Given that Kia now holds a 5% market share in SA, the Kia Sonet is a significant vehicle in the company’s product line. The turbocharged Sonet was destined to fall into that category as more than 70% of the vehicles in the segment in which it competes have turbocharged engines. Stock issues were primarily to blame for it taking so long to reach our market. Now that the problem has been fixed, SA Sonet purchasers can choose the turbo option in the line-up.
16-inch wheels, new rear combo LED lights, and new Kia logos on the front and rear are all standard on the adorable small crossover SUV. The Sonet appears to have an advantage over some of its rivals in terms of boot space and functionality.
inside It includes a lot of luxuries, like a wireless 8.0-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rearview camera and rear park distance control (PDC), folding motorized side mirrors, and cruise control. It also has a rearview camera. It boasts a stylish cabin with conveniently located, easy-to-use buttons. However, there is a considerable amount of plastic usage in the cabin, which may or may not turn some buyers off.
The 1.0-litre turbo engine in the Sonet GDI produces 88kW and 172Nm. Instead of a whiny CVT, the 7-speed DCT automatic works flawlessly with this engine. While some might anticipate DCT to have lightning speed shift, the engine and transmission have been tuned for efficiency and smoothness. Although there isn’t much of a performance difference between the turbo 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engines, the turbo engine feels more responsive, making overtaking simpler and improving fuel efficiency. Kia claims 6.0 L/100km but we only managed 7.0 L/100 km during our stint. Overall, its quite a pleasant, fun car to drive.
When compared to competitors, the Sonet appears to have more standard features and an impressive 5 years/unlimited km warranty. When looking for an SUV crossover, it is unquestionably one to take into account. The Kia Sonet 1.0 T-GDI EX+ is available for R389,995.
