The Kia Sonet compact SUV is soon to be launched in India, while production and supply has already begun. This here is a quick walkthrough on the highlights of this new Compact SUV in town.

Exterior: 

The new Kia Sonet, though being based on the Hyundai Venue, doesnt look anything like it. The Sonet has its own unique design with the Tiger Noise grille at the front with knurled Chrome finish and an aggressive bumper design. The new Sonet features full LED Headlamps with Heartbeat LED DRLs. The Tail lamps too receive this Heartbeat LED elements. The top trim levels will receive

funky looking 16” Crystal cut alloy wheels whereas the entry level variants receive 15 inch Steel rims. The Sonet is claimed to provide segment best ground clearance of 211mm.

Interior:

The new Kia Sonet interior features a funky design layout with improved quality. The GT line features an all black cabin while the Tech line variants get a dual tone theme. Space is expected to be similar to the Hyundai Venue while also providing ample number of features.

The top trim levels will receive an Electric sunroof, Auto headlamps, Auto wipers, Cruise control, Auto climate control, a digital instrument cluster and leather upholstery. Theres also an 10.4” touchscreen infotainment system with Android auto, Apple Car-play & Navigation on the top spec variants. This touchscreen is available with 7 Bose speakers including subwoofer and Sound mood lighting. Connected car features & telematics control unit is available through Kia’s UVO connect app featuring Remote engine Start/Stop.

Practicality:

The Kia Sonet offers segment best 392L boot space complementing all the storage options in the cabin. All variants get flat folding rear seats despite not offering split folding option.

Safety:

The new Kia Sonet will be providing Dual airbags with ABS and EBD as standard across all variants. The top variants will also receive Side & curtain airbags, Vehicle stability management, Electronic Stability control, Hill hold control, Tyre pressure monitor and smart key access system.

Powertrains:

The new Kia Sonet will carry forward the same BS6 compliant engines from the Hyundai Venue. The entry level HTE, HTK and HTK+ variants will receive the 1.2l 4 cyl petrol engine producing 83PS power through a 5 speed Manual gearbox while the higher HTK+, HTX, HTX+ and GTX+ variants get the 1L 3 cyl turbo petrol engine producing 120PS power through either a 6 speed iMT gearbox or 7 speed DCT gearbox. The 1.5L 4 cyl turbo diesel engine will be available in two state of tunes. The 6 speed manual gearbox equipped variants will get 100PS Max Power whereas the 6 speed torque converter Automatic equipped HTK+ & GTX+ variants will get higher 115PS Max Power.

Launch & price:

This Kia Sonet will go on sale in the coming weeks and compete against the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300, Ford Ecosport and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. Prices are expected to start from Rs 8L on road for the base petrol variant and go upto Rs 14.5L for the top spec automatic variants. Stay tuned for further updates on the Kia Sonet compact SUV.

Kia Sonet Key Features :

HTE - Smartstream G1.2 5MT, D1.5 6MT :

• Dual Airbags, ABS with EBD, Rear Parking Sensors, Front Disc Brakes, Emergency Stop Signal
• Kia Signature Tiger Nose Grille, Heartbeat Tail Lamps, Halogen Headlamps
• Muscular Front and Rear Skid Plates, R15-38.1 cm (15") Steel Wheels, Wheel Cover,
• Rear Center Garnish - Reflector Connected Type, Pole Type Antenna
• Black Interior, Premium Fabric Seat, Premium Roof Lining, Silver Finish AC Vents Garnish
• Electric Power Steering, Manual Air Conditioner, Tilt Steering, Front Door Power Windows
• Front and Rear USB Charging Port, Electric Adjust Outside Mirror, Center Locking, Rear AC Vents, Front Adjustable
• Headrest, Eco Coating
• 8.89 cm (3.5") Mono Color Instrument Cluster

HTK (In addition to HTE) - Smartstream G1.2 5MT, D1.5 6MT :

