Kia Sonet

The Kia Sonet is Kia’s entry level SUV that rivals the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon, and Mahindra XUV300. It is the first facelift of this SUV which was first launched in 2020. In this facelift, it gets segment best features and more powertrain options. 

This is a facelift of the Kia Sonet and like a facelift, the looks have been slightly changed with no change in the overall body shape. However, Kia hasn't used any shortcut to do this. If you look at the front, you'll see gunmetal grey elements which make it more imposing. The headlamps are all LED units and the DRLs are very detailed and look great at night. 

The fog lamps vary with different variants and you have four different wheel options with two alloy wheel designs. There is a new spoiler at the back and the LED connected tail lamps look great. So, overall, this Sonet looks better than the previous one. Mission accomplished.

The key of the Sonet has also changed. Earlier, this key was seen in the EV6, then in the Seltos and now in the Sonet. Here you get lock, unlock, remote engine start and boot release options. And this key is definitely more premium than the old one. 

Highlight of the interior is its fit, finish and quality. All the elements you see here are very solid and don't move. They don't feel loose and that's why when the car ages they won't rattle. The plastics have a very smooth finish and the quality of the steering leather wrap, seat upholstery and the armrest leather wrap all feel plush. Really, sitting in this cabin you get the premium and expensive feel. However, the layout feels a little odd to me especially because of this big cladding in the front and this centre console. It would have been better if it was a little more minimalistic. In this update Kia has improved the buttons of the centre console; however, the same treatment should have been given to the entire dashboard -- similar to the one which the Seltos got. 

Features

Kia Sonet has always been at the top in terms of features. But due to the rise in competition, this crown was snatched from it. However, with the added features, it's once again the most feature-loaded SUV in the segment.

Talking about additional features, now it gets an all-digital instrument cluster with an amazing display. It was also seen in the Seltos and here its layout, display and graphics are quite good. Plus, now that it has a 360-degree camera, you also get the convenience of blind spot monitors. So while driving, the safety and convenience increases a bit more. 

Furthermore, the 360-degree camera’s quality and the final stitched image is very clear so it becomes easier to use. Plus, the feed of this camera is also available on your mobile. So, suppose the car is parked somewhere far away and you are scared that it is not safe, then you can directly check the car's surroundings from the phone itself, which is a very neat feature. 

To increase the driver's convenience Kia has also added 4-way adjustable power seats for the driver which means that sliding and reclining can be done electrically. However the height adjustment is still manual. Other features include a 7-speaker Bose sound system, ambient lighting, automatic climate control, drive modes, traction modes, front ventilated seats, auto day-night IRVM, automatic climate control, sunroof and air purifier. 

If we talk about the infotainment, Sonet still comes with this 10.25 inch infotainment system which is the best in the segment. The same infotainment is also available in the Venue with a different theme. The display, smoothness and sense of operation logic is very accurate. And the best part is that it does not glitch at all. It always runs smoothly. That's why the experience of using it is very good. And this comes paired with a Bose 7-speaker sound system, which is really great. There is only one problem: wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are not available in this. For that, you still have to connect a wire, and that too a USB cable, because it does not work with Type-C. 

Cabin Practicality

The Sonet’s cabin is also very practical for occupants. You get a lot of storage and charging options here. Let's start with the door pockets where you can easily keep a 1 litre bottle of more stuff. Apart from that, you get a large open storage in the centre which has a wireless charger with an air vent so that your phone doesn't get too hot. And behind that, of course, you get two cup holders and a phone slot. You get space inside the armrest as well but it is a little compromised due to the air purifier. The glove box is also decent sized but you don't get a cool feature here. And if we talk about the charging options then you have a Type C, wireless charger, a USB charger and a 12V socket. 

Rear Seat Experience

For the rear seat occupants, there is good space in the Sonet. You can stretch your legs as there is space under the front seats. The knee room is adequate and the head room is also good. So people up to 6 feet won't complain here. But the comfort of the seat could have been a little better. While the backrest angle is relaxed, the contouring could have been better. But yes, these flat seats have one advantage: seating 3 adults is more accommodating. And while there is no headrest for the third passenger, there is a 3-point seat belt. 

