All-new Kia Sonet facelift unveiled, India launch scheduled for 2024

All-new Kia Sonet facelift unveiled, India launch scheduled for 2024

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The updated Kia Sonet was officially unveiled to the world at an event in New Delhi on Thursday. The latest Sonet gets some very significant changes to its exterior design styling while now also boasting of ADAS or Advanced Driver Assistance System. To launch in India in the first quarter of calendar year 2024 and the bookings start on 20th December. The Kia Sonet will look to intensify its rivalry against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Hyundai Venue, both of which were updated in 2022. It will also take on segment leaders Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV300.

The updated Kia Sonet has received key styling updates on the outside and now comes with ADAS. There is, however, no change to the overall dimensions and mechanics of the model.

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The Sonet remains an extremely crucial model in the Kia India lineup and was the third launch here from the Koreans, after Seltos in 2019 and Carnival MPV in 2020. While the Seltos received a significant update earlier this year, the Sonet was beginning to look jaded. But not anymore.

While the Sonet sells in very respectable numbers in the domestic Indian car market, it is also exported to select countries from the company plant in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur. On obvious lines, the updated Sonet will also roll out from this same facility.

Kia Sonet: Key design updates

The Kia Sonet is a sub-four meter SUV from the Korean brand and sits below the Seltos SUV in the product pyramid. That said, exterior styling has been as crucial for the Sonet as it has for the Seltos. The updated Sonet continues to sport the Kia signature Tiger Nose grille but the DRL placement and design has been tweaked slightly. The headlight units and the front bumper have been refreshed as well.

Watch: Kia Sonet facelift SUV first look

At the back of the latest Sonet, there is now an LED light bar that connects the two tail lights. The design of these tail lights has been refreshed as well and is now visually closer to the lights at the back of the updated Seltos and the Carens MPV. On the side, the alloy design on the 16-inch wheels too has been reworked.

Kia Sonet: Colour options

The new Kia Sonet is available in eight single-tone colour options, two dual-tone hues and a matte shade that is exclusively for the X Line. The monotone colour choices are Olive, White, Silver, Grey, Black, Red, Blue and Clear White. The dual-tone hues are Red with a Black roof and White with a Black roof.

Kia Sonet: Key cabin highlights and features

Sonet has always been one of the most densely packed SUV models in terms of features. The model boasts of a 10.25-inch main touchscreen display and another 10.25-inch LCD driver display unit. It also gets a 360-degree camera, smart air purification system, a seven-speaker Bose sound system, electric sunroof and Kia Connect Skill with Amazon Alexa.

A closer look at the dashboard layout inside the updated Kia Sonet. The car now comes with over 70 connected features while also sporting a 360-degree cam view car location function.

Depending on the trim selected, the cabin colour and seat pattern would differ. The X Line gets Sage Green Leatherette seats with all-black interiors. The GT Line sports Black Leatherette seats with all Black interiors and White inserts. The Tech Line gets Black and Brown Leatherette seats as well as Black and Beige semi-leatherette seats.

Since there is no change in the overall dimensions of the new Kia Sonet, the cabin space in both rows, as well as the boot space, remains the same.

Kia Sonet: Dimensions (in mm)  
   
Length 3,995
Width 1,790
Height 1,647
Wheelbase 2,500

The biggest bragging right however comes from the addition of ADAS and the Sonet now comes with Forward Collision Warning and Avoidance Assist, and Lane Keep Assist.

Kia Sonet: Engine and key specifications

There is no change in the mechanics of the updated Kia Sonet. The Sonet continues to come with two petrol engine options and a diesel motor. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol motor offers 118 bhp and 172 Nm of torque. The 1.2-litre petrol motor puts out 81 bhp and 115 Nm of torque while the 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine develops 113 bhp and offers 250 Nm of torque.

The Kia Sonet facelift continues to come with a five-speed manual gearbox, six-speed manual gearbox, six-speed automatic transmission, six-speed iMT and seven-speed DCT unit.

