Cabin check: what’s inside the Kia Sonet?

Kia recently unleashed its latest entry to the cutthroat crossover category in the form of the Sonet.

The successor to the Kia Stonic boasts solid looks and a decent powertrain system. But could draw crowds to the South Korean is its somewhat luxurious interior — especially when we talk about the model’s range-topping SX variant.

So, let us find out what’s inside the cabin of Kia’s curated crossover.

Leather seats

Welcoming occupants of the Kia Sonet is a set of leather-wrapped seats.

The upholstery has perforation, which helps in keeping the driver and the passengers cool during hot weather. The small holes positioned on the back and bottom side of the occupant facilitate airflow and can help reduce perspiration.

Kia chose a lighter shade of brown when selecting a hue for the leather material. The desert sand-like tone of the hide adds an air of opulence while adding a dash of ruggedness to the cabin of the Kia Sonet.

In my opinion, the color captures the Kia Sonet crossover’s masculine and chiseled exterior as well as its upmarket interior.

The same leather material can be found on its door trims.

More leather appointments are slapped on the Kia Sonet’s center armrest, gear shifter boot, and three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel.

Updated tech

The Kia Sonet does come with a handful of updated in-car technologies.

Past the aforementioned steering wheel is a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster that can display relevant driving information like speed, revolutions per minute, range, and drive mode, among others.

It is accompanied by a similarly-sized (10.25-inch) touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. It also has Bluetooth hands-free and voice recognition features.

Additionally, the Kia Sonet has a single-zone automatic air conditioning system with dedicated A/C vents for those sitting at the back. It also has a neatly tucked wireless charging dock, which keeps one’s smartphone safe while driving.

Handful of piano black accents

Adding to the luxurious feel of the Kia Sonet are a handful of piano black appliques. They can be found around the infotainment screen, all over the instrument cluster, around the center console, and on some parts of the A/C controls.

My only gripe with it is that they easily get scratched and are fingerprint magnets.

Manual hand brake

One of the things I did not expect to see on a modern crossover — with an opulent vibe and modern technological features — was a manual hand brake. The wide screens, plush seats, and wireless technologies seem to make the humble hand brake out of place.

An electronic parking brake would have looked more at home in the center console of the modern crossover. But, it might have been one of the ways Kia was able to bring down the cost of the Sonet, making it a viable ride for most Filipino families.

Speaking of price…

Variants and pricing

• LX M/T: P758,000
• LX A/T: P868,000
• EX A/T: P978,000
• SX A/T: P1.138 million

Final thoughts

Overall the Kia Sonet does offer plenty of features that would entice today’s car buyers. Sure, it may have some shortcomings but those are inconsequential and are oftentimes subjective.

Photos from Juan Paulo Papa and Jirehl Kent Flores

Also read:

Spec-checking the Kia Sonet's 4 variations

Kia launches all-new Sonet for PH

Stablemate scuffle: Kia Sonet vs. Kia Stonic