Kia Sonet Facelift – What to Expect? » MotorOctane

Kia entered India with a bang. The Kia Seltos was the first model sold by the Korean manufacturer, and its strong response gave them the confidence to continue investing in the automotive sector. The Carnival came next, followed by the compact SUV, Sonet. The Sonet shares its platform and powertrain with the Hyundai Venue, yet it still has many differentiating factors that set it apart. Kia Sonet sold 1,000 more units in October than the Hyundai Venue.

Read more: New-Gen Hyundai Venue Launched In India!

The Sonet got a facelift in 2024, with revisions to its design, powertrain, and features. And with the recent updates to the Hyundai Venue, Kia will be looking towards launching the Sonet facelift. Here is all you need to know about the facelift.

Key Details

The most obvious change would be the shift in design language. Kia has taken a unique direction with its global models, and the same approach would apply to its Indian models. You will see Kia’s new approach soon with the upcoming Kia Seltos. A significantly larger grille and vertical headlights are among the distinct features expected with the facelift.

The upcoming model will feature a joint dual-screen display like the one found in the Syros, along with vital additions to its already elaborate feature list. The Sonet offers a vast array of features on its top models, but the lower variants lack features that rivals offer, such as a panoramic sunroof. It also misses out on Level-2 ADAS, a cooled glovebox and rain-sensing wipers, which are available in the Tata Nexon. You can expect these features with the facelift.

Read more: Upcoming Kia Seltos To Get This New Segment First Feature?

Powertrain Updates

For the base variant (HTE), you get the 1.2 L naturally-aspirated Petrol engine as standard. Your options broaden as you move up the variants, with a punchy 1.5L turbo-diesel and a 1.0L turbo-petrol engine. The diesel engine is the strongest of the 3, offering 113 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. The turbo-petrol has an insignificant advantage over the diesel, but falls behind by more than 75 Nm of torque. Kia offers a comprehensive list of gearboxes to choose from. This include a 5-speed manual for the base variant, a 6-speed for higher variants, a 6-speed iMT, a 6-speed torque converter, and a 7-speed DCT.

Kia hasn’t stepped into the hybrid segment of the automotive market with its SUVs. The Sonet could be one of the first. There are rumours that Kia will make minor changes to the current powertrain options and introduce a hybrid powertrain. The 1.2L engine will be used in the hybrid-petrol configuration.

Rivals

The Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Fronx, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Mahindra 3XO are the Sonet’s major rivals. Kia will look to dethrone the Tata Nexon, the best-selling car (as of October 2024), with the facelift. Moreover, the Venue recently got an update, while Maruti is planning to unveil the Vitara Brezza facelift.

Kia decided to make 6-airbags as standard with the 2024 facelift, showing its commitment to making the safest cars possible. Kia will aim to achieve all 5 stars in the Bharat NCAP with the upcoming facelift.

Read more: Tata Nexon Facelift – What to Expect?

Expected Price and Launch

The pricing for the outgoing version starts at 8.6 lakh rupees and can go up to 17 lakh rupees, depending on the variant you choose. A price hike is expected with the facelift, which could go from 5,000 to 25,000 rupees. If Kia opts to equip the Sonet facelift with ADAS, the price increase would be more significant. The Kia Sonet facelift launch is scheduled for late 2026 to early 2027, and the hybrid will be introduced shortly thereafter.

Kia will aim to gain an edge over the Nexon through the feature list, since it is a primary customer requirement. Kia will need to play their cards right with design tweaks and safety features to take the crown in the compact SUV segment.