First Published Date: 14 Dec 2023, 12:18 PM IST


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Seltos SUV boosts Kia’s sales in India in October

Seltos SUV boosts Kia’s sales in India in October

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Kia India on Wednesday announced that the auto company sold 24,351 units in October 2023, with the Seltos SUV contributing more than 50 per cent to the overall retail numbers. The South Korean auto manufacturer has claimed that in October 2023, the company clocked its fourth-best monthly sales, recording a 4.41 per cent growth over the same month a year ago, when it registered 23,323 units.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 01 Nov 2023, 16:33 PM

Kia Seltos SUV contributed more than 50 per cent to Kia India’s overall sales in October 2023.

Kia Seltos has been the bestselling car for the auto company in India to date. Also, the SUV has been the first-ever Kia car to launch in India. In October 2023 as well, Seltos continued the momentum of being Kia’s bestselling car. It claims to have sold 12,362 units last month, contributing more than 50 per cent to the auto manufacturer’s overall sales. The other cars sold by Kia in the Indian market too witnessed robust sales performance. The Kia Sonet compact SUV claims to have sold 6,493 units last month, while the Carens sold 5,355 units. The Kia EV6 sold 141 units in India in October 2023.

Watch: Kia Seltos 2023: First drive review

Speaking about the car manufacturing company’s sales performance last month, Hardeep Singh Brar, national head of sales and marketing at Kia India, said that the festive season propelled the growth of the automaker’s sales further last month. He also hopes the sales momentum will continue in the coming months. “During the festive season, our customers’ positive outlook has helped us achieve our fourth-highest monthly sales ever in India. The fact that our products like the Seltos, Sonet and Carens continue to dominate in their respective segment, despite multiple new launches by competition, is a major accomplishment. We are working towards maintaining the same momentum in the coming months,” he said.

In 2023, between January and October, Kia India claims to have sold 219,702 units. The Seltos SUV claims to have contributed the most to the automaker’s CY2023 sales with 83,250 units, followed by Sonet and Carens, with 73,333 units and 60,817 units sold, respectively.

First Published Date: 01 Nov 2023, 16:33 PM IST


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In pics: Kia Carens X Line launched as top-of-the-line trim

In pics: Kia Carens X Line launched as top-of-the-line trim

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Kia Carens X Line is the third X Line model that Kia has launched, after the Seltos and Sonet.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 04 Oct 2023, 15:40 PM

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Kia India has introduced the X Line version of the Carens. It will be sold in two variants – Petrol 7DCT and Diesel 6AT. They are priced at ₹18,94,900 and 19,44,900, respectively. Both prices are ex-showroom. This is the third X Line model that Kia has launched, after the Seltos and Sonet. The new top-end trim of Carens will get exterior as well as interior changes.

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For the exterior, the Carens X Line comes with an Xclusive Matte Graphite colour scheme with a front grille finished in piano black and a radiator grille garnish in chrome. The front calipers are in silver colour and there is an X-Line logo on the tailgate.

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Apart from this, on the sides, there is a new set of 16-inch dual-tone crystal cut alloy wheels with a glossy black outline. Kia Carens has garnered more than 100,000 customers so far, and with the X-Line, the company hopes to expand the sales figures significantly.

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The interior is finished in the dual-tone colour scheme of Splendid Sage Green and Black. There is also orange stitching that provides an up-market feel. In terms of features, Kia has added a rear seat entertainment unit to the Carens X Line. The entertainment unit can be controlled via a remote control which can be installed on the user’s mobile phone.

In pics: Kia Carens X Line launched as top-of-the-line trim
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The three-row cross between an MPV and SUV was first launched in the country in February of 2022. The India-specific product is manufactured at the company’s facility in Anantpur. The starring highlight of the Kia Carens is that it is being offered with six airbags as standard across all variants.

First Published Date: 04 Oct 2023, 15:40 PM IST


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Kia Seltos, Carens prices to be hiked in October. See how much you need to pay

Kia Seltos, Carens prices to be hiked in October. See how much you need to pay

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Kia is all set to increase the prices of its flagship SUV Seltos and Carens three-row MPV. The Korean auto giant has announced that the prices of both these models will be increased from October. The carmaker has said that the Seltos and Carens prices will be hiked by up to 2 per cent. This is the second time that Kia has announced a price hike on its models during the ongoing financial year. Prices of Kia’s other models like Sonet, Carnival and EV6 will remain same for now.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 21 Sep 2023, 17:27 PM

Kia will increase the prices of Seltos (left) and Carens (right) by up to 2 per cent from October 1.

