Kia's new subcompact SUV will look like this

MANILA: Once the rendering is complete and the Sonet rolls off the production line, Kia Motors India will be the first to get their hands on the automaker’s first subcompact SUV since the Retona.

Very little is revealed from the image of the rough sketch but it appears to have the wide "tiger nose" grille, aggressive line on the hood, and a muscular bumper with large air intakes on each side.

The windshield is angled for aerodynamics, it has roof rails for versatility, and slightly flared fenders for a sporty look.

“With the new Kia Sonet, we had the ambition to give this compact SUV a strong and muscular character found only in much larger vehicles. With this in mind, we have designed what we believe is a great SUV with a uniquely sporty attitude, a confident stance and a dynamic silhouette. We also gave the new Kia Sonet an uncompromising attention to detail and a selection of colours and materials that could have only been inspired by the great cultural heritage that our designers found all over India,” said Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Design Center at Kia Motors Corporation Karim Habib.

It will most likely use several of Hyundai’s engines including a 1.2-liter MPI naturally aspirated, four-cylinder gasoline engine; a 1.0-liter T-GDI turbo, three-cylinder gasoline engine; a 1.6-liter MPI naturally aspirated, four-cylinder gasoline engine; and a 1.4-liter CRDi turbo diesel.

Gearbox options include a five-speed manual, a six-speed manual, a seven-speed dual clutch, and a continuously variable transmission.

After India, the Sonet will be made available to the global market. It targets the young generation who are tech-savvy and will compete with the Ford EcoSport.

Photo from Kia

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