Kia Sonet : Kia India has finally taken the wraps off the much-anticipated facelift of its popular compact SUV, the Sonet. The refreshed model, which arrives nearly four years after the original’s debut, brings significant updates to exterior styling, interior amenities, and safety features while retaining the mechanical package that made it a strong contender in the fiercely competitive sub-4-meter SUV segment.
Kia Sonet: Striking New Face Leads Design Overhaul
One glance at the 2025 Sonet reveals Kia’s commitment to keeping its smallest SUV visually distinctive. The front fascia receives the most substantial redesign, featuring a wider interpretation of the brand’s signature “tiger nose” grille that now seamlessly integrates with the LED headlamps through a continuous lighting strip – a design element previously seen only on Kia’s premium offerings like the EV9 globally.
“We’ve deliberately pushed the design envelope with the new Sonet,” explains Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center, during the virtual unveiling. “The connected lighting elements create a distinctive visual signature that’s immediately recognizable as a Kia, yet unique to the Sonet within our lineup.”
The bumpers at both ends receive comprehensive redesigns, with the front featuring larger air intakes flanked by vertically stacked LED fog lamps that enhance the vehicle’s visual width. The rear gets revised LED tail lamps connected by a light bar, mirroring the front treatment for a cohesive look. New 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels complete the exterior updates, giving the Sonet a more planted stance.
Cabin Upgrades Focus on Technology and Comfort
Step inside the refreshed Sonet, and the changes, while less dramatic than the exterior, meaningfully improve the overall experience. The dashboard layout remains familiar but now features a dual-screen setup similar to its larger sibling, the Seltos. A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster sits alongside a similarly sized touchscreen infotainment system, both housed under a single piece of curved glass for a more premium appearance.
“Today’s customers expect their vehicles to seamlessly integrate with their digital lives,” notes Hardeep Singh Brar, Vice President and Head of Sales & Marketing at Kia India. “The upgraded connectivity suite in the new Sonet includes over 70 connected car features, from practical elements like remote engine start and geofencing alerts to convenience features like voice commands for climate control.”
Material quality sees noticeable improvements throughout the cabin, with soft-touch materials on frequently touched surfaces and leatherette upholstery with contrast stitching on higher trims. The redesigned front seats offer better lateral support, while rear seat comfort benefits from a reclined backrest angle and additional cushioning – addressing one of the few criticisms of the outgoing model.
Safety Takes Center Stage with ADAS Introduction
Kia Sonet Perhaps the most significant upgrade comes in the safety department, where the 2025 Sonet becomes the first vehicle in its segment to offer Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The suite includes lane keeping assist, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, and driver attention warning – features typically found in vehicles costing significantly more.
The ADAS features complement the already robust safety package that includes six airbags as standard across all variants – a move Kia made ahead of impending government regulations. Electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, and hill-start assist continue as standard equipment, while the top-spec variants add a blind-spot monitoring system.
Familiar Powertrains with Refined Calibration
Kia Sonet: Under the hood, the Sonet continues with the same trio of engine options – a 1.2-liter naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.0-liter turbocharged petrol, and a 1.5-liter diesel. While the power outputs remain unchanged, Kia engineers have recalibrated the engines for improved fuel efficiency and refinement.
Transmission choices also carry over, with the 1.0-liter turbo-petrol offering the widest selection: a 6-speed intelligent manual (iMT), a 6-speed torque converter automatic, and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The diesel gets either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter, while the naturally aspirated petrol makes do with a 5-speed manual.
Yamaha FZ-X 2025 launched with hybrib technology , engine is powerful
Kia Sonet : Pricing and Market Positioning
With prices starting at ₹7.99 lakh for the base HTE variant and extending to ₹15.69 lakh for the range-topping X-Line diesel automatic (ex-showroom), the refreshed Sonet commands a premium of approximately ₹30,000 over the outgoing model. Despite the price increase, Kia India expects the Sonet to strengthen its position in the compact SUV segment that continues to grow despite overall market challenges.
The 2025 Sonet faces stiff competition from established rivals like the Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, and Mahindra XUV300, along with newer entrants like the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Magnite. Deliveries are scheduled to commence next week, with Kia targeting monthly sales of around 8,000-9,000 units.