Autoportal India

Kia Motors entered India by shaking the mid-sized SUV segment with the Seltos SUV, which recorded 1 lakh sales in less than 1 year. The company offers multiple engine gearbox combinations, segment-first and segment-leading features and appealing design. Kia wants to re-create similar success story with the all-new Sonet compact SUV. The SUV has received over 6,500 pre-orders on the first day of the opening of the bookings. so what makes the Kia Sonet so attractive and how good it is to drive, we drove this car for good 7-8 hours to answer all these questions.

KIA SONET DESIGN

No one is denying that Kia Seltos is one of the best-looking SUVs in its category, thanks to its unique profile and funky front profile. Similarly, the new Kia Sonet carries unique design and the end result is quite appealing. It shares lot of design cues from Seltos and Sonic SUVs and that’s a good thing.

The Sonet offers the familiar look, thanks to the signature ‘Tiger Nose’ grille in chrome and black. It retains the single headlamp, which looks cool with uniquely styled LED daytime running lights. The front bumper has dual-tone treatment that has silver treatment lower down and blacked-out lower air-dam. The bumper houses stylish fog lamps and scuff plate. The SUV’s sculpted bonnet has strong creases and Kia logo that is positioned above the grille.

The side profile of the Kia Sonet looks better, featuring shorter overhangs, 16-inch alloys shod with MRF tyres, black plastic cladding running all-around the body, blackened ORVMs, roof-rails, and chromed door-handles. At the back, the SUV features LED tail-lamps that mimic the design of the headlamps. There is a reflective strip that joins the two tail-lights. The new Kia Sonet looks broader than its direct rival Hyundai Venue. It looks wider and imposing, featuring strong creases and curves.

KIA SONET INTERIOR

As soon as you enter the Sonet’s cabin, the similarities with the Kia Seltos is clearly visible. The dashboard has the same layout as the Seltos, as it features the same 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the instrument console. The touchscreen unit is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity and others. The Kia Sonet’s Bose premium sound system is quite impressive as well, and will give strong competition to Tata Nexon’s Harman-sourced sound system.

The instrument console is clear to read and looks sporty. The central console has big size buttons to control air-conditioning system and front ventilated seats. The sportier Sonet GT Line variant gets all-black interior scheme with red stitching, while the HT Line trim gets dual-tone black and beige interior. I personally feel the interior of the Kia Sonet is very busy. On the flip side, the Hyundai Venue’s interior is clean and clutter free.

Air-Conditioning Performance – The new Kia Sonet’s AC unit works really well. We were shooting this car in hot weather, but the AC unit is good enough to cool down the cabin in few minutes. The SUV also offers air-con vents for the rear passengers. The new Kia Sonet also has an integrated air-purifier with virus protection, which can be controlled using touchscreen.

Seating Comfort – This is the biggest drawback of this SUV, as it is made only for four adults. In fact, a six-feet tall person won’t find it comfortable. The front seats are okay, but the rear passenger area is congested. Legroom for rear passengers is very minimal, as it can only accommodate two average height adults and a kid. The broader profile from outside failed to translate inside in terms of space. The headroom space is very good, so a person with good height can seat in upright position.

Touchscreen Infotainment – It features the same 10.25-inch touchscreen unit is available in the Seltos SUV. This looks big for this vehicle class, I personally feel 7-8 inch screen would be more than sufficient for a sub-compact SUV. The icons are big, crisp and easily adjusted for a customised home screen. Connectivity through Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is quick and simple, and there’s onboard navigation as well. The Sonet’s Touchscreen shines on the user-interface front, offering easy-to-use controls and excellent touch-response.

Buttons and Plastic Quality – The plastic quality and the fit-and-finish is one of the finest in its category. The buttons quality is also very good.