Kamal Ghorui
Kia India has announced that its sub-compact SUV, the Kia Sonet, has surpassed the five lakh sales milestone in the Indian market. The Sonet has emerged as an important model for the brand, contributing nearly 35 per cent to Kia’s domestic sales volumes and helping widen its footprint across the Indian market. Its performance has also been reflected internationally, with over 1,00,000 units exported to close to 70 markets spanning the MEA, Central and South America, Mexico and the APAC region. Factors behind its success The Kia Sonet has continued to see steady demand across both urban centres and emerging markets, recording annual sales of over one lakh units for two consecutive years, reflecting sustained customer acceptance. Launched in the fast-growing sub-compact SUV space in India, the Sonet aligned closely with buyer preferences for SUV styling in a compact size. Kia supported this positioning with multiple engine and transmission options, including petrol and diesel choices and a range of manual and automatic gearboxes, allowing it to cater to varied budgets and usage needs.
The model also stood out for its feature list, offering items such as a large touchscreen infotainment system, connected car technology, ventilated front seats, and a suite of safety features. Crucially, several of these were made available on mid-level trims, broadening their appeal beyond top-end buyers. Competitive pricing also added to its market acceptance, with the Sonet positioned against key rivals while offering a strong value proposition. Alongside the product, Kia’s expanding dealership and service network played a role in building customer confidence. Taken together, these elements helped the Sonet maintain steady demand and establish itself as a consistent performer in the Indian passenger vehicle market.
Celebrating the landmark achievement, Mr. Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “Crossing the 5 lakhs sales milestone for the Sonet is a moment of pride for all of us at Kia India. Every Sonet sold represents a customer who believed in Kia and this is a powerful endorsement of the trust Indian buyers have shown us. This journey reinforces how our focus on delivering meaningful design, advanced technology, and dependable performance has resonated with buyers across the country. We remain deeply grateful to our customers for being integral to this success.”
The Kia Sonet is available in HTE, HTK, HTK+, HTX, HTX+, GTX+ and X-line variants and the price starts from Rs 7.3 lakh (ex-showroom). Features-wise, it gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, leatherette upholstery, ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, cruise control, an air purifier, a Bose audio system, UVO-connected car tech, wireless phone charger and much more. Talking about safety, it gets camera-based ADAS, six airbags, ESC, front and rear parking sensors and much more.The Kia Sonet is offered in three engine options – an 83 hp 1.2-litre NA Petrol engine, a 120 hp 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine and a 115 hp 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine. Gearbox options include a 5-speed manual with the 1.2-litre NA Petrol, iMT or DCT with the 1.0-litre Petrol, a 6-speed manual or a torque converter AT with the 1.5 turbo diesel.
