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.

Kia has launched a flanking attack on the compact SUV space, leaving no stone unturned with the Sonet’s packaging. Its exteriors are stylish, interiors are polished, and it packs in all the premium kit that the segment demands. In addition, features like cooled seats and a Bose sound system are bound to catch the buyer’s fancy. Then there are multiple engine and transmission options spread across a broad price band, from Rs 6.71-12.89 lakh (ex-showroom, India), thus catering to a wider set of buyers across multiple price points. And when it comes to the fundamentals, its light controls and easy-going character make the Sonet very driver friendly, with the diesel-automatic option being the real ace up its sleeve, and our pick of the range. Not all is perfect though, and the price of some of the higher variants places it within the larger Creta’s space. The ride quality could be plusher and interior space is well below class standards. Look past these shortcomings and there’s little to fault in the well-conceived and well-built Sonet, which is set to be another blockbuster by Kia.