Kia Sonet Long Term Review, January 2025 Report

You wait ages for a bus and then two come along at once! I’m sure you have heard of this phrase before, or may even have experienced something similar in real life. That’s pretty much what happened last month at autoX. After what felt like an eternity, we finally got a diesel vehicle in our fleet – the Tata Safari AT – in November, and just a few weeks later, we had the Kia Sonet Diesel AT arrive in our office. It’s as if we were back in the good old days. Anyway, moving on to the present, it seems like diesel cars aren’t the future, meaning the ones we have with us right now are very likely the last of their kind. So, let’s just enjoy their company while we can, I guess…

First things first, I’ve a soft spot for the Sonet because back in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its zenith, I had a Sonet diesel AT as my long termer. It wasn’t just a fantastic car, but it also served up as a trusty companion in those grim times. Three years on, the Sonet has received a thorough makeover but, thankfully, under the hood it’s more or less the same stuff. So, for me, it was like hanging out with an old friend.

Talking about the changes, I have to say that Kia has done a phenomenal job with the Sonet facelift. Even though it’s the same old sub-4m compact-SUV, the new design elements make it look wider and more intimidating, especially the new L-shaped LED headlamps. To be honest, it looks so similar to the Seltos that I believe Kia missed a trick by not calling it the Sentos.

Jokes aside, our long-term Sonet is the X-Line version, meaning it gets the sporty matte grey paint finish. Now while matte paint is hard to maintain from a owner’s perspective, I wouldn’t have my Sonet any other way. To my eyes, it looks spectacular in that shade. Among other things that I liked, the interior, of course. It’s beautifully crafted, and the Sonet is loaded to the gills with features. Coming to the diesel AT, it’s a torque monster and the six-speed transmission is a work of art. The engine and gearbox complement each other beautifully, making for an effortless drive in the city. It’s also remarkably efficient, which is expected. However, if there’s one thing that I am not a fan of, it’s the diesel clatter, especially during cold starts. For the first 10-15 minutes of my commute, the drivetrain feels a bit agricultural. But, yes, once it’s warmed up and you’re riding that wave of diesel torque, all’s well.

Also Read: Sonet, Seltos, Carens and More to Become Expensive by up to 2% in January 2025