How manufacturers introduce new models to the market is often quite mystical to car buyers. Although there may well be many valid reasons for the decisions, adding a flagship derivative after the fact often seems counter-intuitive.
This seems to be the case with the Kia Sonet – an attractive little proposition launched just more than a year and garnering more than 500 buyers since then.
The recent addition of the 1,0-litre turbo-charged derivatives came with a marketing campaign in which Kia invited customers to ‘start living’ – begging the question, did the non-turbo versions not constitute living?
However, fun aside, the Sonet is – as mentioned – an attractive small crossover package with the appropriate levels of luxury and specification to suit its place and price in the market. However, the additional ‘oomph’ from the turbo rockets it up the desirability ladder.
Power for the Kia Sonet 1.0 T-GDi comes from the 1,0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine providing 88 kW at 6 000 r/min and 172 Nm of torque on a plateau from 1 500 r/min – 4 000 r/min, all mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (7DCT).
That gives it 3 kW more than the non-turbo versions and 28 Nm additional torque, allowing it to knock a few tenths off the comparable 0-100 km/h times, with the EX+ taking 11,3 seconds and the standard variant 11,8 seconds.
The EX+, however, is more frugal and the average consumption on my test route was 6,2 l/100 km compared with 7,2 l/100 of the 1,5-litre normally aspirated version – this improvement in no small way down to the improved torque.
In its price bracket, the Kia Sonet (R389 995) comes up against cars like the Suzuki Jimny (R385 900) and the Renault Duster diesel variant at R386 900.
In the test of the non-turbo version, I noted it was hard to find anything missing in terms of specification. The same applies to the EX+ with an 8,0-inch HD touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote-central locking, Bluetooth, 6 speakers, 16-inch alloy wheels, and height-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic headlamp activation, rear-view camera, and combination artificial leather seat trim all standard.
Befitting its flagship status, it also gets rear combination LED lights with a signature graphic, 2-inch TFT LCD Supervision cluster and folding power side mirrors. More features include an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, cruise control, automatic climate control and Drive Mode Select.
Safety systems and driver aids include rear-view camera and rear park distance control (PDC), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), anti-lock braking with EBD, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), front, side and curtain crash bags and ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points.
The load volume capacity is 392 litres. The effect of the turbo makes light work of a full load in the rear, and this goes to making longer journeys a lot less tiring, reducing the need to try and ‘urge’ the car up hills by keeping the right foot flat.
With 190 mm of ground clearance, it does live up to its crossover styling and can traverse reasonably quality dirt roads without fear of becoming stranded on a ‘middelmannetjie’.
The Sonet's weight distribution is evenly balanced and, consequently, handles rather steadily when asked to do so. Perhaps the only complaint here is the turbo lag, meaning full power is a smidgen late in arriving, making it less ideal.
Another disapproval is that it comes with a 15-inch steel spare wheel, whereas its opposition provides a full-sized one matching the fitted set. At this price point, the real McCoy should be a no-brainer.
The Sonet is a fun car to drive. It suits the city and suburban life, being comfortable to weave through traffic and parking lots and staunch enough to make the long road seem just that little bit shorter.
