Kia’s Sub-4m SUV Arrives Tomorrow
Kia’s Sonet seems well prepared to steal the show in a hotly contested sub-4m SUV segment
Update (18/09/2020): Kia has launched the Sonet with prices beginning from Rs 6.71 lakh (ex-showroom). Read more about it here.
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The Sonet will be available in six variants: HTE, HTK, HTK+, HTX, HTX+, and GTX+.
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It shares platform and engine options with the Hyundai Venue.
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It gets a segment-first 6-speed AT gearbox mated to the 1.5-litre diesel engine.
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Expected to be priced between Rs 6.60 lakh and Rs 12.90 lakh (ex-showroom).
After making a debut at Auto Expo 2020 in the pre-production avatar, Kia’s sub-4m SUV, the Sonet, is all set to be launched tomorrow. It will be offered in six variants viz. HTE, HTK, HTK+, HTX, HTX+, and GTX+ under the two trims: Tech Line and GT Line. We recently took the Sonet for a spin and you can read our first drive review here.
The Sonet shares its platform with the Hyundai Venue but sports a typical Kia-like design language. It gets Kia’s tiger-nose front grille, flanked by LED illuminated headlamps and daytime running lamps while the rear gets connected tail lamps. While the Kia SUV measures the same in length and gets the same wheelbase as its Hyundai cousin, it is 20mm wider and 37mm taller than the latter. It also comes with an increased 15mm ground clearance compared to Hyundai’s sub-4m SUV. Here’s a look at the dimensions of both the SUVs:
| Dimensions |
Hyundai Venue |
Kia Sonet |
| Length |
3995mm |
3995mm |
| Width |
1770mm |
1790mm (+20mm) |
| Height |
1605mm |
1642mm (+37mm) |
| Wheelbase |
2500mm |
2500mm |
| Ground Clearance |
190mm |
205mm (+15mm) |
The Sonet borrows a bunch of features from its elder sibling, the Seltos. This consists of the single frame housing for the touchscreen infotainment system (10.25-inch unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) and the instrument cluster, an air purifier, Bose sound system and mood lighting, and ventilated seats. Safety features on offer include up to six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), and vehicle stability management.
Kia will offer the Sonet with the following engine-gearbox options:
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|
1.0-litre turbo-petrol |
1.2-litre petrol |
1.5-litre diesel MT/ AT |
| Power |
120PS |
83PS |
100PS/ 115PS |
| Torque |
172Nm |
115Nm |
240Nm/ 250Nm |
| Transmission |
6-speed iMT/ 7-speed DCT |
5-speed MT |
6-speed MT/ 6-speed AT |
| Fuel Efficiency |
18.2kmpl (iMT)/ 18.3kmpl (DCT) |
18.4kmpl |
24.1kmpl (MT)/ 19kmpl (AT) |
The 1.5-litre diesel engine with the 6-speed MT is the only engine-gearbox combo that will be available across all variants. Although the Sonet’s turbo-petrol variant won’t be offered with a manual transmission option, the SUV will feature a segment-first 6-speed AT gearbox paired to the diesel motor.
The Sonet will face competition from the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Mahindra XUV300, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon and the upcoming Toyota Urban Cruiser, Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite. Kia is expected to price its sub-4m SUV between Rs 6.60 lakh and Rs 12.90 lakh (ex-showroom).