Kia had launched the updated Seltos SUV in July this year at a starting price of ₹10.89 lakh (ex-showroom). On Wednesday, the carmaker introduced two new variants of the SUV to meet demands ahead of the festive season. The two variants, priced between ₹19.40 lakh and ₹19.60 lakh, will sit right under the top-spec variant of the SUV priced at ₹19.99 lakh (ex-showroom). Though Kia has not specified which variants of the Seltos will receive price hike. However, a 2 per cent price increase could see the base variant’s cost go up by more than ₹20,000. In case of top variant, the price could increase by up to ₹40,000.

Kia Carens was launched as a Recreational Vehicle by the carmaker in India back in February 2022. The launch price started from ₹8.99 lakh (ex-showroom). However, after multiple hikes in the last 18 months, the price of the entry-level Carens has increased to ₹10.45 lakh (ex-showroom). The price of the top-end variant goes up to ₹18.90 lakh (ex-showroom).

Watch: Kia Seltos 2023 First drive review

Kia said the price hike became necessary amid rising costs of production. Hardeep S Brar, National Head (Sales and Marketing) at Kia India, said, “While many of the companies have already taken the price increase post-April, we, however, did not take…besides the raw material prices are going up.. and we introduced the new Seltos and a lot of investment has gone into the product..so we think it is time that we take the price increase.”

Kia had last increased the prices of its models in April after it launched the Seltos, Sonet and Carens with updated engines to meet BS6 Phase 2 emission norms.

First Published Date: 21 Sep 2023, 17:27 PM IST


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Honda Elevate SUV has waiting period of nearly four months even before launch

Honda Elevate SUV has waiting period of nearly four months even before launch

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Honda Cars is all set to launch the Elevate SUV, its first in years in India, weeks before the upcoming festive season. The Japanese auto giant has already started to accept bookings for the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos rival. According to latest information, the Elevate SUV has already garnered a healthy number in terms of bookings. In fact, sources say that one may have to wait up to four months to drive home the latest Honda SUV once it hits the roads.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 28 Jul 2023, 12:37 PM

Honda Cars is expected to launch the Elevate SUV ahead of the festive season. The Elevate will be the only SUV in Honda’s lineup for India.

Honda Elevate SUV is expected to launch in India in September. The bookings for the Elevate SUV was opened in July by the carmaker. Honda Elevate SUV made its official debut in June. It is the first compact SUV from the Japanese carmaker in India, which has been developed specifically for the Indian customers and will hit be launched here first ahead of other countries. Honda’s foray into the compact SUV segment is relatively late considering how some of the Korean rivals as well as fellow Japanese carmakers have already got a stronghold in the segment.

Honda will offer the Elevate SUV in four variants called the SV, V, VX and ZX. The Elevate SUV will be offered in seven single colour options which include Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Golden Brown Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic and Phoenix Orange Pearl. There will be three dual-tone options available on the CVT variants which include Phoenix Orange Pearl with Crystal Black Pearl Roof, Platinum White Pearl with Crystal Black Pearl Roof and Radiant Red Metallic with Crystal Black Pearl Roof.

Under the hood, the Elevate SUV will be offered with a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine, which is also used for the Honda City sedan. This engine churns out 121 PS of power and 145.1 Nm torque. The engine is available with a six-speed manual gearbox and there is an advanced CVT on offer. Honda has recently revealed the fuel efficiency figures of the Elevate SUV. Honda says that the Elevate SUV has a mileage of 15.31 kmpl in manual variants while the CVT versions will offer 16.92 kmpl of mileage.

Watch: Honda Elevate SUV unveiled in India: First Look

In terms of size, the Honda Elevate SUV is bigger than Hyundai Creta. It stands 4,312 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width and 1,650 mm in height along with 220 mm of ground clearance, which is around 30 mm more than the Korean rival. The Elevate also offers 458 litres of boot space.

Honda Elevate will also become the latest compact SUV to offer ADAS through its Honda Sensing technology, also used in City. In fact, the Elevate SUV is going to be the only model in India to be offered with ADAS functionality even in the manual variants.

First Published Date: 28 Jul 2023, 12:37 PM IST


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