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A sonnet as simply defined by Dictionary.com is a poem that properly expresses a single idea, thought or sentiment in 14 lines. This is the name Kia decided to designate for their comprehensive subcompact crossover SUV. The idea being it's a classy and sporty entry into the world of SUV ownership. It's rather befitting as the vehicle makes a strong statement in its segment.
Related: Kia Sonet 1.0 T-GDi (2022) - Turbo power for Kia's smallest SUV - First Drive Impression
Recently, Kia South Africa has added a new engine to the local Sonet range in the form of the brand's 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine as seen in its stablemate the Hyundai Venue. You'll find this engine in the EX and EX+ trim levels. The press unit dropped off for evaluation was a Sonet in EX+ trim.
Styling
The Sonet encompasses bold design from Kia. As a whole, its body is stout but strong. You see signature design cues in the form of the grille and light housings as Kia describes were inspired by a tiger's eyes and nose. The rear sees a short hatch with a light bar housing nestling the 'KIA' badge in between. You'll also find a silver rear bumper trim piece to complement the similar one found on the front bumper.
Other lovely design features include two-tone diamond-cut 16-inch wheels (excluded on LX trim) which have some more radical spoke design. This goes along with gloss black trim accents on the C-pillars to complement the sporty design elements more. There are sporty lines throughout the design of the Sonet which flow nicely from front to back. We quite appreciate the expressiveness of the exterior design. The more you look at it, the more you appreciate it.
Space & Interior
The exterior design language carries on over into the interior as well. There are plenty of patterns sprinkled along the interior of the Sonet. You'll find them on the door cards, near the speakers and even within the air vents. The vents have a subtle polygonal pattern design. There are nice touches of gloss black and silver in the interior. Although a compact car, the interior isn't tight and busy so it keeps key essential functions within easy reach. Especially when it comes to the centre console, aircon and radio controls are within easy reach from the steering wheel and aren't a fuss to operate. In the EX+ trim, you get artificial leather seats with red stitching. The material feels hardwearing so it can take some punishment. Aesthetically, the seats fit the Sonet's interior well with a matching leather-wrapped steering wheel complete with red stitching. The luggage capacity totals at 392-litres with a good form factor even when the boot lid is closed.
Comfort & Convenience
So the Sonet has a sophisticated interior design but does that mean it translates into comfort and convenience well? Rest assured it does. Storage compartments are aplenty, to house your water bottles, smartphones and even small umbrellas. Notable convenience features include a wireless Android Auto/Apple Car Play infotainment system with easy and quick connection, USB charging ports front and rear and even auto light control which comprises of welcome home and escort function. A multi-function display is tucked into the instrument binnacle with an array of gauges and functions to access. It's easy to work with and quite handy. The Sonet could do with a telescopic adjusting steering wheel and auto up & down windows at least for the driver. Unfortunately in this test unit, the door cards did tend to rattle upon raising the music volume halfway with more bass-heavy songs, even with EQ adjustments. It is a shame because the speaker system in the Sonet is a pleasure to listen to with a good amount of fidelity. At the same time, the NVH noise insulation is brilliant in this vehicle, and even rivals some luxury brands. Overall, i's a comfortable space to be in and is certainly a consummate commuter.
Performance
Now onto the heart of the matter. Does the 1.0-litre turbocharged Kappa three-cylinder engine do justice in the Sonet? The short answer is yes. The 1.0T-GDi engine produces 88kW of power and 172Nm of torque. The engine is at its most happy in the low to mid RPM range. The engine is coupled to a 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission sending power to the front wheels. It's a quick shifter and fun to put into manual mode from time to time. You get 3 driving modes in the form of Eco, Normal and Sport. In Eco and Normal modes, power delivery is gentle with seamless gear changes. Chuck the car into Sport mode and you'll see stronger power delivery and throttle response. The Kappa engine and DCT gearbox are a good match but are unfortunately let down by a noticeable amount of dead zone dialled into the throttle. Although geared more for gentle punting around town, a slightly reduced throttle dead zone would be welcome.
That being said, to complement the engine and drivetrain, praise needs to be given to the handling of the Sonet. The suspension is not only well tuned to inspire confidence but at the same time, deals with South African roads both on and off (soft off-road though). The Sonet's handling shows poise with a well-weighted steering response, handling that isn't wallowy when dealing with twisty roads and finally, good highway manners. The handling suits the sturdy look of the Sonet.
Fuel Economy
The Kia Sonet EX+ with the 1.0-litre T-GDI three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, in a week of testing, consumed on average 7.8 L - 8.1 L/100km over a combined cycle. Claimed fuel consumption figures are up to 7.0 L/100km, making its real-world consumption perfectly acceptable.
Safety
Safety with the Kia Sonet consists of:
- Across the range you'll find: ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, ISOFIX Child seat anchors, Rearview camera, Rheostat (Interior light dimmer switch) and central locking with immobiliser.
- Rear Park Distance sensors (Excluded on LX trim)
- Driver and passenger airbags only (LX trim)
- Driver, passenger, curtain and side airbags (EX+ trim only)
Price
*The current Kia Sonet range comes standard with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty, 4-year/60 000km service plan and 5-year/unlimited km roadside assistance. Pricing is correct at the time of publishing.
| Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
| Sonet 1.5 Manual LX | From R296 995 |
| Sonet 1.5 Manual EX | From R316 995 |
| Sonet 1.5 CVT Auto LX | From R317 995 |
| Sonet 1.5 CVT Auto EX | From R337 995 |
| Sonet 1.0T EX 7DCT Auto | From R359 995 |
| Sonet 1.0T EX+ 7DCT Auto | From R 389 995 |
Competitors
Competitors for the Kia Sonet include the Mahindra XUV300, Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Chery Tiggo4Pro, Nissan Magnite, Honda WR-V and Hyundai Venue.
Kia Sonet vs Chery Tiggo 4 Pro vs Hyundai Venue: Which is the best value?>
Verdict
The Kia Sonet is quite a poetic vehicle (pun intended). It's an expression of the idea of a classy yet sporty crossover. It's quite a fun vehicle to drive with the new-to-South Africa model fitted with the Kappa engine providing urban and open road driving prowess. Small refinements do need to be made to the throttle sensitivity and the door card rattle on the press car was irksome, but those are really quite minor in the grand scheme of things. The formula here is solid and it's made sweeter with the newly introduced engine and drivetrain combo. The Kia Sonet EX+ is worth a shot.
