The Kia Sonet Compact SUV, now unveiled

PrasunBannerjee · 25th July 2020, 20:48

Looks like a lower variant with basic headlamps, and wheel caps or 'stylish steel wheels' as Hyundai cars have. But have they totally themed the car on vampires? The DRLs as advertised/teased pose like upper jaw canines, and the front skidplate is shaped like lower jaw canines.

Let's hope they don't promote it as 'India/World's first Vampire themed car, for the bloodthirsty Vampire in you'

Reinhard · 25th July 2020, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarguyNish

Here it is, presenting the Kia Sonet
Base Trim in Silver Shade.

Pic Source - Twitter

Where was this clicked, any idea? This car passed bang in front of my home in Kothrud-Pune as I was waiting for an uber this afternoon! It had emissions test equipment at back so probably working at ARAI. It went away before my lagy camera opened.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashvek3141

Wow! The car does look really butch from the front. I just hope that it is similar in the size as the Vitara Brezza, if not more. IMO the Vitara Brezza has the perfect exterior size for a CSUV, very proportionate.

You are not going the like what I say now. The car looked really small. Brezza/XUV3OO would look big brothers in comparison. It looked smaller than even the Venue. Especially shorter in height. The rear 3 quarters / C pillar looked almost like a hatchback. Maybe the camouflage made a bit of a contribution to this, but the first reaction I had was "wow, thats really small!". I am not sure if the Sonet will have the same impact as the Seltos in its segment.

CEF_Beasts · 25th July 2020, 21:23

Found a nice rendering done by SRK designs. Don’t know if it has been shared earlier, but surely it looks pretty nice! This will surely sweep the entire CSUV segment.

Source: https://indianauto.com/news/kia-sone...emerge-nid6610

TS Rawat · 25th July 2020, 21:41

Looks like a somewhat better small suv for the mountains as well as the city. There is no other diesel automatic or iMT in this segment.

Reinhard · 25th July 2020, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by TS Rawat

There is no other diesel automatic or iMT in this segment.

And the management teams at Mahindra & Tata just slipped out from their chairs!

CrAzY dRiVeR · 25th July 2020, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reinhard

I had was "wow, thats really small!".

Looks like Kia is overcompensating with the design!

Are those the largest skid-plates front and rear, south of 20 lakhs? Just too much IMHO - but then - it might also work to compensate the lack of size.

2cents · 25th July 2020, 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

Attachment 2034322

Is that a hood I see in the bonnet!! Wasn't there in the prototype they showcased at the AutoShow. Which engine in their lineup demands such a vent, or is it just to give it a butch look? I say an insulation under the bonnet would be more welcome instead.

Reinhard · 25th July 2020, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2cents

Is that a hood I see in the bonnet!! Wasn't there in the prototype they showcased at the AutoShow. Which engine in their lineup demands such a vent, or is it just to give it a butch look? I say an insulation under the bonnet would be more welcome instead.

Well, the hood scoops in most mass market commuter cars are for feeding cool air into the turbo's intercooler. So the TGDI / CRDi engines would be candidates for a hood scoop. However its only if they package the cooler on top of the engine like the MHAWK in Scorpio. Otherwise it would be more of a cosmetic thing.

Regardless, the hood scoop even if provided in functional mode in such small engine cars, its mainly for cosmetic reasons to begin with since the best efficiency of any radiator is achieved by placing it as much near the front of the grille/air-dam.

Bibendum90949 · 26th July 2020, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reinhard

It looked smaller than even the Venue. Especially shorter in height. The rear 3 quarters / C pillar looked almost like a hatchback. Maybe the camouflage made a bit of a contribution to this, but the first reaction I had was "wow, thats really small!". I am not sure if the Sonet will have the same impact as the Seltos in its segment.

But then isn't that (being small) the order of the day with more people looking to have a personal transport in these changing times. I reckon Sonet makes for a perfect second car and would be a great city commuter too with all the bells and whistles one can think of in the segment. I think it has all the makings of another block buster after Seltos, though Kia can expect the downcast economy to throw some spanner in their works.

PrasannaDhana · 26th July 2020, 01:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7000plusrpm

So, no news of a tc automatic with the diesel engine?

