Kia Sonet: In a market awash with choices, it’s tough to know where to look when you’re in the market for a vehicle that provides the true luxury experience without draining your bank account.
But the 2025 Kia Sonet is the elusive exception – a sub-4 metre SUV that defies the conventions of value for money in terms of segment and premium trim.
At a price that begins at just ₹8 lakh, the Sonet gives lots more gizmos as well as better persona and panache, and in the process, becomes possibly the most value-packed entry to the segment.
Kia Sonet Bridging the Budget-Luxury Gap
The minute you get into the seat to control the Sonet, preconceived notions of “budget cars” evaporate. The well-designed cabin is immediately apparent as something rather special, with details that wouldn’t be out of place in cars costing twice as much.
Contact points throughout Soft-touch materials cover contact points resulting in a tactile and engaging experience that complements the vehicle’s price point.
The thing that really sets the Sonet apart from competitors, however, is how it democratizes luxury features that you’d expect to find only on premium-branded cars. Upmarket trims get ventilated front seats, a godsend during sticky summers and previously unavailable at this price point.
There’s an optional electric sunroof that turns the transit between destinations into an interactive journey as occupants reach out to the outer world at a press of a button.
For tech nerds, the dashboard is dominated by a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while a cockpit to match is available in the form of a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster on higher-end models. This tandem screens extends in an uninterrupted visual flow that is very contemporary and premium.
For the first time, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and it cleans up the screen-to-cord-and-connector ratio when sitting in the driver’s seat.
Luxury That Performs
That luxury isn’t just of the material kind, it’s of the kind you experience when you are driving. The Sonet is not different in this aspect as well, punching above its weight category with a variety of sophisticated powertrain options that offer performance as well as fuel efficiency.
Variable driving choices are offered in three different engines. The 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine is pretty strong too providing 120-hp and 172 Nm of torque and making the TSI playful in the city rather than a bore.
If fuel economy is what you’re looking for, the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol is a strong performer with economy that will keep the pain of filling up at the servo at bay.
Arguably the most interesting of these is the 1.5-liter diesel that delivers 115 horsepower but a healthy 250 Nm of torque as well. It’s the ideal balance of performance and comfort, and provides plenty of low-end thrust for easy highway passing. A wide choice of transmissions, including a slick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, contribute to the premium feel on the road.
The Sonet’s ride quality is worth a mention here. And where a lot of rivals in this price point have made suspension-tuning decisions that punish imperfect roads with a punishing thud, Kia’s engineers have struck a great compromise.
But the Sonet is composed over rough patches without giving up precision in handling and feels more like the European luxury crossovers than budget-friendly alternatives.
Standard Safety, Not an Option
Real luxury comes with peace of mind and the Sonet offers just that with a full safety package. Whereas many competitors save advanced safety for high-end models, the Sonet democratizes security across its range.
Six airbags are included on most models, representing break-through value that’s better than segment basics. The addition of ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and HAC (Hill-start Assist Control), technology previously reserved for upscale vehicles, keeps the G4 in command when the road gets tough. The strong, rigid high-strength steel body structure offers confidence-inspiring collision safety.
Higher grades add more safety by making available ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Warning. This bundle of crash-avoidance technologies, the carmaker said, is significant progress in the making advanced safety technology available in more affordable vehicles.
Design That Demands Attention
Luxury isn’t just about how it feels — it’s what it looks like. The Sonet’s exterior design language gives off an aura of confidence and sophistication that disguises its accessible price tag.
Looming front signature Tiger nose grille stands out, surrounded by arched LED headlamps with LED turn signals which puts a stamp on its stunning light profile.
However, the side profile suggests thoughtful proportions, so there isn’t that awkward, truncated feeling that sub-4-meter SUVs are sometimes prone to. Nope, Sonet is a well-thought-out, integrated design that looks upmarket from all angles.
The striking 16” diamond-cut alloy wheels on higher trims not only garner attention, but also make you more conspicuous, while the connected LED taillights establish a truly unique signature look that lingers long after you’ve driven off.
Other colors include refined body colours such as Intelligency Blue and Intense Red, allowing drivers to show of their personal style in a way not usually associated with cars of this class. The X-Line trim furthers its sense of style with an exclusive graphite matte finish that not only draws attention, but also draws inspiration from high-end door handles you’d expect to find on a luxury brand.
Practicality Meets Premium
Real luxury isn’t about ostentation – it’s about improving everyday living in significant ways. Here, the Sonet does well with little features that offer a more convenient experience of owning the car.
Smart air purifier with virus and bacteria cleansing air purifier makes sure cabin air is always clean – even on dirty city drives, a major selling point for health-conscious buyers. The cooling, wireless phone charger keeps devices cool even in use, making the ownership experience that much swankier.
There’s 392 liters of boot carrying capacity that provides versatility for weekend getaways or grocery shopping and with the 60:40 split rear seats allows you to fold them down for additional space and better flexibility with larger items. Constrains fixed storage in the cabin for all those modern-day necessities, so the interior is clean and tidy.
Value That Transcends Expectations
But the real story here is how it manages to deliver this mix of style, technology and polished refinement from as little as ₹8 lakh; you can go right up to about ₹15.6 lakh for the top-spec diesel auto, though.
By doing so, they have been able to bring many of the same luxury features once considered unattainable to a wider audience, effectively turning an old marketing truism-that luxury is, by nature, exclusive-upside down.
The value adds come well after the first purchase. Across the board having undergone detailed market study, the Sonet boasts average segment maintenance cost 16-14% for petrol-diesel. And it is this continued affordability that also means the car ownership is as much fun as the driving itself!
The Competition Falls Short
Subject the Sonet to most of its segment rivals such as the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Marjson Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO and you would find the Sonet being the more premium one. Competitors may rival in certain features, but none else offer this coherent luxury experience throughout the journey.
The Venue gets closest as a platform-sharing cousin, but doesn’t benefit from some of the Sonet’s more sophisticated touches or its design flair.
The Nexon has rugged charm and strong safety credentials but lags behind for interior quality and technology integration. It is reliable and efficient, no doubt, but doesn’t feel anywhere as premium, or feature rich as the Sonet. The XUV 3XO is a performance package but it doesn’t have the Sonet’s cohesive design language and detailing.
Kia Sonet Conclusion: Luxury, Redefined And Accessible
In a category where we’ve come to assume compromise is inevitable at this personality and price point, the Kia Sonet is a reminder that luxury doesn’t have to be the preserve of the privileged few.
By tastefully thoughtfully designing and smartly selecting features, without sacrificing anything you actually need, it’s able to fully deliver on an experience that feels like a true premium offering, without the price tag.
With a sleek and snazzy design, the Sonet is perfect for young professionals, small families and anyone else who dreams of luxury, yet is intimidated by the expenses that come attached to owning a premium car. It’s not just a good car for the money — it’s a simply good car.
As car tech gets more advanced and consumers’ wants and needs change, the gap between mainstream and more premium cars is likely to get much smaller.
The Kia Sonet is at the vanguard of this democratization of luxury, demonstrating that serious design, technology and dynamism can be available to everyone. Enabling it to not only deliver value, but to redefine value for the compact SUV segment.