Key Highlights
- The next-generation Kia Sonet has been spotted testing on Indian roads for the first time.
- Internally codenamed QY2E, it is expected to launch in 2027.
- The new model will move to the K1 platform that currently underpins the Kia Syros and the latest Hyundai Venue.
The second-generation Kia Sonet has been caught testing on Indian roads, and this is the first time the prototype has been spotted publicly. The test mule is wrapped in heavy camouflage, but enough is visible to piece together where Kia is heading with its most affordable SUV in India.
The current Sonet has been a consistent performer since its 2020 debut, selling between 9,000 and 10,000 units a month even after its 2024 facelift. With competition in the sub-4m SUV segment intensifying, a full generational update makes clear sense.
What the spy shots reveal
The most significant change confirmed by the test mule is the platform. The 2027 Sonet moves from the current K2 platform to the newer K1 architecture, which already underpins the Syros. The K1 platform is expected to bring a slightly longer wheelbase, which should translate into better rear seat space.
On the design front, the new Sonet appears to draw heavily from the larger Seltos. The grille looks wider and more integrated with the headlamps, spanning from one light cluster to the other. The headlight treatment, however, appears closer to the latest Hyundai Venue, with LED DRLs placed above the main headlamp units. The front bumper is cleaner, with subtle creases on the bonnet adding some visual aggression. New alloy wheel designs are visible even through the camouflage, consistent with Kia’s current design language across the Syros and Seltos.
What to Expect Inside
No interior details are visible from the spy shots, but based on the K1 platform and Kia’s recent product direction, larger infotainment and instrument cluster screens are expected, along with an upgraded connected car suite. Whether ADAS makes it to the Sonet remains to be seen, given that Kia removed it from the 2026 Syros.
The 2027 Kia Sonet is expected to launch in India by early to mid-2027.
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