All-new Kia Sonet revealed
Just a few days ago, a design image of the all-new Kia Sonet emerged from India. Following on from that image, Kia India released a full set of images showing what the new compact SUV will actually look like.
Related: Kia Seltos (2020): First Drive Impression
We first heard rumblings about the Sonet while on the launch of the Kia Seltos and were intrigued at the prospect of the newcomer.
What is it?
The new Kia Sonet will be a compact crossover SUV to rival the likes of the Hyundai Venue. Set to be debuted globally on August 7th 2020, the new Sonet will have first in class fitment and design, taking aim at the higher end of the compact SUV market.
The new Sonet will be manufactured at Kia's wholly-owned Andra Pradesh India facility and boasts a very intriguing specification. Kia SA is expecting the Sonet to make landfall in late 2020 here in South Africa and while we are still waiting on the exact specification we are going to get, we are genuinely excited to see what the new Sonet will bring to the table.
What can we look forward to?
Kia India has described the new Sonet as having a uniquely sporty attitude, a confident stance and a dynamic silhouette and uncompromised attention to detail. On the outside, the Sonet will retain Kia's signature design traits such as the tiger-nose grille and grille mesh as well as the bold lines we've become accustomed too. LED lighting sets the standard for an aggressive outward appearance that is rounded off by the front and rear bumpers and sporty wheels.
The interior looks to be where the magic will happen with striking design elements. Set to be trimmed in high-quality materials the interior will be stylish and comfortable. The dashboard will feature a 10.5 inch (26.67 cm) centre screen and a digital dash for the driver as well as focus on the tech needs of driver and passenger with extra trays for mobile devices. There was also mention made of a Sound Mood lighting which sounds a lot like the system that was featured in the Kia Soul.
Safety is also high on the list with the Sonet reported to have up to 6 airbags fitted as well as a number of active and passive safety systems in action.
Power delivery
Kia has not yet released the model line up which will contain the engine and drivetrain options that we can expect to see. We are also waiting for the associated pricing.
In closing
Although this is a wholly "Made in India" product and these products don't usually carry a very high reputation, we are excited to see what Kia is going to deliver in this segment. Judging by the fit and finish of the Seltos we can only assume that this is going to be another winner from the Korean automaker.
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