Kia Motors India has launched the Sonet compact SUV in the Indian market at a price tag of Rs 6.71 lakhs (ex showroom). Bookings meanwhile had begun for Rs 25,000 and have already hit units with waiting period stretching to almost 6 weeks or more.
The new Kia Sonet can be had in two versions – GT line and HT line, the former being a sportier offering, while the latter is more standard offering. Five variants are on offer in the HT line which includes – HTE, HTK, HTK+, HTX and HTX+, while the GT line has only one variant known as GTX+.
On the features front the HTX+ gets LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, ambient lighting, ventilated seats, cruise control, leatherette upholstery, air purifier, Bose sound system, electric sunroof, smart key, advanced 4.2 inch instrument cluster and 10.25 inch infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and UVO connect app with 57 connectivity features.
Add all the above mentioned features to the GTX+ variant gets six airbags, ESC, front parking sensors, wireless phone charging and an all black cabin. Kia has also packed the Sonet with loads of safety kit such as six airbags, ESC, front parking sensors, VSC, HAC, ABS and tyre pressure monitor.
Mechanically the Sonnet will get its power from three engine options, a 1.2 litre naturally aspirated engine, a 1.0 litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.5 litre diesel.
The 1.2 litre naturally aspirated engine puts out 83hp and 115Nm of torque and comes mated to a 5-speed manual only.
Next up the 1.0 litre turbocharged petrol churns out 120hp and 175Nm of torque and comes mated to a 6-speed IMT and 7-speed DCT gearbox.
The diesel side has a 1.5 litre CRDI diesel engine comes in two states of tune – with 100hp and 240Nm of torque and comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and with 115hp and 250Nm of torque and can be had with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Talking about exterior paint options, the Kia Sonet will get 7 singe tone and 3 dual tone paint schemes. On the single tone side there’s Glacier white pearl, Steel silver, Granite grey, Intense red, Intelligency blue, Aurora black pearl and Beige gold. Dual tone has Beige gold + aurora black combo, Glacier white pearl + aurora black pearl combo and Intense red + aurora black pearl combo.
When the Kia Sonnet goes on sale in the second half of 2020, it will rival the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3OO, Ford Ecosport and Tata Nexon among many other upcoming models including the Toyota Urban Cruiser, Renault Kigher and Nissan Magnite.
Prices for Kia Sonet (ex and on road Goa)
(—) Marked fields indicate Kia has not released prices as yet