• R16-40.62 cm (16") Metallic Silver Styled Wheels
• Black Interior, Semi Leatherette Seats with White Stitching
• Driver Seat Height Adjust, Keyless Entry, Rear Door Power Windows, Follow me Home Headlamps
• Sunglass Holder, Passenger Seat Back Small Size Upper & Full Size Lower Pocket
• 9.65 cm (3.8") 2 DIN Audio, 4 Speakers, Steering Mounted Audio Controls, Bluetooth, UVO Lite 

HTK+ (In addition to HTK) - Smartstream G1.2 5MT, G1.0 Turbo GDi 6iMT/7DCT, D1.5 6MT/6AT :

• Projector Fog Lamps, Auto Headlamps, Muscular Front and Rear Silver Skid Plates, Floating Type Roof Rails, Shark Fin Antenna, Outside Mirror LED Turn Signal, Radiator Grille Chrome with Diamond Knurling Pattern, Leatherette Wrapped Gear Knob (AT & DCT Only)
• Fully Automatic Air Conditioner, Electric Folding Outside Mirrors, Driver One Touch Auto Up/ Down Window with Anti Pinch Function, Rear Defogger,Rear Parcel Shelf
• 20.32 cm (8.0") Touchscreen with ARKAMYS Tuning, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, Wireless Phone Projection (Only with 20.32 cm Touchscreen),2 Tweeters, Rear View Camera with Guidelines,Driving Rear View Monitor
• ESC, HAC, VSM, Brake Assist, Multi-drive Modes & Traction Control (Only in 7DCT)

HTX (In addition to HTK) - Smartstream G1.0 Turbo GDi 6iMT, D1.5 6MT :

• Projector Fog Lamps, Auto Headlamps, ISO Fix Child Anchor
• Crown Jewel LED Headlamps, Heartbeat LED DRL with Integrated Indicators, Heartbeat LED Tail Lamps
• Electric Sunroof, Muscular Front Silver Skid Plates, Rear Bumper with Dual Muffler Design, Diffuser Fin Rear Skid Plates, Floating Type Roof Rails, Shark Fin Antenna, Outside Mirror LED Turn Signal, Radiator Grille Chrome with Diamond Knurling Pattern, Chrome Outside Door Handles, Side Door Silver Garnish
• Beige & Black Interior, Semi Leatherette Seats with Silver Stitching, Leatherette Wrapped D-cut Steering Wheel with Sonet Logo, Leatherette Wrapped Gear Knob, Smart Key with Push Button Start, Fully Automatic Air Conditioner, Cruise Control
• Remote Engine Start on Smart Key, Electric Folding Outside Mirrors, Driver One Touch Auto Up/ Down with Anti Pinch Function, Rear Defogger, Rear Parcel Shelf, Rear Seat Center Armrest, Rear Passengers Adjustable Headrest
• 20.32 cm (8.0") Touchscreen with ARKAMYS Tuning, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, Wireless Phone Projection (Only with 20.32 cm Touchscreen)
• 2 Tweeters, Rear View Camera

HTX + (In addition to HTK) - Smartstream G1.0 Turbo GDi 6iMT, D1.5 6MT :

• Highline Tyre Pressure Monitor
• R16-40.62 cm (16") Crystal Cut Alloys with Silver Wheel Caps
• Beige & Black Interior, Leatherette Seats with Silver Stitching, LED Sound Mood Lights, Leatherette Wrapped Door Trims
• Rear Wiper and Washer, Full Size Driver Seat Back Pocket
• 26.03 cm (10.25") HD Touchscreen Navigation, UVO Connected Car with OTA Map Updates
• BOSE Premium 7-speaker System, Ventilated Driver & Passenger Seats
• Smart Pure Air Purifier with Virus Protection, Advanced 10.67 cm (4.2") Color Instrument Cluster
• AI Voice Recognition with "Hello Kia" Wake-up Command, Smartwatch Connectivity, Auto Antiglare (ECM) Inside Rear View Mirror with UVO Controls
• Two Tone Roof Color (Optional)

