SUVs are all the rage in South Africa. In the Republic, if you don’t have a bakkie parked in your driveway, then chances are you’ve got an SUV in the garage, or at least you aspire to. It’s no surprise rough and ready bakkies and sports utility vehicles are so popular here; when it comes to South African roads, the more ground clearance you have, the better, especially if you’re keen to avoid costs on car maintenance and repairs.
Aimed at trendy urbanites who are keen to start their SUV life, the all-new Kia Sonet has arrived in South Africa. The compact SUV marks the brand’s entry into the burgeoning B-SUV segment in South Africa and is being sold as a smart urban vehicle for the young and young at heart. The B-SUV segment is continuously growing in South Africa, with strong competition from multiple brands. This segment is a launchpad for consumers actively upgrading their lifestyle, whether because of a notable life change, or a desire to experience more.
With its sporty, eye-catching design language, fun-to-drive dynamics and high-quality features Kia’s Sonet SUV is being positioned to attract customers who value design, comfort and quality.
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A complete package
The Kia Sonet is all-new, developed and engineered from the ground-up jointly between Kia Motors India and Kia’s global R&D headquarters in Namyang, South Korea.
Kia says, during its development, the Sonet has been through extensive tests across diverse terrain, driving situations, and climatic conditions, with engineers from India and South Korea covering over 100,000 kilometres. The outcome is a B-SUV designed to turn heads on the road, engineered to offer driving pleasure, and offered with the convenience, comfort, safety and features that Kia fans love.
No small matter
The Sonet showcases a range of styling attributes that sets it apart from its competitors, including a fresh interpretation of Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose grille’, with a stylish front skid plate underneath. Its sporty silhouette is enhanced by the unique design and structure of its C-pillars, matched with a wrap-around rear windscreen. The profile, meanwhile, has a strong, sporty character thanks to the shape of the bonnet and bumpers, with the strongly raked A-pillars and rounded roofline imparting greater road presence.
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Contributing to the Sonet’s unmistakable SUV stance is its size. At 4,120 mm long, sitting on a wheelbase measuring 2,500 mm, it’s one of the largest and most spacious vehicles in the B-SUV segment, ensuring that there is more than enough space for all passengers – and everything that’s needed on the journey.
The Sonet is offered in seven one-tone exterior colours: Glacier White, Steel Silver, Gravity Grey, Aurora Black, Beige Gold, Intense Red and Intelligency Blue. Customers keen to express themselves a bit more may opt for one of four two-tone exterior colour options: Glacier White or Intense Red with a black roof, or Gravity Grey or Intelligency Blue with a white roof.
Stay in touch with your world
Inside, the Sonet offers a sophisticated cabin for always-connected consumers. To enhance comfort, the interior boasts plenty of leg room, head room and shoulder room, as well as a 392 litres luggage area.
Taking centre stage on the dashboard is an 8,0-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system that incorporates a reverse camera with dynamic guidelines, a standard fitment throughout the range. The setup offers Kia’s voice-control technology and sports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, providing customers with the crucial safety advantage of hands-free connectivity. Additionally, the digital instrument cluster presents important information to the driver.
Freedom of choice
The Sonet is offered with a new engine for the South African market. Kia’s fuel-efficient 1.5 MPI petrol engine boasts outputs of 85 kW at 6,300 r/min and 144 Nm of torque at 4,500 r/min. Customers have a choice between a 6-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Two trim levels will be available with both transmission options. Feature highlights on the entry-level LX derivatives, to name but a few, include: Remote central locking, air-conditioning, front and rear electric windows, electric mirrors, 6 speakers, 15-inch steel wheels, height-adjustable driver’s seat, and rear-view camera.
Building on the comprehensive features available at the entry point into the Sonet range, the mid-spec EX models add features like rear park distance control, leather steering wheel and gear knob, 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, and front fog lights.
Safety first
To ensure safety for passengers, more than two-thirds of the Sonet’s body are made up of high-strength and advanced high-strength steel, creating a lightweight yet robust structure. Complementing this strong structure are a number of key safety features, including:
•Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
•ABS with EBD
•Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
•Dual front airbags
•ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points
Price and availability
The Kia Sonet is now available in South Africa at the following Recommended Retail Prices incl. VAT
Sonet 1.5 LX Manual R264,995
Sonet 1.5 LX CVT R285,995
Sonet 1.5 EX Manual R284,995
Sonet 1.5 EX CVT R305,995
All Sonet models ship as standard with Kia’s industry-leading Unlimited Kilometre, 5-year warranty (inclusive of Roadside Assistance), as well as a prepaid 4-year / 60,000 km service plan.
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