Kia Sonet gets one-star Global NCAP AOP rating

MANILA: The Kia Sonet has received a one-star rating for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) from the Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP).

Based on the assessors’ report, the tested vehicle was manufactured in India—with the examination applicable to units sold in the South African market.

In the AOP category, the five-seater B-segment crossover scored 21.29 out of a possible 34 points.

As stated in the Global NCAP crash test report, the Sonet's footwell area and bodyshell were found to be unstable and incapable of withstanding additional loads during impact. The side-impact test also revealed poor chest protection while abdominal protection was rated as adequate.

Further, the Global NCAP did not conduct the side-pole impact test as the side head-protection airbags are not fitted as standard equipment on the tested model.

Aside from that, the Kia Sonet also earned a three-star rating in the Child Occupant Protection (COP) after scoring 28.57 out of 49 points.

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Assessors noted that child dummies received full protection during dynamic crash tests. Conversely, the absence of three-point seatbelts in all seating positions, the lack of a passenger airbag deactivation switch, and a low child restraint system (CRS) installation score prevented the vehicle from achieving a higher rating.

Although it also sells the Sonet locally, Kia Philippines clarified that the recent NCAP crash test report “is not representative of the Kia Sonet models sold in the Philippines”—reiterating that it is only specific to the South African version.

“Safety remains a core priority for Kia and we remain committed to designing and manufacturing vehicles that meet global safety standards and regulations,” Kia Philippines added.

To note, the Kia Sonet units marketed in the Philippines are produced in China.

A quick check with the Philippine-spec Kia Sonet shows that the local model is equipped with the following safety features:

Safety Feature	Availability
Airbags	Dual front airbags (driver and passenger)
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)	Standard across all variants
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	Available on the top-of-the-line variant
Hill-Start Assist	Available on the top-of-the-line variant
Rear Camera Display	Standard across all variants
Parking Distance System	Rear sensors
Seatbelts	Three-point seatbelts with pretensioners for front and rear occupants
ISOFIX Child Anchors	Standard across all variants
Child Locks	Standard across all variants

Regarding pricing, the Philippine-spec Kia Sonet starts at P798,000 for the entry-level LX MT. The LX AT, meanwhile, retails at P948,000, while the EX AT is offered at P1.018 million. The top-of-the-line SX AT, on the other hand, is priced at P1.218 million. 

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