Kia is planning to expand its offerings and products in India. The Korean car maker is now gearing up for the launch of the Sonet facelift sometime next year after the recent Seltos facelift. Now, the compact SUV has been spotted on Indian roads.
Kia Sonet Facelift : What’s new?
The facelifted Sonet boasts a refreshed design featuring new headlamps, LED DRLs, and LED fog lamps. This enhances its sporty profile. Notable updates include a revamped front grille, rear bumper, and redesigned alloy wheels, alongside a sleek, interconnected LED tail lamp setup resembling the Seltos facelift. The SUV maintains its robust appeal with thick body cladding, chrome window lining, roof rails, and a single-pane sunroof. Expect new exterior color options as well.
Inside, the Sonet facelift promises a decluttered cockpit with a new automatic climate control unit, reducing physical buttons. The update includes a modern touchscreen infotainment system and a fully digital instrument console. Top-tier variants are set to receive premium safety features like a 360° camera and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
Powertrain of the Kia Sonet Facelift
Under the hood, the facelift will likely retain the current engine lineup, comprising a 1.2-litre MPi petrol, a 1.0-litre turbo petrol, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The naturally aspirated petrol engine produces 83 PS and 115 Nm, coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The turbo petrol variant generates 120 PS and 172 Nm, available with 6-speed iMT and 7-speed DCT options. The diesel motor delivers 116 PS and 250 Nm, paired with either a 6-speed iMT or 6-speed AT.
Kia is rumored to reintroduce the manual transmission option for diesel variants of the Sonet and Seltos, potentially accompanying the facelift or as a separate update.
Price and Competition of the Kia Sonet Facelift
With the introduction of premium features, the Sonet facelift is likely to see a price increase from its current starting point at Rs 7.79 lakh. It will continue its competition against rivals like Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Nissan Magnite, and Renault Kiger, with additional contenders in the form of Tata Punch, Maruti Fronx, and Hyundai Exter. Stay tuned for more updates on Kia’s revamped Sonet!
Also Read – Kia India sold 24,351 cars in October 2023.