When the Sonet launched in South Africa last year, buyers flocked to Kia showrooms. Sales were going exceedingly well until production slowed due to all kinds of issues, such as global pandemics and semiconductor chip shortages.
Now that the 1.0-litre turbocharged Kia Sonet is here, it can only mean one thing: Kia’s production problems have mostly been solved and the brand is ready to move 800 - 1000 units per month (in SA). Is Kia being too ambitious? After driving the new forced-induction Sonet this week, we think they’re being quite realistic, as a matter of fact.
"With the introduction of the new turbocharged derivatives and its established reputation as one of the highest quality offerings in its segment, the Kia Sonet cements its position as one of the most desirable and most complete options available in the market today," says Stephen Crosse, KIA SA sales and marketing director.
Before the launch of the new model, the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated Sonet lineup looked like this:
Kia Sonet 1.5 LX, R290 995 (All 1.5 models have 85kW and 114 Nm)
Kia Sonet 1.5 EX, R310 995
Kia Sonet 1.5 LX auto, R311 995
Kia Sonet 1.5 EX auto, R331 995
With rivals such as the Toyota Urban Cruiser and Suzuki Vitara Brezza it isn’t an easy segment to compete in, but the naturally aspirated Sonet’s upmarket design, expansive spec sheet, solid build quality and the unlimited-kilometre warranty had Kia staff running around to find enough stock for the countrywide demand.
Who is the turbocharged Sonet's competition?
Kia has identified the Hyundai Venue, Ford EcoSport, and Volkswagen T-Cross as the Sonet 1.0T-GDi’s most prominent adversaries. These models have been dominating the 3-cylinder, turbocharged mini-SUV segment for some time, but the new 1.0-litre Sonet outclasses them all with a better value package overall. I also had the poverty-spec Volkswagen Taigo on test the week before, and despite being considerably more expensive, it's not quite up to the Sonet's level (in EX trim) of standard features.
The new forced-induction Sonet is fitted with Kia’s new 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 88kW and 172Nm, and is paired with a 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox. This new 1.0 T-GDi model is available in EX as well as EX+ trim.
The drive
After the launch presentation, we hopped into the more affordable Sonet 1.0 T-GDI EX 7DCT (R359,995) to see if one really needs the flagship EX+ model after all. Our route around the Overberg included twisty Clarence Drive, the Houwhoek Pass, and Sir Lowry’s Pass, but we insisted on taking a detour via Mountain View Road, a curvaceous dirt section that starts near the Arabella Hotel and ends at the Viljoenshoop Road turn-off next door to the Peregrine farm stall on the N2 at Grabouw. The little Sonet’s tyres gripped the unruly road well and absorbed the lumps and bumps with its pliant suspension. When things got a little hairy for a moment, the traction control quickly put us back on course and we continued happily down the valley to our lunch venue in Elgin. The 1.0T-GDi is spritely enough for whatever life throws at you in town, on the highway, or on your favourite rural road.
Fuel consumption hovered around the 7 litres per 100 km mark, yet relaxed driving yielded a figure of about 6. As much as I love not having to shift gears in traffic, I would have enjoyed driving a turbocharged Sonet with a six-speed manual gearbox to extract every last kiloWatt from that 3-cylinder engine, but there’s none in the line-up yet.
Should you not be able to stretch to the flagship EX+ model, you'll only lose out on the leather seats and side/curtain airbags as well as LED lights in the rear and cruise control. See the grade walk below:
Higlights in the EX model include the following:
- An 8,0-inch HD touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth with voice control
- A height-adjustable driver’s seat
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shifter
- A rear-view camera and rear park distance control (PDC)
- Combination of artificial leather and cloth seat trim
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- ABS with EBD
- Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
- Dual front airbags
- ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Automatic headlamp activation
In addition to the EX trim level, the new EX+ specification has the following features:
- Side and curtain airbags
- Rear combination LED lights with signature graphic
- 2” TFT LCD Supervision cluster
- Artificial leather seats with contrast red stitching
- Folding electric side mirrors
- Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
- Cruise control
- Automatic climate control
- Drive Mode Select
Pricing for the new 1.0-litre Sonet
Sonet 1.0 T-GDI EX 7DCT R359,995
Sonet 1.0 T-GDI EX+ 7DCT R389,995
Prices were correct at the time this article was published, but may increase without prior notice.
