The Kia Sonet Facelift Has Been Introduced with a Starting Price of Rs 7.99 Lakh

Following its global debut in December, Kia has officially launched the facelifted Sonet, pricing it between Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 15.69 lakh, with deliveries set to commence in mid-January. The Sonet has undergone subtle cosmetic updates and received additional features to enhance its standing in the competitive compact SUV market.

Kia has refreshed the Sonet’s exterior with notable changes to the lighting elements, including new LED headlights with surrounding LED daytime running lights at the front and C-shaped tail-lamps connected by an LED light bar at the rear. The compact SUV also features new front and rear bumpers and a roof-mounted spoiler.

In terms of interior and features, the Sonet facelift boasts a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, akin to the new Seltos. The vehicle retains its 10.25-inch central touchscreen infotainment unit, complemented by a control panel for climate control, drive modes, and traction control. Notably, the facelifted Sonet now includes Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technology, a feature shared with its sibling, the Hyundai Venue. Safety features such as six airbags, hill-start assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and ESC are standard across all variants. Premium variants offer additional features such as cornering lamps, a 360-degree camera, cooled front seats, leatherette upholstery, a Bose audio system, and a sunroof.

The Sonet continues with its existing engine lineup, including a diesel-manual powertrain making a return. Petrol engine options comprise an 83hp, 1.2-litre, four-cylinder engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox, and a 120hp, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine available with a 6-speed iMT gearbox and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The diesel engine is a 116hp, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder unit with three gearbox options: a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed iMT, and a 6-speed torque converter automatic.

Competing in a crowded compact SUV segment, the Sonet facelift is poised to rival models such as the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV300, and others.