Kia has begun teasing its new Sonet small
SUV that will make its world debut in India on August 7. A follow-up to the Kia
Sonet Concept unveiled at the 2020 Delhi Auto Expo, the small SUV is teased in
a first official rendering. As expected, the sketch reveals the Kia Sonet will
borrow heavily from the concept vehicle, which is in fact nothing more than a
pre-production prototype.
Expect the production model to look
virtually identical with the concept, with the possible exception of the
pop-out door handles and slim side mirrors. The subcompact SUV combines Kia’s
signature design traits, such as the prominent ‘tiger nose’ grille, with a
three-dimensional ‘stepwell’ geometric grille mesh for a strong visual
impression.
The global premiere of the Kia Sonet will
take place on August 7, followed by its market debut in India during the
upcoming festive season. The new model will target a younger generation of
“tech-savvy, aspirational and socially connected” customers. It will do that by
offering features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Kia’s UVO
in-car connectivity tech, a premium Bose sound system and a sunroof.
Much like the Nissan Magnite, the Kia
Sonet will compete in India’s sub-4 meter (category of vehicles that
see lower taxation as long as they feature engines no larger than 1.2 liters
(petrol) or 1.5 liters (diesel). Speaking of engines, reports from India claim
the Sonet will offer a 1.2-liter petrol with a manual gearbox, a 1.0-liter
turbo petrol with the iMT clutchless manual and dual-clutch transmissions, and
a 1.5-liter diesel with manual and automatic transmissions.
