The South Korean automaker Kia is gearing up to launch its popular sub-compact SUV Sonet’s facelift in India. Recently, a fully camouflaged test mule of the Sonet facelift was spotted parked next to the upcoming Hyundai Creta facelift. The all-new Sonet facelift’s test mule seemed fully ready, and the company is likely to launch this model very soon in the country. The test mule revealed a lot of details about the upcoming vehicle, and a video walkaround has been shared online.
Exterior updates
Rear redesign
This detailed walkaround video of the upcoming 2023 Kia Sonet facelift comes courtesy of The Car Show, shared on their YouTube channel. It starts off at the rear end of the new Kia Sonet facelift, which, by the looks of it, appears to get the most drastic changes. From the video, it can be noted that the upcoming model will come equipped with a brand new set of LED taillights. These taillights appear to be inspired by the Sonet’s elder sibling and newly launched compact SUV, Kia Seltos. The design looks a lot sleeker and more modern.
The presenter in the video added that the car will also get a brand new rear bumper design. It will also boast parking sensors, and he also shows a reverse parking camera. He added that this particular test mule was not equipped with a 360-degree parking camera. However, he stated that, according to him, this is the second top variant, and the more expensive variant could get it.
Front redesign
Next up, the presenter moves to the front of the vehicle and mentions that, like the rear, the front will also be updated. He added that the car will get a set of similarly looking LED headlights, though they will be tweaked a bit to enhance the updated design. The front will also boast a brand new grille, and the bumper will also be upgraded. The new front grille will feature high-gloss black elements and chrome accents. Just like the outgoing model, the new facelifted model will also come equipped with LED fog lamps. The front of the vehicle will also get parking sensors.
After this, the presenter shows the side profile of the vehicle. He adds that the test mule seemed unchanged from the side profile, except for a set of brand new alloy wheels. He stated that the tire profile has been kept the same, and the alloy wheels are also of the same 16-inch size. The video states that the lower trim models will come equipped with a front disc brake and rear drum brake setup. However, the top-spec variants could come with disc brakes on all four corners.
Interior and ADAS
Moving on to the interior of the forthcoming Kia Sonet facelift, the presenter revealed that the model will come with pretty much the same interior layout. He added that the test mule had the main dashboard and seats fully exposed, and they show that not much has been tweaked. The only difference that could be noted was the new dual-tone color scheme, which included a new tan color on the seats of the vehicle. The car will get the same touchscreen infotainment system as the outgoing model.
The presenter in the video also added that the test mule did not seem to be equipped with any ADAS cameras and radars, meaning that the company may not be updating it with this safety feature. No controls for the ADAS were also seen on the interior of the vehicle. Currently, the cousin model of the Sonet, the Hyundai Venue, comes equipped with this coveted safety feature.
Engine and transmission
Apart from that, the video mentions that most likely there will be no changes to the drivetrain of the upcoming Kia Sonet facelift. Currently, the Kia Sonet comes offered with three engine options: a 1-liter turbo-petrol engine producing 120PS of power and 172Nm of torque, a 1.2-liter petrol engine making 83PS of power and 115Nm of torque, and lastly, a 1.5-liter diesel unit making 115PS of power and 250Nm of torque. The turbo-petrol engine comes paired with either a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT, while a 5-speed manual is available for the 1.2-liter petrol engine. Lastly, the diesel unit comes mated to a 6-speed iMT or a 6-speed automatic.
