Kia Sonet review, road test

With its packaging done right, Kia’s new compact SUV has all it takes to rule to roost.

Published on Dec 22, 2020 07:00:00 AM

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It’s a smart-looking compact SUV with several unique design elements.

Quality of materials inside the cabin, design, textures, fit and finish look and feel very premium.

Fairly large boot, but the absence of split rear seats will be felt occasionally.

Walk close to the car with the key in your pocket and the mirrors automatically unfold, adding a bit of drama before unlocking the vehicle, and getting into the cabin is easy thanks to the raised, upright stance. But once you’re seated inside, it is the interiors that really bowl you over. It isn’t merely the design that looks premium, but the quality of materials, textures, and the fit and finish that make you feel that you’ve got your money’s worth. Finer detailing like the damped AC vents, double stitching and tasteful silver highlights further lift the cabin’s appeal. Certain design elements, like the vertical air vents and the large rectangular bezel that stretches from the instrument cluster to the infotainment screen might polarise opinion, but what’s nice is that the layout of the dashboard looks neat.

Quality of materials and finesse of all the controls is simply top-notch.

Even the large buttons for the climate control feel great to operate and so does the sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel. What catches your attention is the easy-to-read digital speedometer and the large MID that throws up a plethora of information. The tachometer and the fuel and temperature gauges flanking the speedo, however, aren’t as well executed and are a bit difficult to read.

Very intuitive and user-friendly system that’s loaded with features and connected tech.

The driving position is upright, and the ergonomics are spot on. The seats are nice and supportive, and what further adds to front-seat comfort is the seat cooling function, which is a segment first. The rear-seat experience, however, isn’t as nice. The seat squab is a bit short, thus thigh support is in short supply. While headroom is plenty, knee and legroom are quite poor as far as segment standards go. The area beneath the front seats liberates some additional foot space for the rear passengers, though. Also, the rear seat isn’t as spacious or as comfortable for three abreast, like some of its other rivals. And while passengers don’t feel as hemmed-in as in the Venue due to an additional quarter glass present in the Sonet, it still isn’t a very bright and airy place to be.

High seating means getting in and out is very easy. Seats are comfy.

Clever and well-shaped cavities offer plenty of storage options. The door bins are large and there are ample spaces, including a wireless charging smartphone tray, to stow away knick-knacks, but the air purifier placed in the centre armrest console eats into the usable space. Kia has provided many areas in the front and back to keep your smartphone, including two pouches in the front seatback pockets. While boot space is on par with rivals in this segment, Kia hasn’t included 60:40 split-folding rear seats, which would offer additional flexibility to haul spillover cargo.