We recently embarked on a journey to start living with the new Kia Sonet turbo which is fast becoming SA’s most popular compact crossovers. Powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine, it drives like a dream, so we were inspired to explore further.
The best time to start living is NOW so when Kia invited us to partake in the #Startliving campaign, we couldn’t wait to discover what it means to be part of the Sonet story.
It’s summer, we live in a beautiful country so the possibilities are endless. The Mother City is synonymous with breathtaking views and fantastic skylines so a scenic drive with the girls was in order. The road led us down the Constantia Wine Route and the turbocharged petrol engine was giving!!! We made a few pit stops along the way to soak up the experience and take snaps for the gram.
Not only did the Kia Sonet inspire us to start living but we have memories that’ll last a lifetime. You too, can discover what it means to start living and swerve into the SUV life with the Kia Sonet.
“The Sonet was one of the most anticipated new Kia models in several years when it was introduced to the South African market in April 2021,” says Stephen Crosse, Sales & Marketing Director, Kia South Africa. and shares that, at the time, the global supply chain constraints hampered their efforts to launch Sonet with a broader range of engine and transmission options, “but as some of these constraints begin to normalise, our persistent desire to expand the Sonet range has now come to fruition. We are confident that the new turbocharged derivatives will also surpass our expectations,” he adds.
This is how you can Turbocharge your life
The new Kia Sonet 1.0 T-GDi is equipped with Kia’s advanced 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (7DCT). A new engine in the local Kia stable, the 1.0 T-GDi boasts outputs of 88kW at 6,000 r/min and a stout 172 Nm of torque on a plateau from 1,500-4,000 r/min.
This new engine places easy-driving characteristics at the forefront, balancing more than sufficient punch for safe overtaking manoeuvres with low engine speeds at highway velocities for improved fuel consumption and refinement and a satisfyingly sporty 3-cylinder thrum. In the combined cycle, the 1,0 T-GDi option emits a mere 137 g/km of CO2 emissions.
The complete range offers something for everyone
“As more customers continue to migrate into the crossover and compact SUV segments, it’s critical to balance price positioning and perceived affordability with an array of features and benefits that present an exceptional value proposition,” asserts Crosse. Affirming that with the introduction of the new turbocharged derivatives and its established reputation as one of the highest quality offerings in its segment, the Kia Sonet cements its position as one of the most desirable and most complete options available in the market today.
The two new 1.0 T-GDI derivatives are priced at a recommended retail price of R359,995 and R389,995 respectably. Notably, all Sonet models ship as standard with Kia’s industry-leading Unlimited Kilometre, 5-year warranty (inclusive of Roadside Assistance), as well as a prepaid 4-year / 60,000 km service plan. The new Sonet 1.0 T-GDI range is on sale across Kia South Africa’s national dealer network.
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