Kia India has launched the Model Year 2026 (MY26) edition of the Sonet, expanding the compact SUV’s automatic portfolio with new variants across diesel automatic and turbo petrol 7DCT powertrains. The move aims to make automatic driving more accessible to customers in one of India’s most competitive SUV segments.
With the update, the Sonet’s automatic variants are now priced from ₹9,77,900 for the diesel automatic and ₹9,89,900 for the turbo petrol 7DCT (ex-showroom), bringing both technologies within the sub-₹10 lakh price bracket.
Responding to rising traffic congestion and growing consumer preference for convenience, Kia has broadened the availability of automatic transmissions across more trims. The 1.5-litre diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission is now offered in HTE(O), HTK(O), HTK+, and HTK+(O) variants. Meanwhile, the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is available in HTK(O) and HTK+(O) trims.
With this expansion, Kia says the Sonet becomes the first SUV in its segment to offer both a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission under ₹10 lakh.
The addition of diesel automatic variants also caters to customers seeking the fuel efficiency of diesel engines combined with the ease of automatic driving, particularly for urban commuting and long distance travel.
Mr. Atul Sood, Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing at Kia India, said the update reflects the company’s focus on evolving customer preferences.
“We have been closely listening to the growing preference for automatic driving in everyday conditions. With the MY26 update, we are expanding our automatic line-up with diesel automatic and turbo petrol 7DCT options at highly competitive price points, enabling more customers to experience the convenience of automatic mobility,” he said.
Since its launch in 2020, the Kia Sonet has emerged as one of the brand’s best-selling models in India’s compact SUV market, recently crossing the 5-lakh sales milestone.
The SUV is offered across multiple trims with five powertrain options and features a range of technologies including 15 standard safety features, 10 Level-1 ADAS features and more than 70 connected car functionalities.
Kia has also introduced a new exterior colour option, Magma Red, aimed at enhancing the Sonet’s bold and youthful design appeal.
