Kia Sonet GT Line was launched in August 2020. It’s been three years already since it has been on sale and over the course of these three years, there have been minor updates in the SUV. Is it still worth considering in 2023, that we will figure out in this review.
We had the Kia Sonet GT Line in Intense Red paint scheme. We drove it for nearly 100 km in and around Delhi while also doing a Delhi-Noida trip to share our feedback regarding the highway driving. For the unversed, the price of Kia Sonet starts from 7.79 lakh and goes up to nearly 14 lakh (ex-showroom).
Kia Sonet GT Line Design and Colors
Kia Sonet GT Line flaunts a dual-tone (Black and Red) grille upfront that houses the GT Line logo. It is 3,995 mm long, 1,790 mm wide, and 1,642 mm tall. There are LED projector headlamps with LED DRLs upfront which appear pretty impressive. The LED tail-lamps at the rear seem to be connected but actually they are not. One also gets 15-inch alloy wheels with this sub-compact SUV, which are quite modern in design.
The side profile of the Kia Sonet features a tall boxy stance with roof rails, body-colored ORVMs and chrome-finished door handles.
The looks of the Kia Sonet are very up-market and bold. The aggressive front fascia and sharp lines on the side profile allow us to term the exteriors of Kia Sonet in one word as ‘Wild’.
Kia Sonet GT Line Interior and Features
The ingress and egress of Kia Sonet is smooth. Just like the exteriors, the interiors of the SUV share a lot with previous-gen Kia Seltos. It has three adjustable headrests in the second row of seats. However, we felt that the second row of seats can accommodate only two adults with ease.
The interior and leather upholstery are mostly black with interesting red inserts. The automatic climate control of the Sonet GT Line cools the cabin in no time. However, the design of automatic climate control isn’t much of our taste. It’s very easy to use but protrudes unnecessarily and eats-up the cabin space. We faced some difficulties with the wireless charging feature of the Sonet. There are USB ports on offer but the C-Type port is missing.
Kia Sonet houses a 10.7 cm colored MID that is a mix of analogue and digital information for the driver. There is a 20.03 cm HD touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Kia Sonet also has a Bose music system and speakers with optimum sound quality.
The Kia Sonet has a boot capacity of 392 L. There are rear AC vents on offer. There is no issue of legroom even for the rear seat occupants, thanks to the wheelbase of 2500 mm. Under-thigh support could have been a little better.
The front seats of the Kia Sonet GT Line come with ventilation feature which comes fairly handly during hot summer days and chilly winter nights as in no time, you feel comfort. India’s penchant with sunroofs is no more a secret and hence, Kia has equipped it with an electric sunroof to help you fight FOMO.
Kia Sonet GT Line Drivability and Handling
The handling of the Kia Sonet is smooth. The compact SUV design helps it to maneuver easily in thick city traffic. The Kia Sonet GT Line is packed with a 1.0L T-GDi petrol engine.
Performance is linear and the SUV produces 118 bhp of power and 172 Nm of torque. These figures coupled with a 7-speed DCT transmission provide comfortable rides and inspire you to overtake vehicles with sheer confidence.
Kia Sonet has a high ground clearance which makes driving over the uneven surfaces quite a breeze. The braking is good, even though the car comes equipped with disk brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear.
The suspension setup (McPherson Strut with Coil Spring towards the front and Torsion beam with Coil Spring at the rear) offers a comfortable drive inside this compact SUV. The bad patches of the road will not bother you much inside the cabin. Overall, we feel the SUV is good to drive within the city and on the highways as well. In our long-term review coming later, we will discuss more about this engine and its performance.
There are multiple driving modes on offer namely (Eco, Normal, and Sports). Not just that, based on the type of terrain that you are driving on, you can choose from Mud, Sand, and Snow as well. How helpful these traction modes are – We will be able to share details about them later in our long term review.
There are Kia Connect features that come in handy while driving. However, the function was not activated on the unit that was provided to us.
Kia Sonet GT Line Engine and Safety
The Kia Sonet is availavle with 1.5L CRDi VGT diesel engine, 1.0L T-GDi petrol engine, and 1.2L petrol engine options to choose from. It gets 5-speed manual, 6-speed IMT, and 7-speed DCT automatic transmission options. One can expect to get a mileage between 10 to 15 kmpl with the GT Line variant that we drove.
Kia Sonet GT Line comes with 6 airbags, ABS and EBD, Hill Assist Control, and Front and Rear Parking Sensors as standard safety features. However, the 360-degree camera is a big miss on this safety package.
Kia Sonet GT Line Review: Verdict
Kia Sonet GT Line is a smart choice if you are planning to buy a compact SUV within a budget of Rs 15 lakh. It offers scintillating appearance, striking interior, fully tech-loaded, and has the highest number of safety features. There are multiple engine and transmission options to select from. Most importantly, you still have the choice of a diesel powertrain with this SUV. It’s a classy urban compact SUV, or one can also call it the baby Seltos. The red inserts both towards the exterior and interior of the GT Line gives the sporty feeling.
If you are investing around Rs 15 lakh in a SUV, then it’s rather obvious that you expect it to be premium and exquisite. And, Kia Sonet just does that as soon as you enter inside the cabin. Kia recently launched the updated 2023 Seltos, and we feel it’s time to update the Sonet as well with new features, including the ADAS tech, bigger sunroof, C-Type charging port and 360-degree camera in order to make it a wholesome package. Overall, it is still a steal deal that you should not miss out on if style, safety and performance are at the top of your priority list.
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