Kia Sonet

The Kia Sonet's cabin exudes a premium feel, courtesy the high-quality materials and meticulous attention to detail. The dashboard features a richly textured top. 

Soft-touch materials are limited, but quality textured plastics have been used. There are piano black inserts, brushed aluminium-style accents, and red contrast stitching in top-level trim. Buttons, knobs, and stalks feel durable and well-damped, and everything is within easy reach. 

The front seats are large and supportive, with good thigh and lumbar support that make long trips comfortable. Ventilated seats are available in top variants. Driver’s seat height adjustment and tilt steering are standard across most models. But telescopic steering is missing, and many drivers may find that limiting.

Space on the rear seat is adequate for two adults. Three would be a squeeze. Legroom is decent, though taller passengers might feel a bit tight, particularly in headroom, because of the sloping roofline. The rear bench-type seat offers good back support and a comfortable recline angle. 

The rear Air-conditioning vents, a central armrest with cup holders, and USB charging slots improve rear passenger convenience. The slightly raised floor because of the high transmission tunnel could be inconvenient for the middle passenger.

Kia has done a decent job of insulating the Sonet's cabin from road and engine noise. 

Pros and Cons

Pros: Premium cabin quality

Cons: Non-split rear seats

Features and Technology

The Kia Sonet gets a large 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system (available in top variants).  It’s the centrepiece of the dashboard. It gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. It can be connected to the optional Kia Connect system with more than 60 features like remote engine start, climate control, live tracking, and geo-fencing. A premium BOSE seven-speaker audio system in higher trims provide excellent audio quality. The car gets advanced voice recognition for controlling infotainment, navigation, and even climate functions.

Most variants of the Kia Sonet get a 4.2-inch colour multi-information display (MID) display, flanked by analogue dials. It’s crisp and provides a range of data. Higher trims get a fully digital instrument cluster with dynamic animations and sharper graphics.

Pros and cons

Pros: Smart connectivity with Kia Connect

Cons: Touchscreen is often distracting

Boot Space and Storage

The Kia Sonet gets a boot space of 392 liters, making it one of the largest in the segment. The boot features a high loading lip, which may require more effort when loading heavy items. Additionally, the wheel arches slightly intrude into the boot space, potentially reducing the overall usable area for larger items. In the front, the central console offers a storage compartment with a sliding armrest. Dual cup holders are conveniently placed. The front doors are equipped with sizable pockets capable of holding water bottles and other essentials.​

The rear seats are equipped with a foldable armrest that includes dual cup holders, enhancing comfort for rear passengers.​ Rear-seat passengers benefit from USB charging ports. Controls for the air purifier system are conveniently located at the back, complete with a color-coded display indicating the air quality inside the cabin.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Spacious boot

Cons: High loading lip

The Kia Sonet measures 4,110 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width, and 1,625 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,500 mm. The Sonet sports Kia’s iconic ‘Tiger Nose’ grille. The mesh pattern within the grille is intricately detailed, often with chrome or gloss black accents depending on the variant. The sharp, angular projector headlamps are slim and seamlessly integrated into the grille structure. The car gets all-around LED lighting. The front bumper features an aggressive lower lip with a large, functional air intake. Integrated fog lamps are neatly tucked into vertical housings.

On the sides, the Kia Sonet gets crisp character lines that run across the doors and rear quarter panels. The squared-off wheel arches are subtly flared. Depending on the trim, the car runs on 15-inch or 16-inch alloy wheels. A blacked-out C-pillar and contrast roof forges a ‘floating roof’ illusion. 

The rear-end of the car is defined by the ‘Heartbeat’ taillights joined by a reflector strip. It’s not a light bar. There’s an integrated roof spoiler with a high-mounted stop lamp. The dual-tone rear bumper includes a silver skid plate and decorative twin muffler-like chrome accents. The car’s 205mm ground clearance is subtly emphasized by the bumper height and black cladding.

The Kia Sonet is available in Imperial Blue, Snow White Pearl, Pewter Olive, Snow White Pearl with Black Roof, Vivid Red, and Vivid Red with Black Roof colour options.  

Pros and cons

Pros: Striking visual appeal

Cons: Lack of distinctiveness in lower trims

On city streets, the Kia Sonet’s ride quality is well-sorted and comfortable for the most part. Over potholes, speed bumps, and patchy roads, the subcompact SUV absorbs undulations with minimal cabin intrusion. The ride can feel a bit firm at very low speeds. The suspension soaks up minor imperfections confidently. However, sharper bumps and deep potholes can send noticeable thuds into the cabin if taken at speed.

On highways the Kia Sonet offers a planted and composed ride. The car remains stable at triple-digit speeds, with minimal vertical movement over long wave undulations. Passengers will find the ride supportive over long trips.

The light steering is perfect for urban driving. It’s effortless and responsive in tight spots. On highways, the car weighs up slightly at higher speeds. It lacks the connected feeling and heft that driving enthusiasts often prefer. The Kia Sonet handles corners with confidence. There's some body roll, as expected from an SUV, but its within control.

Pros: Sharp handling

Cons: Ride quality sometimes get stiff

The Kia Sonet is equipped with a naturally aspirated, four-cylinder, 1.5-litre Smartstream petrol engine that produces 115 PS/144Nm. This engine is paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). It offers a smooth and responsive power delivery, making it well-suited for both city driving and highway cruising.

Despite its naturally aspirated powertrain, the Kia Sonet's engine provides adequate performance for daily driving needs. Its lightweight construction contributes to a lively driving experience, particularly on city roads. The car’s compact dimensions and light steering make maneuvering through traffic and tight spaces effortless. The IVT ensures smooth acceleration.

On open roads, the Kia Sonet maintains stability and composure. The steering, while light at low speeds, provides adequate feedback at higher velocities, enhancing driver confidence.

Pros and cons

Pros: Efficient powertrain

Cons: Limited rear seat space

The Kia Sonet comes with Level 1 advanced driver-assist features (ADAS). It comprises 10 autonomous features that enhance driver assistance and safety. These features are available exclusively in the top-spec SX model. The top variants are equipped with an advanced 360-degree camera system to aid in driving and parking. It provides a bird's-eye view of the vehicle's surroundings, facilitating easier parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces. The blind-view monitor displays live feed of the vehicle's blind spots on the instrument cluster when the turn indicators are activated.

Other features include six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC) and vehicle stability management (VSM), hill-start control, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and an emergency stop signal.  

Pros and cons

Pros: Comprehensive safety system

Cons: Camera-based ADAS has some limitations

Competitor Comparison

The Toyota Raize is a close competitor of the Kia Sonet. Both are compact SUVs, but they differ in design, features, and performance. The Kia Sonet offers a more stylish design with a bold front grille and sleek lines. It has a modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, offering a more tech-focused interior. The Toyota Raize, on the other hand, is more conservative in design with a focus on practicality. It offers a smooth driving experience with efficient fuel economy. The Sonet has more powertrain options, while the Raize excels in safety features and reliability, typical of Toyota.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

The Kia Sonet impresses with its stylish design, feature-rich interior, and efficient performance. It strikes a great balance between comfort and practicality, making it a great choice in the subcompact SUV segment. Overall, the Sonet offers excellent value for money and is a worthy contender in its class.