Kia Sonet Saga: A Comparative Dive into the New and Old Models

The Kia Sonet facelift has been unveiled, featuring notable design and feature updates. While the overall footprint remains unchanged, several revisions have been made to the exterior and interior of the SUV. Let’s explore the key differences between the new and old Kia Sonet models.

Front:

  1. Headlights: The facelifted Sonet boasts a sharper set of 3-piece LED headlights with longer fang-shaped LED DRLs.
  2. Grille: The grille has been redesigned, incorporating silver inserts for an updated look.
  3. Fog Lamps: Sleek LED fog lamps have been introduced in the facelifted model.
  4. Bumper: The front bumper has been tweaked, featuring a differently styled air dam for added aesthetics.

Side:

  1. Alloy Wheels: New alloy wheels have been introduced, except for the 16-inch rims on the X-Line variant.
  2. ORVM-Mounted Camera: A new addition is the ORVM-mounted camera, forming part of the 360-degree setup.
  3. Door Handles: Higher-spec variants now feature body-colored door handles instead of chrome finish.

Rear:

  1. Taillights: Fully connected LED taillights are now vertically aligned, similar to the new Seltos design.
  2. Badging: The ‘Sonet’ badging has been repositioned.
  3. Bumper: The rear bumper has undergone a revision for a refreshed appearance.

Interior and Features:

  1. Cabin Layout: The interior layout remains near-identical to the outgoing model.
  2. Climate Control Panel: A new climate control panel has been introduced below the touchscreen.
  3. Digital Instrument Cluster: The facelifted Sonet features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, resembling the Seltos design.
  4. Additional Features: Premium features include a 4-way powered driver seat, sunroof, wireless phone charging, ventilated front seats, cruise control, and more.

Safety Features:

  1. Airbags: Six airbags are now standard across variants.
  2. ADAS: The top variants come with 10 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
  3. Other Safety Equipment: Electronic stability control (ESC), front and rear parking sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) are retained.

Engine-Gearbox Options:

The engine-gearbox options remain consistent with the outgoing model, including petrol and diesel variants with manual and automatic transmissions.

Launch and Competition:

  1. Expected Launch: The Kia Sonet facelift is anticipated to be launched in January 2024.
  2. Expected Price: The starting price is estimated to be around Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom).
  3. Competition: Rivals include Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, and Maruti Fronx.

The facelifted Kia Sonet demonstrates a blend of aesthetic enhancements and feature updates, maintaining its competitive stance in the sub-4m SUV segment.

 

2023-12-18 21:23:37

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