Following the success of the Kia Seltos, Tata Motors want to increase its market share in India by entering a highly competitive segment, the compact SUV segment, by launching the Kia Sonet in the country. Borrowing numerous features from its larger sibling, the Sonet is such a comprehensive package that it can attract almost all passersby’s attention. The subcompact SUV directly competes against the Mahindra XUV300, Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue and Maruti Vitara Brezza. One of the most noteworthy among them is the Tata Nexon, which is well-known for its 5-star safety rating in the Global NCAP crash test. If you are considering between these two cars, do not hesitate to scroll since this article is going to offer a detailed Kia Sonet vs Tata Nexon comparison.
Apart from the typical tiger-nose grille, the Sonet has a unique design. Some ò most outstanding exterior features of the subcompact SUV include muscular wheel arches, dark C-pillar, aggressive door handles and connected taillights. The SUV has an upright-stance silhouette with traditional dimensions and a high ground clearance. Overall, the car looks proportionate with a unique appearance, which suggests that the SUV targets young customers.
In the facelifted version, the Tata Nexon features Tata’s new Impact 2.0 Design philosophy which gives it a muscular and sharp appearance. This vehicle comes with a revised hood for enhanced muscularity, a tweaked grille, a newly designed lower grille and sharper headlights with tri-arrow DRLs. The car now runs on redesigned alloy rims while the restyled LED taillights.
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The Sonet is equally well-equipped in comparison with the Seltos with most of its interior features borrowed from its bigger sibling. Some of its most noteworthy features include the segment-widest 10.25-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system, independent eSIM for UVO car connectivity features, automatic temperature control, electric sunroof, wireless charging, start/stop push button, rear air-conditioning vents, etc.
The Tata Nexon also does not give in to its rivals with numerous top-notch features such as a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic temperature control, speed control, etc. Notably, the added features in the new Tata Nexon include a digital instrument cluster, TPMS and a sunroof. Moreover, another noteworthy addition to the new car is the modern ‘Xpress Cool’ button, which is really useful for the hot climate in India by helping the cabin become cool faster and automatically pulling the driver window down. Furthermore, the connected technology is a USP of the new Nexon.
Safety features
As regards the safety features, the Kia Sonet offers up to 6 airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, seat-belt warning, ABS with EBD and ESP. The UVO connected tech also provides the driver and the passengers with many virtual safety features which include remote car shut off, geo-fencing, etc. In the meanwhile, the Tata Nexon comes with dual airbags, hill-start assist, ABS with EBD, roll-over mitigation, traction control, etc. The Nexon is the first made-in-India car to achieve a 5-star GNCAP safety rating.
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Refer to the table below for a detailed representation of the two cars’ performance for easy comparison.
Engine Types |
1.2-litre petrol |
1.0-litre turbo-petrol |
1.5-litre diesel |
Transmission |
5-speed MT |
6-speed iMT/7-speed DCT |
6-speed MT/AT |
Power against Torque |
83 PS against 115 Nm |
120 PS against 172 Nm |
100 PS against 240 Nm/115 PS against 250 Nm |
Engine Types |
1.2-litre turbo petrol |
1.5-litre turbo diesel |
Transmission |
6-speed MT/AMT |
6-speed MT/AMT |
Power against Torque |
120 PS against 170 Nm |
110 PS against 260 Nm |
As you can see from the tables below, the Tata Nexon comes with turbo petrol and diesel motors which are capable of producing higher power/torque figures for the compact SUV than its competitors. Nevertheless, the Kia Sonet gains a clear advantage, thanks to the convenience of the iMT unit that it offers.
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Models | Prices (ex-showroom) |
Kia Sonet |
INR 6.71 lakh - INR 12.99 lakh |
Tata Nexon |
INR 7.00 lakh - INR 12.70 lakh |
While the base model of the Kia Sonet is slightly more affordable than that of the Tata Nexon, the top-spec model of the former is a little bit more expensive than that of the former. Having said that, the price list of the two SUVs does not widely differ from each other. Both of the two cars prove to be a real value for money, considering all the features that they offer.
Overall, the Kia Sonet deserves to be a formidable competitor against the Tata Nexon. If you are a youngster and want to enjoy the convenience of the iMT, the Kia Sonet is a reasonable option for you. On the other hand, if you want to own a reliable subcompact SUV which has already established a certain amount of prestige in the market, then the Tata Nexon seems to be the better choice.