Auto Expo 2020: Kia Sonet revealed, will rival Hyundai Venue & others

MANILA: The SUV and crossover segment is evolving at a rapid pace in every automobile market on the planet. The Indian automobile space is no different as the likes of Hyundai Venue, Ford EcoSport, and many other compact SUVs have been making merry of late. Kia recently entered the Indian auto market with its compact SUV, Seltos. And, the offering has taken the market by storm as it has become one of the most beloved and sought after car in the country.

Now, in order to further spread its wings in the Asian country, Kia has revealed another SUV in the form of a scaled-down version of the Seltos. Even though the car dubbed as Sonet previewed at the Auto Expo 2020 is a concept vehicle, its look way more than that and should be ready to hit the roads without any significant changes. The exterior of the Kia Sonet flaunts a pair of sleek and edgy LED headlamps with LED DRLs flanking a sharp Kia signature tiger-nose grille, squared-out wheel arches, body cladding, sporty roof rails, blacked-out roof, conjoined LED tail lamps, and large alloy wheels with chunky tyres.

Speaking of the interior, the Kia Sonet will come sporting a large 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with latest connectivity features like Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, sunroof, air purifier, cruise control, and a sound system by Bose. On the mechanical front, the Kia Sonet will get a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol-fed engine, Venue's 1.0-litre T-GDI, and Seltos' 1.5-litre CRDI.

While the Venue's turbocharged motor makes 125 PS of maximum power, the Seltos' diesel-powered mill can generate 90 PS and 250 Nm. Transmission options include a five-speed manual, six-speed manual, and seven-speed DCT depending on the engine choice.

The Kia Sonet will be in the second half of 2020, and the South Korean SUV will take on the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, and the Mahindra XUV300. Also, the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun and the Skoda Vision IN-based SUV will try hard to pose a threat to the Sonet.

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