GTX+ - Smartstream G1.0 Turbo GDi 6iMT / 7DCT, D1.5 6MT / 6AT :

• Six Airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, HAC, VSM, Brake Assist, Front & Rear Parking Sensors, Projector Fog Lamps
• Highline Tyre Pressure Monitor, Auto Headlamps, ISO Fix Child Anchor, Front Disc Brakes, Emergency Stop Signal
• Crown Jewel LED Headlamps, Heartbeat LED DRL with Integrated Indicators, Heartbeat LED Tail Lamps
• Electric Sunroof, R16-40.62 cm (16") Crystal Cut Alloys with Sporty Red Wheel Cap, Red Brake Caliper (Front)
• Kia Signature Tiger Nose Grille - Black High Glossy with GT Line Logo and Red Accents, Front Bumper with Sporty Red Accent, Rear Bumper with Dual Muffler Design and Red Accent
• Turbo Shaped Masculine Front Skid Plates, Diffuser Fin Rear Skid Plates, Belt Line Chrome, Floating Type Roof Rails, Shark Fin Antenna, Outside Mirror LED Turn Signal
• Radiator Grille Chrome with Diamond Knurling Pattern, Chrome Outside Door Handle, Side Door Red Garnish, Rear Center Garnish - Reflector Connected Type
• Black Interior, Leatherette Sports Seats with Red Stitching, LED Sound Mood Lights, Leatherette Wrapped D-cut Steering Wheel with GT Line Logo, Sporty Alloy Pedals
• Leatherette Wrapped Door Trims, Leatherette Wrapped Gear Knob, Premium Roof Lining, High Gloss Black Finish AC Vents Garnish
• Smart Key with Push Button Start, Fully Automatic Air Conditioner, Cruise Control, Remote Engine Start with Smart Key, Electric Folding and Adjust Outside Mirrors
• Electric Power Steering, Driver Seat Height Adjust, Tilt Steering, All Door Power Windows, Driver Window One Touch Auto up/ down with Anti Pinch Function, Front and Rear USB Charging Port
• Center Locking, Rear AC Vents, Follow Me Home Headlamps, Sunglass Holder, Rear Wiper and Washer, Rear Defogger
• Rear Parcel Shelf, Front & Rear Adjustable Headrest, Rear Seat Center Armrest, Upper Small Size and Lower Full Size Passenger Seat Back Pocket, Full Size Driver Seat Back Pocket, Eco Coating
• 26.03 cm (10.25") HD Touchscreen Navigation, UVO Connected Car with OTA Map Updates, BOSE Premium 7-speaker System, Driving Rear View Monitor, Smartwatch Connectivity, Auto Antiglare (ECM) Rear View Mirror with UVO Controls
• Ventilated Driver and Passenger Seat (Front), Smart Pure Air Purifier with Virus Protection, Advanced 10.67 cm (4.2") Color Instrument Cluster,Smartphone Wireless Charger, Multi-drive Modes & Traction Control (Automatic Only), AI Voice Recognition with "Hello Kia? Wake-up Command , Rear View Camera with Guidelines
• Steering Mounted Audio Controls, Bluetooth, UVO Lite
• Two Tone Roof Color (Optional)

Kia Sonet Petrol, Price (ex-showroom) :

Kia Sonet 1.2L Petrol HTE (5MT) - Rs 6.71 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.2L Petrol HTK (5MT) - Rs 7.59 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.2L Petrol HTK+ (5MT) - Rs 8.45 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.0L Turbo Petrol HTK+ (6iMT) - Rs 9.49 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.0LTurbo Petrol HTK+ (7DCT) - Rs 10.49 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.0L Turbo Petrol HTX (6iMT) - Rs 9.99 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.0L Turbo Petrol HTX+ (6iMT) - Rs 11.65 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.0L Turbo Petrol GTX+ (6iMT) - Rs 11.99 Lakh

