held earlier this year in February. Since then, the compact SUV has created quite a buzz, making it one of the most anticipated cars of 2020. The Kia Sonet is based on its cousin, the Hyundai Venue and is said to be using the same architecture and platform underneath.
The all new Kia Sonet
In terms of design, the all new Kia Sonet comes with a highly aggressive & sportier styling. The SUV features Crown-Jewel LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs and turn indicators, LED projector fog lamps and ‘heartbeat’ LED tail lamps which are connected together via a reflector strip, giving it a premium design at the rear. Other design elements include the dual muffler design, skid plates at the front and rear bumpers, diffuser fins (on the GT-line) and stylish dual-tone 16-inch alloy wheels that are housed in squarish wheel arches.
Inside, the Sonet gets a familiar Kia signature design theme with dashboard inspired by its elder brother Seltos. The compact SUV gets premium materials and is packed with a host of segment-first features and equipment. There is a 4.25-inch instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Kia’s UVO connected technology. The Sonet also features ventilated front seats, wireless charging, flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel, rear AC vents, air-purifier, electric sunroof and much more.
Related: Hyundai Venue Achieves 100,000 Units Sales Milestone in India
The Sonet also comes rich when it comes to safety, as standard equipment includes 6 airbags, ABS with EBD with Brake Assist, traction control, Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Management, Hill-Start Assist, automatic headlamps, ISOFIX child seat anchors and a host of other features.
Kia Sonet GT-Line
Under the hood, the Kia Sonet borrows the engines and transmission units from the Hyundai Venue as well, which includes the 1.2-liter petrol, 1.0-liter T-GDI turbocharged petrol and a 1.5-liter diesel unit. All three engines are compliant with the latest BS6-emission norms and produce the same power and torque figures with the Hyundai Venue.
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The 1.2-liter petrol comes mated to a 5-speed manual, while the 1.5-liter diesel receives a 6-speed manual & an optional automatic transmission unit. The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine comes with two gearbox options,a 7-speed dual-clutch (DCT) automatic and the latest 6-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT).
The Kia Sonet is scheduled to go on sale in India in the coming weeks and will rival the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV300 among others. Official prices are yet to be announced however it is anticipated to start from INR 8.0 lac to up to INR 12.0 lac range.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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