India (Commonwealth Union) _ Prior to its launch, which is expected to happen near the end of the year, the facelifted Kia Sonet has been sighted testing once more. New spy photos posted online depict a single example of the model, displaying the interior of the updated sub-four-meter SUV.
The appearance of the 2018 Kia Sonet facelift will receive upgrades in the form of dual projector headlamps, LED taillights with a Seltos-inspired design, and new dual-tone alloy wheels. It will also gain shark-fin antennas, new front and rear bumpers, and roof rails.
The interior of the 2024 Kia Sonet will have dual-tone tan and black upholstery, a redesigned center console with a new arrangement for the AC controls, a fully digital instrument cluster, built-in sun shades for the second-row doors, and a rear armrest with cup holders. A larger touchscreen entertainment system, a multifunction steering wheel with three spokes, a front armrest with storage, and an electric sunroof will also be available.
We anticipate the next Sonet facelift to use the same collection of engines as the current model. These include a 1.0-liter turbo-petrol engine, 1.5-liter diesel engine, and 1.2-liter NA gasoline engine. The model’s prices will be revealed in December 2023.
Since 2020, Kia has been producing the subcompact crossover SUV known as the Sonet. The Sonet, which was primarily created for the Indian market, sits below the Seltos and is closely related to its bigger sibling, the Hyundai Venue. India, Nepal, Indonesia, South Africa, Namibia, Vietnam, the Middle East, and various Latin American nations are among the emerging areas where it is promoted.
In February 2020, the Sonet Concept served as a preview of the Sonet. The production version debuted on 7 August 2020 and went on sale in India on 18 September 2020. After the Seltos and the Carnival, it is the third Kia model offered in India.
With a length of 3,995 mm (157.3 in), the Sonet falls under the sub-4-meter SUV category on the Indian market and qualifies for tax breaks available to vehicles under 4 meters. The Sonet has extended front and rear bumpers for export markets, bringing its overall length to 4,120 mm (162.2 in).
According to Kia, the Sonet’s high strength steel frame helps to lessen the effects of serious accidents. Six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, hill start assist control, vehicle stability management system, speed alert system, electronic traction control, parking sensors, braking assistance, and driver’s seat belts with pre-tensioners are some of the safety features for its top trims.
In April 2021, a three-row seating variant of the Sonet was unveiled in Indonesia. The third row bench seat is put in the vehicle marketed as the “Sonet 7” without requiring any exterior bodywork modifications; therefore the boot space is unaffected when the third row seat is raised.
Additionally, the Sonet 7 has a roof-mounted air circulation system and a second-row bench seat that has been updated with split folding and a one-touch folding mechanism that makes access to the third row possible. The program was ended in 2022.
A brand-new sub-model called X-Line was unveiled in India in September 2022. Instead of undergoing any mechanical changes, the new X-Line solely undergoes cosmetic ones. The 1.0-liter turbo petrol engine and the 1.5-liter CRDi diesel are the two powertrain options for the trim.
In place of the Sonet, two versions of the Rio-based Stonic are sold in the Philippines and Pakistan: one is a rebadged Kia KX1 imported from China, while the other is a locally built vehicle based on the European-spec Stonic, which is offered in the latter.
