Complete Guide to Buying a Kia Sonet

In a market that is highly value-oriented, SUVs offer a package that is hard to resist. Offering great comfort, high utility and maximum practicality, for a price that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, compact SUVs are the go-to segment for those looking to seek a lot more for a lot less. Despite a plethora of options in the market, when it comes to bringing home the best in terms of looks, features, performance and value, the Kia Sonet is a name that shines. Launched in 2020, the Kia Sonet was the South Korean manufacturer’s first compact SUV for India and was launched in a bid to capture the compact SUV market with its aggressive pricing and premium approach.

With over 2 lakh units sold to date, the Kia Sonet is a highly popular compact SUV. With each passing month, the Sonet proudly makes it to the best-seller list with its exceptional package that still is better than its competitors. So if you are in the market looking to bring home your first SUV, then buying the Sonet makes perfect sense. Here’s a complete buying guide to help you analyse every little thing about the SUV, including specifications, variant lineup, and after-sales experience.

Kia Sonet Specification

Launched to lock horns with the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon and the Mahindra XUV300, the Kia Sonet has quickly emerged as one of the best options in the segment, even against new-age competitors like the Tata Punch and the Maruti Fronx. What makes the Kia Sonet a class apart is its approach of offering a little extra of everything. Despite the segment’s cutthroat competition, the Sonet with its aggressive price tag manages to win the hearts of millions. Here’s what the Sonet packs in:

Why you should consider the Kia Sonet

Despite there being a plethora of options in the compact SUV segment, the Kia Sonet still manages to stand out from the crowd with its multiple advantages that are focused towards offering users an unparalleled ownership experience. If you are curious to know what makes the Sonet a true leader, here are a few reasons why you should consider the Kia Sonet over other competitors in the same price bracket.

Loaded with features

Much like every other Kia car in the market, the Kia Sonet also packs in a lot of features that make owning a Sonet an absolute bliss. In its latest generation, the Sonet comes forth as one of the most feature-rich compact SUVs in its segment. When compared to the Hyundai Venue, the Kia Sonet shines with features like ventilated front seats, traction control, rear door sunshade curtain, and a bigger touch infotainment system. Pitched against other competitors like the Tata Punch, Maruti Fronx, Maruti Brezza, Mahindra XUV300 and the Tata Nexon, the Kia Sonet offers noteworthy features such as a larger 10.25-inch touch infotainment system, smart air purifier, premium BOSE audio setup, ventilated seats, and the largest in-segment boot space. With so much onboard, the Sonet is truly one of the most loaded SUVs in the market and a great value for your money.

Balanced Looks

As far as looks are concerned, the Kia Sonet is truly good-looking from every angle. With an appearance that is sporty yet elegant, the Sonet stands tall as one of the best-looking compact SUVs in the market. The overall design of the Sonet is aligned with the carmaker’s latest design language which is a tasteful blend of classic SUV looks and modern design. Compared to competitors like the Hyundai Venue, the Kia Sonet offers a design that isn’t very polarising. The Sonet is modern but does not attempt to overdo it with swanky large grills or sharp character lines. This renders the Kia Sonet a look that pleases everyone. When compared to other compact SUVs like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon, and the XUV300, the Kia Sonet’s look presents itself as a sporty and assertive SUV without a lot going on. Elements like the crown jewel LED headlamps, signature tiger nose grille and heartbeat LED tail lamps renders the SUV its striking appearance that feels quite unique. Another thing that makes the Sonet rather special, is its exclusive matte graphite finish that looks absolutely stunning and is unmatched by any other competitor in the market. 

Exciting driving dynamics and improved safety

Ever since the Sonet launched, it has made a name for itself thanks to its diverse and dynamic powertrain that has evolved with time to offer nothing but the best. In its current generation, the Sonet is one of the very few SUVs offering a BS6 compliant diesel engine along with two petrol counterparts. The 1L turbo petrol engine of the Sonet was and continues to be one of the most exhilarating engines onboard any compact SUV in the market with an oomph of power at your disposal. The 1.2 litre engine on the other hand is extremely reliable and offers dynamic performance and balanced driving dynamics. Finally, the 1.5-litre diesel engine also shines as one of the most refined engines in its class with the right amount of punch and pickup. Complementing it all are the SUV’s improved safety features such as four airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, rear parking sensors, and ABS with EBD all as part of the standard package.

