Does the Updated Kia Sonet Live Up to the Hype?

 by Phillip S Maboya

Kia is a South Korean automobile manufacturer based in Seoul, South Korea. It arrived in South Africa in the year of 1998. The first Kia Sonet was launched in South Africa on 11-May-2021. We live in a market that is flooded with compact SUV's and the Kia Sonet dares to be different. But the main question is, does is live up to its promise? 

Did you know that the Sonet comes from the word sonetto, meaning 'Little Song'?

Images: Kia - MotorPress

WHAT DOES THE UPDATED SONET COME WITH?

Exterior: 

At the front, the new Sonet gains:

• A new light signature
• A new front bumper 
• An updated iteration of Kia’s signature ‘tiger nose’ grille, and a revised fender and bonnet, all combining to create a notably more dramatic visage that visually aids the Sonet’s wide, confident stance. 

At the rear, this sporty, wide stance is reiterated through:

• Redesigned taillights that are horizontally connected just beneath the rear windscreen, giving Sonet a new rear light signature that complements the redesigned tailgate and rear bumper.

As part of its refresh, a variety of colours are also available.  These colours include:

• Sparkling Silver metallic 
• Gravity Grey metallic 
• Glacier White Pearl
• Aurora Black Pearl
• Intense Red metallic
• Imperial Blue metallic

Sonet gains one new colour option in Pewter Olive metallic. Customers also have a choice between Glacier White Pearl with a black roof or Red metallic with a black roof.

Interior:

Inside, Sonet retains its high-quality, high-technology interior, with the familiar layout left largely unchanged.

• 8-inch colour touchscreen
• 10.25-inch integrated colour touchscreen – depending on the grade
• A combination of black cloth and artificial leather upholstered seats are standard, while higher specification models are fitted as standard with artificial leather upholstery.

HOW DOES THE SONET DRIVE?

Engine: The new Kia Sonet retains the familiar, reliable naturally aspirated 1.5-litre MPI and turbocharged 1.0-litre GDi petrol engines the range is known for. This will give you 88 kW of power and 172 Nm of torque between. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission or CVT when opting for the 1.5-litre engine, or a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) when opting for the 1.0 T-GDi.

Fuel Consumption: According to Kia, the claimed combined cycle fuel consumption is 7.2 l/100km in automatic and 7.0 l/100km in the manual. The fuel tank capacity of the Sonet is 45L and it will give you 643km per full tank.

HOW MUCH DOES THE SONET COST?

The new Kia Sonet LX and EX range went on sale on Tuesday, 18 June 2024, with EX Plus and SX derivatives available from late July 2024. Recommended retail pricing for the range is as follows:

Kia Sonet 1.5 LX Manual:             R 366,995

Kia Sonet 1.5 LX CVT:                  R 391,995

Kia Sonet 1.5 EX CVT:                  R 411,995

Kia Sonet 1.0 T-GDi EX DCT:       R 436,995

Kia Sonet 1.5 EX Plus CVT:          R 454,995

Kia Sonet 1.5 SX CVT:                  R 484,995

WHAT ARE ITS COMPETITORS?

The primary competitors of Kia Sonet are:

• Hyundai Venue
• Mahindra Xuv300
• Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
• Nissan Magnite
• Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Tags: Kia Polokwane, Kia Sonet

COST OF OWNERSHIP:

1. Kia Sonet 1.5 LX Manual (The Entry-level model):

• Cash Price:                    R366,995
• Deposit:                         0%
• Payment Term:             72 Months
• Ballon:                           40% 
• Monthly Payment:        R5,710pm*

2. Kia Sonet Insurance Estimate:

• 2024 Kia Sonet 1.5 LX Manual: R2,551pm*

NB: The insurance quote I mentioned in this review is based on my personal details, including my age, gender and number of years I've held my driver's license. Your insurance quote will vary!

3. Fueling: 

• R24,90 per liter (95 Unleaded Petrol) x 45L = R1,121 (Full Tank)
• R20,97 per liter (Diesel) x 45L = R943,65 (Full Tank)

It will cost you:

• R9,382 (Petrol Car) Installment + Insurance + Fuel
• R9,205 (Diesel Car) Installment + Insurance + Fuel

Per-Month to own the Kia Sonet Entry-level model.

NB: Fuel Prices change almost every month!

WARRANTY:

All Sonet models ship as standard with Kia’s industry-leading Unlimited Kilometre/5-year warranty, inclusive of Roadside Assistance. In addition, a pre-paid 4-year / 60,000 km service plan is included to give customers peace of mind and predictability when it comes to vehicle maintenance. A variety of plan extension options are available at point of sale through Kia Financial Services for customers who require even more predictability of maintenance spend.

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ENDS