Kia Motors has released the first official images of the Sonet 7-seater in Indonesia. It will go on sale shortly in the Indonesian market while the possibility of an India launch at a later stage can't be ruled out either. Though, contrary to earlier speculations, Kia Sonet 7-seater is longer than the standard 5-seater version. The three-row SUV doesn't get any cosmetic and mechanical changes as compared to the regular version of the Sonet. It will be at loggerheads with Toyota Avanza and Daihatsu Xenia in Indonesia.
The India-spec Kia Sonet is a sub 4-metre product, i.e. it measures less than 4 metres in length to attract low excise duty. On the other hand, the 7-seater version is a bit longer as it measures 4120 mm in length. The width and height stand at 1790mm and 1642mm, respectively. The wheelbase too remains identical to the 5-seater Sonet at 2500mm. The third row of seats have been accommodated by swallowing up the entire boot space. Though, they come with adjustable headrests while being fully foldable in case an individual tends to make space for luggage. The legroom for the last row occupants is not much as compared to the middle row. The second row seats come with 60:40 split function as standard.
As for features, Kia Sonet 7-seater comes loaded with several bells and whistles like all-digital instrument cluster, ventilated front seats, rear AC vents, ambient lighting, wireless charging, 7-speaker Bose audio system and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and UVO connect features. Mechanically, it draws power from a 1.5L 4-cylinder petrol engine which churns out top power of 113bhp and peak torque of 144Nm while linked to a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. An IVT automatic gearbox can also be availed as option with the SUV. Kia Sonet 7-seater, if launched in India, will create an all-new segment altogether as none of the subcompact SUVs are available with 7-seater layout.