Kia Soluto vs. Hyundai Reina: The better value-for-money sedan?

Kia Motors joined hands with Ayala Corporation in 2018 to improve its business here in the Philippines. And we got to see the improvement in the form of the new Kia Soluto. Launched a few weeks ago, the Soluto is not only the brand’s first launch in 2019, but it’s also Kia’s first-ever sedan in the country. It’s also the first car after Kia and Ayala Corporation partnership. Quite a few firsts there.

Kia must be a bit content with its new tie up and car. However, Hyundai Philippines was ready with its trump card, which the company used only a few hours later after the Soluto was launched. This card was the launch of Hyundai Reina. Both the Kia Soluto and Hyundai Reina are new offerings in the subcompact sedan segment and are quite affordable as well. Let’s find out more about the two cars by doing a quick spec comparison.

Engine specs

Kia Soluto specs might have four variants to show, but they all are powered by the same engine. It is a 1.4-litre Kappa dual-CVVT engine that has been tuned to churn out a max power of 94 hp at 6000 rpm and generate a peak torque of 132 Nm at 4000 rpm. There are two transmission options available - 4-speed AT and 5-speed MT. Both of them have been tuned to give an optimal combination of performance and fuel economy.

Surprisingly, the Hyundai Reina specs tell us a similar story. While it doesn’t have as many variants as the Soluto, it does have the same engine and transmission combinations - a 1.4-litre engine which produces 95 PS of power at 6000 rpm and 132 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm, available with either a manual or an automatic gearbox.

Safety features

The Soluto comes with some of the basic safety features like dual front airbags, rear view monitor with parking guidance, ABS, immobilizer, and robust structure. On the other hand, the Reina has got only dual airbags and ABS. We know that these are minimal safety features and we would definitely have loved to see more, but unfortunately, both the companies have cut down on the safety features perhaps to keep the costs in check.

Dimensions

There are a lot of similarities in both of these new cars. Even their size is almost the same. The Kia Soluto measures 4,300 mm in length, 1,700 mm in width, and 1,460mm in height; these are the numbers that a subcompact sedan should have. The Reina is exactly as long and tall as the Soluto; 4,300 mm in length and 1,460 mm in height, and is only a tad bit wider at 1,705 mm. Even the wheelbase and ground clearance of both of them are the same at 2,570 mm and 150 mm, respectively.

Exterior features

The all-new Kia Soluto is quite a good looking car, mostly from the front. The company has used its signature grille which makes it easier for people to recognise this as a Kia. Also, the design of the front bumper is sporty. Kia has also included features like electrically adjustable outside rearview mirrors with LED repeaters, chrome door handles, projector fog lamps, etc.

 

Hyundai has kept things simple on the outside. The car itself looks good thanks to Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy. It has an attractive front fascia, and the grille is again a signature element. We also like the sculpted bonnet that adds a bit of excitement to the overall appearance.

Interior features

Here also Kia is a step ahead from Hyundai. The Soluto comes with a dual tone interior theme which is a bit more welcoming than the black one in the Reina. Also, the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the Soluto is so much better than the 1-DIN radio setup in the Hyundai. We also appreciate Kia to include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. In terms of cabin space, both the cars offer a similar amount of room as they both share the same wheelbase.

This was a quick spec comparison of the Soluto and Reina. Both of the cars are very similar to each other in many aspects. However, Kia has the upper hand as the Soluto has more features than the Hyundai Reina, but they do come at a cost. And even a difference of a few thousand pesos can make or break a car’s future in our price sensitive market.

The introduction of the new Kia Soluto and Hyundai Reina has increased the competition in the subcompact sedan segment. It has given two more affordable options for the customers to choose from. Talking about affordability, the Kia Soluto price starts at Php 625,000 for the base model (LX MT) and goes up to Php 735,000 for the top-end variant (EX AT), whereas the Hyundai Reina price for the 1.4 GL 5MT base model is at Php 598,000, which is Php 27,000 more affordable than the base model of the Soluto. And the 1.4 GL 4AT variant of the Reina will set you back by Php 648,000.