Much-awaited Kia Sonet Finally Unveiled - Complete Details [VIDEO]

Kia Sonet has finally shed the veils today. The Sonet was first unveiled to the masses in its near-production concept avatar at the Auto Expo 2020. With the unveiling, Sonet has managed to raise a buzz of excitement for itself, as it looks similar to the concept version. The sub-4m Kia Sonet will be the third product for the Indian market from the South-Korean carmaker, and thus, there’s much riding on its back, considering the high demand for subcompact SUVs in India.

Talking of the design, the production-spec version of Kia Sonet looks largely similar to the concept car showcased at the Auto Expo, save for some minor changes that help it comply with various regulations. Kia says it is inspired by a baby elephant. On the front, it gets Kia’s signature tiger-nose front grille flanked by LED headlamps on either side. They also get heartbeat LED DRLs. The front bumper now houses a new scuff plate in comparison to the one seen on the concept car, and ice-cube LED foglamps. On the sides, it continues with the backwards-tilted C-pillar. Also, the size of the alloy wheels have gone down, and it now gets a set of redesigned alloy wheels. The top-spec trims get the option of dual-tone paint-job along with silver-finished roof rails. The rear facet features heartbeat tail lamps that depict the glow pattern of the LED DRLs. The tail lamps are connected to each other via a glossy black strip. The HMSL, however, is fixed on the stubby roof spoiler. A sporty scuff plate can also be seen on the lower end of the rear bumper. 

On the inside, Sonet gets a tastefully-designed dashboard. It features an upright design and borrows a lot of design cues from its elder sibling - Seltos. The interior of the Sonet will be offered in a dual-tone black-beige treatment for the Tech Line trim. The GT Line trim, on the other hand, gets an all-black interior theme with red highlights at places. The Sonet also gets the biggest-in-segment 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bose sound system. Also, the screen will work in tandem with Kia's UVO Connect vehicle telemetry system with 57 connected car features. Other convenience features include a multifunction steering wheel, wireless phone charging dock, ventilated front seats, all-digital instrument cluster, rear AC vents, sound mood lighting, electronic sunroof, rear and front seat armrests, remote engine start, air purifier and more. As confirmed by Kia, the Sonet will be a comprehensive package that has plenty of segment-first features on offer.

Kia Sonet borrows its underpinnings from the Hyundai Venue. The compact SUV will employ a 1.2-litre petrol engine tuned to develop 83 PS/ 113 Nm, along with an option of a 1.5-litre diesel engine that will churn out 100 PS/ 240 Nm. A 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor with a rated output of 120 PS/ 172 Nm will also be part of the package. However, it will only be offered in the GT Line variants, whereas the other two engine options will be offered in the Tech Line variants only. Transmission options will include a 5-speed MT (for the 1.2-litre petrol mill), a 6-speed MT and AT (for the 1.5-litre turbo-diesel), and 6-speed iMT and 7-speed DCT unit for the turbo-petrol motor. Particularly, the clutchless 6-speed iMT is really something to look forward to as the Kia Sonet will become the second model, after Hyundai Venue, to sport this transmission. 

What could also work in favour of the Kia Sonet will be the roaring success that Kia is enjoying with the Seltos. So, it won’t be surprising if the Sonet follows the same suite as the Seltos. Promised to be priced aggressively, the Kia Sonet is expected to take the highly-contested sub-four-metre SUV segment by storm once launched. Talking of the launch date, Kia Sonet launch is expected to officially take place in between August-September of this calendar year.