Why you should not consider the Kia Sonet

While the Sonet surely offers some great advantages over competitors, there still are a few compromises that must be considered before you make a decision, especially when the competition is diverse and the market is filled with some great options. Here’s where the Sonet lacks when compared to competitors in the same price bracket.

A little cramped rear seat set-up

Despite a good wheelbase of 2500 mm and a premium cabin, the Kia Sonet still struggles a bit when it comes to rear seat comfort. The rear seat of the Sonet feels a bit cramped which becomes quite evident when three passengers are seated behind. The rear legroom is far from being comfortable, especially during long drives. Focusing heavily on the boot space, the Sonet has somewhat compromised with rear seat comfort. Had the boot been anywhere around 320 to 350 litres, the Sonet would have used that extra space.

Limited service network reach

No matter how many times the Sonet becomes a best-seller, Kia as a brand is still growing in the market and there is no denying that. Entering India in 2019, the brand as a whole is only a few years old in the market and is still managing to create a nationwide presence. While the repercussions of the growth stage might not bother those living in Tier I or even Tier II cities, where the brand has truly made its presence felt, it is the Tier III cities and beyond where the brand lacks a wide sales and service network reach. In several semi-urban and rural areas, the brand’s service centre is either absolutely absent or highly far-fetched, which is a big reason to avoid the Kia Sonet, especially if you live in areas where the OEM has a limited reach. When compared to competitors, Kia has a long way to go, and that will be a sore point for the brand till it grows.

Kia Sonet Variants

The Kia Sonet is offered in two broad trims: the Tech (HT) Line and the GT Line. While the former features five variants (HTE, HTK, HTK+, HTX, and HTX+), the latter has only one: the GTX+. Kia also offers a special edition X Line variant which is based on the GTX+ trim. The cheapest Sonet variant is the Kia Sonet HTE which has a price tag of Rs. 7.79 Lakh, while the most expensive variant of the Sonet is the Sonet GTX+ Diesel AT and the X-Line Diesel AT, which comes with a price tag of Rs. 14.69 Lakh and 14.89 Lakh respectively. Here’s the complete variant lineup of the SUV:

Best Kia Sonet Variant to Buy

While the Kia Sonet is loaded in terms of safety and features, straight from the base model, there still is a very long list of variants to pick from, with each offering a little more than the other. However, when pitched against each other, the Sonet 1.2 HTX+ seems to be the best pick for petrol while for diesel it is the 1.5 HTX trim. In terms of the automatic trims, the HTX DCT and the HTX Diesel AT are the best picks. These trims offer most of the compact SUV’s key features including all the major safety features.

Kia Sonet Warranty and Service Costs

In its journey towards becoming a pan-Indian brand, Kia’s commitment towards a hassle-free sales and service experience is truly commendable. Being a Kia product, the Sonet comes with a 3-year/unlimited kilometres warranty with 24/7 roadside assistance. In terms of maintenance, the Sonet offering both a petrol and diesel option will demand an annual service cost of about Rs. 8 to 10 thousand for the Diesel trims, while for the Petrol ones, the cost will be around 6 to 8 thousand. This makes Sonet’s 5-year maintenance cost fall anywhere between Rs. 40 to 50 thousand.

Summary

Selling over 2 lakh units since its launch, the Kia Sonet has quickly made an everlasting name for itself in the market. As Kia’s star product, the Sonet with its aggressive price tag instantly attracts consumers with features, looks and performance doing the rest of the job. A regular best-seller every month, the Sonet is a great pick for those looking to enter the SUV space with a car that’s reliable, feature-rich and well-performing.

FAQs about Kia Sonet