Kia Seltos, Sonet, Carens Get BS6 2.0-Compliant Powertrains
Kia has updated its Indian line-up to comply with upcoming RDE norms. The line-up, including the Seltos, the Sonet, and the Carens, is available with updated powertrains as well as new features.
By Kanika Sachdeva
The refreshed Kia Seltos, Sonet, and the Carens are here in India and have been updated to be RDE-compliant. The company has launched its Indian line-up with updated powertrains as well as new features. The Korean automaker has priced the 2023 Seltos at Rs 10.89 lakh for the base HTE petrol MT trim. Whereas, the Sonet and the Carens are available at a starting price of Rs 7.79 lakh and Rs 10.45 lakh, respectively. All prices mentioned are ex-showroom. The company's move to introduce the improved line-up came about to keep up with the Union Government's vision of cleaner and sustainable mobility with a transition to BS6 Phase II emission norms. In addition, the updated models now are equipped with an improved petrol powertrain that is compatible with E20 fuel norms.
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"With the enhanced powertrains and added features, our vehicles have become even more sophisticated, instating the feeling of pride in customers of owning a Kia. The upgrades in the powertrain, combined with advanced features like Kia Connect Skill for Alexa and ISG will ensure utmost convenience and fun to drive experience to our customers", stated Mr. Tae-Jin Park, MD & CEO, Kia India.
2023 Kia Seltos: Powertrain, Features, Prices
The latest Kia Seltos is offered with two engine options - a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.5-litre CRDi VGT diesel engine. Importantly, the company has discontinued the use of a 1.4-litre turbo GDi petrol engine, which will be replaced by a 1.5-litre Turbo GDi motor.
On offer, there is now a 6-speed iMT unit as standard in place of a previously available 6-speed manual transmission. The iMT technology is available across diesel manual transmissions. However, a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission for the diesel engine has been retained. As for the NA petrol engine, both 6-speed manual and IVT gearboxes are available.
The new Seltos features an idle start/stop technology as standard and comes with Kia Connect Skill for Amazon Alexa as a connected car feature that includes remote climate control, turn on/off speed alert, engine status, boot status, Find My Car, and more.
As for its prices, the updated model starts at Rs 10.89 lakh and goes up to Rs 19.65 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom. It rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, the Toyota Hyryder, the Skoda Kushaq, the Volkswagen Taigun, and the MG Astor.
2023 Kia Sonet: Powertrain, Features, Prices
Speaking of its powertrain, the RDE-compliant Sonet continues to use a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 118bhp of power. When running on diesel, the Sonet now draws power from a 1.5-litre CRDi VGT engine that puts out an increased power output of 114bhp, up from the earlier 99bhp.
For transmission duties, a 5-speed manual gearbox is available in the variants of the Kia Sonet with a Smartstream G1.2 naturally-aspirated petrol unit. In addition, the 6iMT technology is now offered as standard with the diesel and turbo-petrol variants.
The standard features of the new Sonet include an idle start/stop technology across all variants, ISOFIX, Electronic Stability Control in 1.5-litre diesel iMT, and a rear seat headrest with up & down functionality. In addition, it also offers Kia Connect Skill for Amazon Alexa as a connected car feature in the HTX and above trims, providing owners with home-to-car connectivity tech.
The 2023 Kia Sonet starts at Rs 7.79 lakh and goes up to Rs 14.89 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom. It competes against the likes of the Renault Kiger, the Tata Nexon, the Nissan Magnite, the Mahindra XUV300, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, and more.
2023 Kia Carens: Powertrain, Features, Prices
Coming to the 2023 Kia Carens, there is a new Smartstream G1.5 Turbo GDi engine that generates 159bhp of power and 253Nm of torque. Besides, the new MPV also uses a 1.5-litre CRDi VGT diesel engine and a 1.5-litre NA petrol engine. For transmission, the G1.5 T-GDi and D1.5 CRDi VGT engines offer an iMT as standard.
The updated car is available in Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus Luxury, and Luxury Plus trims. The standard idle start/stop technology, automatic climate control, keyless entry, and heated front seats are some of the features of the Carens.
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Other notable features include a 4.2-inch cluster extension, leather-wrapped gear knob, and Kia Connect Skill for Amazon Alexa. These features vary depending on the variant.
The 2023 Carens retails between Rs 10.45 lakh and Rs 18.90 lakh (ex-showroom). It takes on the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the XL6 in India.