Kia Sonet Diesel, Price (ex-showroom) :

Kia Sonet 1.5L Diesel WGT HTE (6MT) - Rs 8.05 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.5L Diesel WGT HTK (6MT) - Rs 8.99 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.5L Diesel WGT HTK+ (6MT) - Rs 9.49 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.5L Diesel WGT HTX (6MT) - Rs 9.99 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.5L Diesel WGT HTX+ (6MT) - Rs 11.65 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.5L Diesel WGT GTX+ (6MT) - Rs 11.99 Lakh
Kia Sonet 1.5L Diesel VGT HTK+ (6AT) - Rs 10.39 Lakh.

The New Kia Sonet SUV will rival likes the Ford Ecosport, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300 , Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue , Honda WR-V and Upcoming Toyota Urban Cruiser.

Morris Garages India have unveiled their new flagship full size Gloster SUV in India. Bookings are now open for the feature loaded full size SUV, with the booking advance of Rs.1L. MG’s full-size SUV will be available with either a six- or seven-seat layout and will offer 4WD as an option. The MG Gloster is a rebadged version of China's Maxus D90 which is also sold as the LDV D90 in Australia.

Variants and features:

The Gloster will be available in four trim levels – Super, Smart, Sharp and Savvy. The MG Gloster Savvy and Smart variants will be available with a

6-seat configuration only; with captain seats in the middle row, while the MG Gloster Super will feature a 7-seat layout. The MG Gloster Sharp can be optioned with either seating arrangement.

The top spec variants will include the following features:

• All LED Headlamps & tail lamps

• Cornering assist lamps

• Auto headlamps & wipers

• Auto Dimming IRVMs

• 19” alloy wheels

• Panoramic sunroof

• Auto park assist

• 12 way Power adjustable driver seat with memory

• 8 way Power adjustable passenger seat

• Triple zone auto climate control

• Ventilated front seats

• Massaging driver seat

• Auto park assist

• Intelligent auto start Stop

• PM 2.5 filter

• Smart powered tailgate

• Heated and smart ORVMs

• Tire pressure monitoring system

• 12.2” touchscreen system

• i-Smart connected car tech

• Digital instrument cluster

• Leather upholstery

The MG Gloster also features Advanced Driver Assist Systems which include:

• Adaptive Cruise control

• Automatic parking assist

• Forward Collision warning

• Auto emergency braking

• Blind spot detection

• Lane departure warning

Powertrain:

The Gloster will be available with a two 2.0-litre diesel engine options. The first choice is a single turbocharger engine and develops 163hp and 375Nm, while the second is a twin turbo unit developing a  superior 218hp and 480Nm. An 8-speed automatic gearbox is standard on both engines. The twin turbo engine will be available with Borg Warner's shift-on-the fly four-wheel drive with selectable drive modes including Snow, Sand, Mud, Rock, Auto, Eco and Sport modes. The single turbo diesel is two-wheel drive only.

Safety features:

The Gloster has been awarded 5 Star rating at the Australian NCAP crash tests and includes a long list of standard safety features:

• 6 airbags

• All wheel disc brakes

• ABS with EBD

• ESP with traction control

• Hill hold control

• Hill descent control

• Auto vehicle hold

• Roll movement intervention

• Electro mechanical differential lock

• Pretensioner seatbelts

• 360 degree camera

• Driver Fatigue reminder

• Heated ORVMs

• Electric parking brake

• Smart key access

Pricing and launch:

The new MG Gloster is expected to be positioned above all the other full-size, 7-seat ladder-frame SUVs including the Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner and the Mahindra Alturas G4. Prices will be revealed on the festive month of October and the expected pricing is around Rs.45 to Rs.50L on road. Stay tuned on further details on this new tech savvy full size SUV.

Renault India has launched their new Kiger compact SUV. The new Kiger is based on the CMF-A+ platform which is also shared with the Nissan Magnite. The Kiger offers two petrol engines with both, manual and automatic gearbox options. This is the first compact SUV from Renault to go on sale.

