According to recent reports, the Kia Sonet compact SUV is expected to be launched in India by August 2020. Kia has been successful in creating a wide fan base for its Kia Seltos SUV as well as the Carnival MPV in the Indian markets while the introduction of the Sonet at the Auto Expo 2020 was also appreciated by the audience.
The reports further suggest that the production-spec variant of the 2020 Kia Sonet is expected to make its world debut sometime around mid-2020 while the Indian markets will be getting the SUV in August this year. Complying with the country’s “small car” regulations, the Kia Sonet is less than 4m in length and is the brand’s first-ever small car.
Differentiating from Hyundai Venue on a basic level, the brand has officially imparted the Sonet with a muscular outlook as compared to the Venue while the engine specifications for both remain the same.
Kia Sonet Compact SUV
Exterior and Interior Video
The Kia Sonet will be available in the Indian markets with three powertrain options namely 1.2L petrol, a 1.0L turbo-petrol and a 1.5L diesel engine borrowed from Hyundai Venue. The former is expected to feature an optional 5-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed DCT transmission while the latter two engine variants are expected to be equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Some reports also suggest that the brand is expected to offer the Kia Sonet with a diesel automatic engine variant in addition to getting a Seltos-inspired 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment console as well as a panoramic sunroof.
Once launched in India, the Kia Sonet compact SUV is expected to be priced around INR 7 lakh to INR 12 lakh and will compete against the likes of Tata Nexon, Maruti Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, and the Ford EcoSport.