Kia Sonet aims to shake up small crossover segment
AFTER an initial announcement a few weeks ago, the 2024 Kia Sonet has finally arrived in the Philippines. Replacing the Stonic, the new Sonet is now the brand's entry-level subcompact crossover SUV. It will compete head-to-head with the Toyota Raize, as well as some Chinese competitors like the Geely GX3 Pro and Changan CS15, and thanks to its broad pricing that starts at P758,000 and tops out at P1.138 million for the range-topping SX.
Kia Sonet aims to shake up small crossover segment
From the exterior, the Sonet we're getting is the facelifted model, which features a revised front end, new LED headlights for the EX and SX, and new 16-inch alloy wheels for all automatic variants. The Sonet has a sculpted side profile characterized by a rising beltline, and for the SX, the roof pillars can be painted in black. Finally, at the rear end, there's a new taillight design, which includes a full-width LED light bar in the case of the SX.
Moving inside, the 2024 Kia Sonet boasts an interior design that is very well-built, especially relative to the competition. This advantage comes from not having the affordable offering developed and designed by a subsidiary specializing in low-cost vehicles. While the plastics are hard to the touch, the build quality is more cohesive, and the panel gap tolerances are better than everyone else.
As for features, all variants come with a digital instrument cluster, but in the SX, this becomes a 10.25-inch fully digital screen. An 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is offered on all but the SX variant, which gets a larger 10.25-inch screen. Stepping up to the EX gets you cruise control and smart entry with a push-button start, while the range-topping SX includes brown leatherette seats, automatic climate control, sunroof, and a wireless charging pad.
Safety is also excellent in the 2024 Kia Sonet, as all models get a reverse camera, rear parking sensors, and two SRS airbags. The range-topping SX, on the other hand, gets a suite of DriveWise advanced driver-assistance systems, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping (centering) assist, and automatic high beams.
Finally, the 2024 Kia Sonet is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine that produces 115 horsepower and 144 Newton-meters of torque — one of the most powerful in its class. This is mated to a continuously variable transmission branded as an intelligent variable transmission in Hyundai Motor Group speak. The base LX, however, has a 5-speed manual option.
Kia Philippines is truly aiming at the Toyota Raize as its key competitor, and this is reflected in its prices, which are as follows: LX MT, P758,000; LX AT, P868,000; EX AT, P978,000; and SX AT, P1.138 million.