Well, sadly there won't be any AT with diesel, just like the venue. I guess they don't want to cannibalize their own sibling's sales too much. Or it may be a tactic to push the buyer towards the bigger cousins - seltos & creta. Most urban customers would prefer the smaller C-SUVs over the 4+ m C-SUVs.

TS Rawat · 26th July 2020, 08:26

Thanks. The two tone interiors appears to be a bad choice to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reinhard

And the management teams at Mahindra & Tata just slipped out from their chairs!

A diesel iMT or AT appears to be a good choice for people living in Uttarakhand, Himachal, J&K and the North East. Mahindras and Tatas sell very well in the hilly states, but sadly they are not innovative until threatened by the competition. The same was the story with Bajaj Auto, Premier Motors and Hindustan Motors until Honda or Maruti arrived.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 26th July 2020, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by TS Rawat

Thanks. The two tone interiors appears to be a bad choice to me.

That should mostly be limited to the top-end GT Line, just like in the Seltos.

Bibendum90949 · 26th July 2020, 09:18

The new Kia Ad featuring various models.

https://youtu.be/S6H_gFkjg7U

volkman10 · 26th July 2020, 09:28

The 'SUV' continues to be on test – this time for BS6 emission testing.

The Kia Sonet Compact SUV, now unveiled-kiasonetspiedundisguisedaraitesting1600x450.jpg

The Kia Sonet Compact SUV, now unveiled-kiasonetspiedundisguisedaraitesting3600x450.jpg

Link

padmrajravi · 26th July 2020, 11:04

The front end looks aggressive though it looks smaller compared to Brezza. Even the Venue is smaller, yet performes well in the sales chart. As usual Kia will play with the feature combination and make it feel more value for money than the Hyundai offering.

It is like Kia has a cheatsheet from its cousin about Indian market. They are bypassing decades of experience in Indian market by having that cheatsheet. They know exactly what the Indian customers want, have all the technologies that Hyundai has access to, and is somehow able to create more value for money compared to Hyundai offering by working with the feature combination.

25th July 2020, 20:48	#226
PrasunBannerjee BHPian Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Udaipur Posts: 404 Thanked: 1,522 Times	Re: The Kia Sonet Compact SUV, now unveiled Looks like a lower variant with basic headlamps, and wheel caps or 'stylish steel wheels' as Hyundai cars have. But have they totally themed the car on vampires? The DRLs as advertised/teased pose like upper jaw canines, and the front skidplate is shaped like lower jaw canines. Let's hope they don't promote it as 'India/World's first Vampire themed car, for the bloodthirsty Vampire in you'
	(4) Thanks

25th July 2020, 21:23	#228
CEF_Beasts Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,743 Thanked: 18,120 Times	Re: The Kia Sonet Compact SUV, now unveiled Found a nice rendering done by SRK designs. Don’t know if it has been shared earlier, but surely it looks pretty nice! This will surely sweep the entire CSUV segment. Source: https://indianauto.com/news/kia-sone...emerge-nid6610 Attached Thumbnails
	(5) Thanks

25th July 2020, 21:41	#229
TS Rawat BHPian Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Dehradun Posts: 37 Thanked: 40 Times	Re: The Kia Sonet Compact SUV, now unveiled Looks like a somewhat better small suv for the mountains as well as the city. There is no other diesel automatic or iMT in this segment.
	() Thanks

26th July 2020, 09:28	#239
volkman10 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: -- Posts: 23,428 Thanked: 67,859 Times View My Garage	Re: The Kia Sonet Compact SUV, now unveiled The 'SUV' continues to be on test – this time for BS6 emission testing. Link Last edited by volkman10 : 26th July 2020 at 09:32.
	(10) Thanks

26th July 2020, 11:04	#240
padmrajravi Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2019 Location: Kozhikode Posts: 1,229 Thanked: 5,517 Times	Re: The Kia Sonet Compact SUV, now unveiled The front end looks aggressive though it looks smaller compared to Brezza. Even the Venue is smaller, yet performes well in the sales chart. As usual Kia will play with the feature combination and make it feel more value for money than the Hyundai offering. It is like Kia has a cheatsheet from its cousin about Indian market. They are bypassing decades of experience in Indian market by having that cheatsheet. They know exactly what the Indian customers want, have all the technologies that Hyundai has access to, and is somehow able to create more value for money compared to Hyundai offering by working with the feature combination.
	(8) Thanks