Kia Sonet

The Kia Sonet sits in India's busiest segment, the sub-four-metre SUV, and tries to win buyers with sheer choice. You get three engines, multiple gearboxes including a clutchless manual, and a long features list that feels a class above. The 2024 facelift sharpened the styling and added safety kit. It is not the roomiest option here, but few rivals match its variety or cabin polish.

On the road the Sonet behaves differently depending on which engine you pick. The 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol is fine for city errands but runs out of breath on highways, so most enthusiasts gravitate to the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol. That motor, paired with the quick-shifting seven-speed DCT, makes the Sonet feel genuinely brisk and is the pick for anyone who drives a lot. The 1.5 diesel, available with both a six-speed manual and a torque-converter automatic, is the long-distance cruiser and returns the best efficiency.

Inside, Kia has clearly spent its money where buyers can see and touch it. The dual-screen layout, ventilated front seats, Bose sound system, and a sunroof on higher trims give the cabin a premium air. Material quality is good for the price, though the all-black theme can feel dark. The downside is space: rear knee room and the boot are merely adequate, and three adults at the back will feel the pinch on longer trips.

Ride and handling are tuned more for comfort than thrills. The suspension soaks up broken city roads well at moderate speeds, but there is some firmness over sharp bumps, and the lighter steering trades feedback for ease of parking. Build feels solid, and the facelift's added airbags and electronic aids address earlier safety concerns.

Where the Sonet can trip you up is the price walk. The base variants look affordable, but the genuinely desirable features sit in the upper trims, and a fully loaded turbo-petrol or diesel automatic creeps close to mid-size SUV money. Buyers need to be honest about which features they actually need before signing.