Exterior:

    The new Renault Kiger features a familiar design language previously seen on the Kwid. It features a coupe-like design with a muscular stance. The grille and headlights have been significantly upgraded compared to the Kwid though. The grille is larger and gets more Chrome treatment, similar to the Triber and

is flanked by LED DRLs which also include the indicators. The actual headlamps are located lower down in the bumper and the top spec variant get Pure Vision LED headlamps. While all variants get 16” wheels as standard, the higher variants get alloy wheels. The rear features C shaped LED tail lamps and a very sculpted tailgate. The higher variants also get silver finished rear skid plate. The sides feature black decals that look like body claddings and even the higher variants don't get Chrome door handles.

Interior:

    The interior of the Kiger gets a traditional, yet stylish layout. The higher Variants get an 8” touchscreen floating at the centre on top of the dash with a high centre console that also includes a large storage compartment under the armrest which can be closed by a Tambour-door sliding lid, as seen on the Tata Nexon. The top Variants get a 7” TFT instrument cluster along with two gloveboxes. The Climate control console, window and mirror controls, starter button, gear lever and the steering wheel are shared with the Nissan Magnite. The door pads are vastly different compared to the Magnite while the glovebox design is identical to the one seen on the Triber.

The Kiger also claims to have segment-besting 405L boot space as standard.

The top spec RXZ Variant will get the following features:

• LED headlights and DRLs

• 16” dual tone alloys

• Functional roof rails

• Rear wiper & washer

• Smart key access

• Push button start

• Power windows (Auto up/down for driver)

• Auto fold ORVMs

• Height adjustable driver seat

• 8” touchscreen system

• Steering mounted audio controls

• Wireless Android auto & Apple carplay

• Reverse camera

• Auto climate control

• Rear AC vents

• Interior ambient lighting

• 7” TFT instrument cluster

• Twin gloveboxes

• Cooled lower glovebox

• Front and rear armrests

• Rear adjustable headrests

• 60:40 split-folding rear seat

The RXZ variant also gets 3 drive modes as standard including Normal, Economy and Sport modes.

Safety features:

      Standard safety features on the Kiger include:

• 2 airbags

• ABS with EBD

• Pretensioner seatbelt for driver

• Engine immobilizer

• Reverse sensors

      The top spec RXZ offers the following safety features:

• 4 Airbags

• Smart key access

• Rear adjustable headrests

• Rear wiper and washer

• Reverse camera

While the Nissan Magnite offered ESP, traction control, hill hold assist and brake assist as standard on all turbocharged Variants, none of the Variants of the Kiger offer those safety features.

Variants:

      The Renault Kiger will be available in 4 Variants:

• RXE

• RXL

• RXT

• RXZ

Powertrains:

       The Kiger will be offered with two petrol engine options. Both 1.0L engines are the same as seen on the Nissan Magnite. The naturally aspirated engine will produce 72PS of Max Power and 96NM of Max torque through a 5 speed Manual gearbox. Unlike the Magnite, the Kiger also offered a 5 speed AMT gearbox with this engine as an option from the RXL Variant onwards.

The turbocharged engine produces 100PS of Max Power and 160NM of Max torque with the manual transmission while the CVT Variants produce 152NM of Max torque. The base RXE Variant is not ava with the turbocharged engine option and only the RXT and RXZ turbo Variants get the option of a CVT.

Launch & price:

        The Renault Kiger is expected to give tough competition to all other compact SUVs while also lasting the success streak of Renault from the launch of the Triber. The Kiger is priced neck-to-neck with the Nissan Magnite, starting from Rs.5.45L (ex-showroom) for the RXE and going up to Rs.9.55L (ex-showroom) for the top spec RXZ Turbo CVT Variant. This pricing makes the RXE Renault Kiger the most affordable compact SUV in the Indian Market today.

Stay tuned for our detailed reviews and updates.