Kia Motors, a leading South Korean automobile manufacturer, is all set to give its compact SUV – the Sonet – a major facelift. Launched in August 2020, the Kia Sonet has been a popular choice among car buyers in India, where it is not only sold in the domestic market but is also exported to other markets like Indonesia, Mexico, and the Middle East. The first spy shots of the upcoming Sonet facelift have now surfaced, revealing some design cues that will make the SUV even more attractive to potential buyers.
Exterior Design Updates:
The spy shots of the Sonet facelift show that Kia has made significant design updates to the compact SUV. The front of the SUV gets a sharper headlamp design and a newly designed Kia grille finished in piano black. The bumper is all-new too, featuring larger fog lamp housings. The headlamps and the fog lamps seem to be connected by a vertically positioned element that could either be the turn indicators or LED daytime running lamps.
The profile of the Sonet looks more or less the same, although it is likely to receive some cosmetic tweaks on the doors and cladding. The alloy wheel design and wheel cap design will be all-new as well. The test mule seen in the spy shots is wearing made-in-India Apollo tires.
At the back, the new tailgate design seems to get a much flatter look. The tail lamps also see a major rework with new L-type units similar to the Seltos facelift, which is also expected to be launched in India in a few months. While it is not confirmed, the Sonet facelift could also get connected LED units like on the refreshed Seltos. Additionally, there are chances that it could get dynamic turn indicators, which will also be seen on its larger sibling.
Interior Updates:
The Sonet is already feature-laden and comes with a large touchscreen infotainment, a sunroof, and cooled seats, to name a few. Expect some minor tweaks on the inside in terms of upholstery shades and trims, and some feature additions.
Powertrain:
Like every passenger car and SUV sold in India, the Kia Sonet has recently undergone powertrain upgrades to meet the stringent Real Driving Emissions (RDE) regulations. The SUV comes with an 83hp, 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, a 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, and a 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine. We do not expect any changes on the powertrain front on the Sonet facelift.
Launch Details:
Kia has not one but two major model updates lined up for India. Firstly, we expect the larger Seltos to undergo the midlife update in the coming months, followed by the market introduction of the facelifted Sonet most likely by the end of this year or early next year. With these two model updates, Kia hopes to strengthen its position in the highly competitive SUV market in India.
In terms of pricing, the Sonet facelift is likely to be priced slightly higher than the current model due to the design updates and added features. However, given the SUV’s popularity in India and other markets, Kia is confident that the facelifted Sonet will continue to attract buyers who are looking for a stylish, feature-laden compact SUV.
Conclusion:
The upcoming Kia Sonet facelift is set to receive significant design updates, making it an even more attractive option for car buyers in India and other markets. With a feature-laden interior and no expected changes to the powertrain, the Sonet facelift is likely to be a hit among car buyers looking for a stylish and reliable one.
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