Sonet to challenge Maruti Brezza: Kia Motors reveals EcoSport/Nexon beating sales target

Kia Sonet, the most affordable car from the manufacturer will be launched in the Indian market later this year. The all-new Kia Sonet was first showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo and it will become the brand’s first-ever sub-4m car in the Indian market. Currently, under the development, the Kia Sonet will challenge the ever-growing segment that includes vehicles like Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300, Ford EcoSport and more. Kia sees the model as a high volume product and even with the stiff competition, it plans to sell more than 70,000 units of the Sonet in the market every year.


According to ACP, Kia has big plans for the Indian market and the Sonet will be ready for the Indian market launch by the festive season, which falls in the middle of November. The all-new Sonet will be launched first in India before anywhere else in the world. Also, Kia’s Anantpur facility will be the only production line where the Sonet will be manufactured in the world. It will be exported to the international markets from India.

Kia showcased the concept model of the car at the 2020 Auto Expo. In August 2020, the manufacturer is expected to reveal the production version of the car. It should be noted that the concept version showcased by Kia at the 2020 Auto Expo was almost production-ready and the final product will look very similar to the concept car.


The Kia Sonet will offer three engine options and will be based on the Hyundai Venue platform. The engine options will be similar to the Hyundai Venue too. There will be a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine option. Kia for the first time will also introduce a unique transmission with the Sonet in the Indian market.

Touted as the Intelligent Manual Transmission, it will be a clutchless manual transmission. It will be similar to the AMT automatic transmission but the driver will have to use the transmission lever to change the gears. Kia is likely to offer the 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox along with the regular transmission.


The Sonet will also offer segment-first features including the 10.25-inch infotainment system like the Seltos. It will be the biggest infotainment screen in the segment. Other features will include a sunroof, cruise control, and many more such features. Kia currently offers only two cars in the Indian market and is one of the top manufacturers in the Indian market. Kia is likely to put a price tag of around Rs 7 lakhs on the Sonet.