MANILA: Kia Philippines, under the distributorship of Ayala-led ACMobility, has launched the all-new Sonet subcompact crossover.

It entered the local market with four distinct variants: the entry-level LX, LX AT, mid-spec EX AT, and top-spec SX AT. 

With the official rollout of the Sonet, Kia now has a fresh and potent entry into the local subcompact crossover segment to compete against the popular Toyota Raize. So, what is the all-new Kia Sonet offering to buyers?

Exterior

At first glance, the all-new Sonet captivates with its stylish contemporary Kia design, reminiscent of the larger Kia Sorento. 

Up front, the newly launched Kia crossover gets an updated version of the brand’s signature Tiger Nose Grille. The latter is straddled by hook-shaped LED daytime running lamps, which surround LED headlamp clusters. Down below the front of the vehicle is a square-shaped intake vent capped from below with an angular front bumper. 

Over to its side portion, the all-new crossover from the Korean brand gets the typical crossover flair with its high-riding ground clearance of 205 millimeters, the black plastic claddings on its wheel arches and side sills, as well as a relatively tall window line. 

The rear of the all-new subcompact crossover likewise gets many pleasing details, such as an LED light bar, a roof-mounted spoiler, and a distinctive lower rear bumper decorated with more black plastic claddings and a silver piece. 

Depending on the variant, the Kia Sonet's other features include LED fog lamps, high-beam assist, roof rails, power-folding side mirrors, and a set of 16-inch alloy wheels. The small crossover also sports a sunroof—a rarity in a vehicle of its size. 

Size-wise, the Sonet is 3,995-mm long, 1,790-mm wide, and 1,160-mm in height. It also gets a wheelbase spanning 2,500-mm. 

Available color options for the Kia Sonet LX MT, LX AT, and EX AT are Vivid Red, Snow White Pearl, and Imperial Blue. The SX AT, meanwhile, gets two two-tone paint options such as Vivid Red with Black Roof and Snow White Pearl with Black Roof. Apart from the said two-tone options, the SX AT may also come in the exclusive Pewter Olive monotone color.

Interior

Inside, the all-new Kia Sonet features a cabin with ample space for four occupants. Soft-touch surfaces, a contemporary-looking dashboard, and relatively large digital displays provide a premium feel. 

For the driver, the new smallest ride in Kia PH’s portfolio of models offers a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a push-to-start button, and physical controls for the automatic air-conditioning (SX). 

Seating for everyone inside the newly launched Kia is done via leather-wrapped seats. As with most crossovers in the market, it likewise gets a 60:40 split-folding rear seat, which, if folded down, expands the vehicle’s default trunk space of 385 liters. 

As mentioned above, the Sonet gets plenty of tech. To keep everyone aboard entertained, its higher-spec variants feature a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The screen can be connected to smartphones through wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sound output, meanwhile, is fed to the Kia crossover’s cabin by a six-piece speaker system. 

Paired with the central touchscreen is a fully digital 10.25-inch TFT LCD gauge cluster. According to Kia, this display not only shows basic driving parameters but can also show the status of the car’s advanced driver assist systems (ADAS). In addition, the aforementioned driver’s display is seamlessly linked to the central display. 

Besides being equipped with a sizable infotainment display, keeping devices inside the new Kia is conveniently done through a wireless charging pad (SX). Plus, the aforementioned infotainment screen also has the ability to accept voice commands.

Engine

Under the hood of the Kia Sonet is a 1.5-liter inline-4 MPI engine capable of generating up to 113 horsepower and 144 Newton Meters of torque. Depending on the trim, the motor is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox or the Korean car brand’s intelligent variable transmission (IVT). 

Of note, the IVT is Kia and sister company Hyundai’s in-house developed version of the continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Seoul-based carmaker touts it as able to provide a better-simulated shift feel and more fuel efficiency. 

Safety

As expected from a modern crossover, the Kia Sonet comes standard with a slew of safety features. Included on all trims are anti-lock braking, parking distance warning, dual front airbags, keyless entry, and an engine immobilizer, among others. 

The top-spec Sonet SX variant supports the safety bits mentioned above with ADAS technologies like forward collision assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-follow assist. Cruise control is also available for the Sonet, except for the entry-level LX MT. 

Price, Variants 

1. LX MT: P758,000
2. LX AT: P868,000
3. EX AT: P978,000
4. SX AT: P1.138 million

Of note, each purchase of the Sonet comes with a five-year, or 160,000-kilometer warranty, whichever comes first. 

Photos from Juan Paolo Papa, Jirehl Kent Flores

Also read: 

PH-spec Kia Sonet available for public test drives tomorrow

Is Kia PH bringing in Sonet?