The good thing is that you get a lot of features in this seat. This armrest has 2 cup holders and the height of this, and the door armrest is the same so it feels more comfortable to use. Plus, the door armrest is also wrapped with leather so you have the premium feeling here as well. Window sunshades help in summers and you get two Type-C ports for charging as well. There is a storage area where you can keep your phone or wallet and the rear AC helps with air circulation. However, these don’t come with any blower control. There is a new seat back pocket as well for mobile and wallets. Overall, if we look at the seat from the point of view of experience, the features make up the comfort and this experience feels complete. 

Some enhancements have been made in safety as well. You will get 6 airbags as standard with the base variant. Plus, you will get the ADAS option in the top variants of this car. But keep in mind that this is not radar based, just camera based. Hence, you will get features like front collision avoidance assist, front collision warning, lane keep assist and lane departure warning, but the radar based functions like adaptive cruise control are not available here. 

We hope that the Sonet will be tested by the Bharat NCAP soon but if there were some body and structure reinforcements in the facelift, like we saw in the Seltos, it would have been more reassuring of a high score.  

In the Kia Sonet, you get the best boot space in the segment. This is because the floor is wide, long and flat. Plus it's deep as well so you can easily keep big suitcases here. You can stack the luggage above the other and a lot of small bags can fit as well. And if you want to move a big item then these seats fold in a 60-40 split but this doesn't offer a flat floor.

With the Kia Sonet you get a lot of engine and transmission options. In fact this is the most versatile car of this segment. If you want to drive comfortably in the city, you have a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. This is a refined 4-cylinder engine and driving it in the city is smooth and relaxed. There will be no problem in cruising on highways either but if you are looking for some quick overtakes, or if you are looking for some energy and excitement in your drive, then this engine won't be able to deliver those. And yes, it only comes with a manual transmission.

 If you want some excitement in your drive and want a faster car, then you should get the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol. This engine is also very refined and you get the power to do quick overtakes on the highway and in the city. In case of efficiency, it will consume more fuel especially if you drive it enthusiastically but the performance is with the price you pay. You also get more transmission options here like a 6-speed intelligent manual transmission, which is a clutchless manual, and a 7-speed DCT. It gets 3 drive modes as well, however the Sport mode makes it a little too jumpy in traffic. Staying in Normal will offer the best balance of drive and efficiency. In the Eco mode, the drive feels a little too laid back. 

But if you want an all-rounder -- cruise on the highway, want the power for the overtakes in the city and respectable fuel efficiency as well, there is only one option: the 1.5-litre diesel engine. It offers a smooth drive experience and an effortless cruising experience out on the open roads. And this engine offers the most transmission options as well with an option of manual, iMT Clutchless Manual, and a 6-speed automatic, which is our recommendation out of the three. 

If you are going to buy a diesel engine then you have to keep one thing in mind. In this facelift, an AdBlue tank has been added. AdBlue is a urea based solution which helps in controlling the emissions of the vehicle and it can last for roughly 10,000 km. Topping it off will cost you around Rs. 900-1000. So it's not a huge cost but it's something you have to keep in mind. The level of AdBlue in the tank can be seen on the instrument cluster. 

Comfort has always been a strong point of Sonet. Yes, this is not the most comfortable car in this segment but you won't complain sitting in it. And in this facelift, this comfort has been made a little better by returning the suspension to deal better with bad roads. It maintains composure on broken roads and keeps you well cushioned as well. The only things which unsettle it are deep potholes. Whether you drive over a speed breaker or over a rough road patch or are cruising on a smooth highway, the suspension feels well balanced.  

You also get a safe and reassuring handling package with the Sonet. If you are going to take it to a hill station, then it will be fun to drive. However, I do have a small complaint, which is the sound insulation of this SUV. It should have been better. If it was better, the premium feel of this car would have been solidified. 

So, do you get everything you can possibly want in the Sonet? Yes! And once the crash test is conducted, the final piece of the puzzle will also be out. But to get all of this, you'll have to pay a steep price. I mean, if you buy the top-end Sonet in Delhi, you'll have to pay more than Rs 17 lakh on-road. Now, for this price, you can either buy a fully loaded Sonet or even get a very well equipped Seltos. The later will offer more space, road presence and snob value. The choice is going to be very hard to make.