The Sonet, a compact SUV, has been one of the bestsellers for Kia Motors in India since its launch in 2020. The Sonet received an overwhelming response from customers, with over 3.65 lakh units sold to date in domestic and export markets. The SUV is now exported to over 100 countries. Kia recently introduced its new and refreshed Sonet in the market.
The compact SUV segment is a highly competitive one featuring established players such as Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue, and Tata Nexon. The carmaker announced a special introductory price for the new Sonet starting from Rs7.99 lakh (ex-showroom) nationwide. Unveiled in December 2023, Kia’s second best-selling model boasts 25 safety features, including an outstanding ADAS with 10 autonomous features and a robust 15 hi-safety features. The vehicle hosts over 70 connected car features including ‘Find My Car with SVM’, which gives a surrounding view of the car’s vicinity and Hinglish commands to make Sonet an extremely comfortable drive.
The new Sonet offers a diverse range of driving experiences and is available in 19 different variants, including 5 diesel manual variants starting from Rs9.79 lakh. The segment-best ADAS Level 1, featuring 10 autonomous functions, is accessible in the top-of-the-line variants for diesel and petrol engines. The GT Line and X-Line variants in petrol are priced at Rs14.50 and Rs14.69 lakh and the diesel options cost Rs15.50 and Rs15.69 lakh, respectively.
Value for money
Positioned as a premium vehicle in the compact SUV segment, the new Sonet is also the most value-driven choice for the customer. According to a study by Frost & Sullivan, the Sonet’s maintenance cost is 16 and 14 per cent lower than the segment average in petrol and diesel variants. The study analysed the overall cost of ownership in the compact SUV segment and the Kia Sonet emerged as the most value-for-money proposition with the lowest maintenance cost in the segment.
“This transformation underscores our commitment to not only deliver exceptional quality and features but also ensure that our customers enjoy an unparalleled ownership experience with the added advantage of cost-effectiveness. We believe in setting benchmarks, and Sonet’s recognition for its low cost of ownership is clear evidence of our steadfast dedication to redefine industry standards and cater to the evolving needs of our discerning customers,” explains Hardeep Singh Brar, National Head, Sales & Marketing, Kia India.
Connectivity in the car at all times is the new mantra for all car manufacturers and they offer a variety of technology-oriented features in their products to attract customers. Kia introduced many such features, with a few being made available for the first time in this segment in the new Sonet. The car has been designed keeping in mind modern couples and professionals who are tech-savvy and are looking for a one-stop mobility solution.
It packs ADAS with 10 autonomous features, including Front Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA), and Lane Following Assist (LFA) to name a few. The new Sonet also becomes the only compact SUV to offer 15 standard safety features in its segment.
In our recent test drive, we explored many new features in the Sonet, and were quite impressed by the smooth and secure driving experience. Some of the features we tried, both in English and Hinglish, included opening and closing of the sunroof and turning the air-conditioning on and off, to name a few from the long list of features.
We also tested the lane departure warning feature and the lane keep assist warnings during our drive. Another notable feature we noticed was that the system alerted us to take a break based on our driving patterns. Customer safety is a priority for Kia and the new Sonet is the only OEM in the mass PV segment to offer 6 airbags as standard across its portfolio.
To encourage its customers to drive safety, Kia is launching an innovative reward-based driving initiative, the ‘Kia Inspiring Drive Program’ (KID) driven by technology. Accessible through the ‘Kia Connect’ app, this program evaluates Kia owners’ driving behaviour, such as seatbelt usage, sudden braking, adherence to speed limits, and more, assigning them a score that can be redeemed for rewards. The programme is being introduced initially for Kia Sonet owners.
With the automotive industry now in top gear across all segments, including sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and sales picking up month on month, we do not doubt that Kia’s new Sonet will sustain its success story.