This month witnessed the launch of two sub-4-metre compact SUVs in the Indian auto market. While the first one is the Kia Sonet, which started to be put on sale on September 18, the second one is the Toyota Urban Cruiser which was launched on September 23. The two vehicles have become one formidable competitor of each other in one of the most competitive car segments in India. In this article, you are going to read a detailed comparison between the Kia Sonet vs Toyota Urban Cruiser regarding their specifications and prices.
The Kia Sonet and the Toyota Urban Cruiser have the same length, width and wheelbase as each other, at 3,995 mm, 1,790 mm and 2,500 mm, respectively. However, the former slightly exceeds the latter in the height by 2 mm.
Dimensions |
Kia Sonet |
Toyota Urban Cruiser |
Length |
3,995 mm |
3,995 mm |
Width |
1,790 mm |
1,790 mm |
Height |
1,642 mm |
1,640 mm |
Wheelbase |
2,500 mm |
2,500 mm |
Watch 15 Kia Sonet SUVs Being Delivered Simultaneously - VIDEO
The Kia Sonet is equipped with a wide array of segment-leading features, which offers it a clear benefit over its competitors. The feature list includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system which supports smartphone connectivity, UVO connected car technology, autocruise, a digital instrument cluster, a Bose sound system, ventilated front seats, an air purifier, an electric sunroof, etc.
In the meanwhile, the Toyota Urban Cruiser borrows the features from the Maruti Vitara Brezza, its donor vehicle. The vehicle comes with LED projector headlights with DRLs, powered ORVMs, LED taillights, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic air conditioner, auto-dimming IRVM and rain-sensing wipers.
As regards the safety, the Kia Sonet is packed with up to six airbags, ABS with EBD, Dynamic Stability Control, Hill-Holder, Vehicle Stability Management, reverse parking camera, tyre pressure monitoring system, Brake Assist, front and rear parking sensors as well as drive modes and traction control. In the meanwhile, the Toyota Urban Cruiser will be equipped with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, hill start assist, front seatbelt reminders, a reverse parking camera and a high-speed alert system.
2020 Toyota Urban Cruiser - Exterior and Interior Changes, Colours and Specifications
While the Kia Sonet receives its power from both petrol and diesel motors, the Toyota Urban Cruiser is powered by only a gasoline unit. Therefore, we would like to compare the performance of the petrol versions of the two cars and give some information about the diesel engine of the Kia Sonet at the end of the section, in case you are interested.
Specifications | Kia Sonet | Toyota Urban Cruiser |
Engine |
1.2-litre petrol/1.0-litre turbo petrol |
1.5-litre NA petrol |
Power |
83 PS/120 PS |
105 PS |
Torque |
115 Nm/172 Nm |
138 Nm |
Gearbox |
5-speed MT/6-speed iMT, 7-speed DCT |
5-speed MT, 4-speed AT |
While the figure output of the 1.2-litre petrol unit of the Sonet is less than that of the 1.5-litre NA petrol motor of the Urban Cruiser, the figures of the 1.0-litre turbo gasoline burner of the former are higher than that of the 1.5-litre NA petrol unit of the latter. The transmission options of the Kia Sonet is much more diverse than its Toyota Urban Cruiser.
Moreover, the Kia Sonet is also offered with a 1.5-litre diesel motor which is available in two states of tune: 100 PS/115 AT when mated to a 6-speed MT and 115 PS/250 Nm when paired with a 6-speed torque converter.
Kia Sonet TVC Released - Features Comedian Aakash Gupta
While the Kia Sonet is priced from INR 6.71 lakh to INR 11.99 lakh, the Toyota Urban Cruiser costs between INR 8.40 lakh to INR 11.30 lakh. Noteworthily, the South Korean automaker will soon be introducing the automatic transmission options for the top-spec GTX+ turbo petrol and diesel variants later; therefore, the price of the car will experience a considerable hike by then.
Toyota Urban Cruiser is Fortuner's Younger Brother - Company Officials
The Kia Sonet seems to gain clearer benefits over its competitor, thanks to its more striking appearance, lower price, a wider list of features some of which are segment-leading ones and more diverse powertrain and transmission options. The South Korean automaker’s two first products, Kia Seltos and Carnival, have managed to gain considerable success and it certainly wants to reinforce its position in the Indian auto market with this third offering.
Toyota is well-known for low-cost maintenance; therefore, Toyota cars in general have managed to attain a certain amount of prestige among the Indian auto customers. Additionally, its donor vehicle, the Maruti Vitara Brezza has been one of the most popular sub-4-metre compact SUVs in the Indian auto market, which gives it a benefit over its new-coming counterpart.
All in all, the decision on which sub-4-metre compact SUV to choose is totally up to you. If you are looking for a modern one with a lower price, the Kia Sonet is for you; on the other hand, if you want a reliable SUV with certain amount of prestige in the market, the Toyota Urban Cruiser is the better choice.