Kia Motors India recently launched the Kia Sonet and it offered a lot of features unseen in the sub-compact SUV segment. Good features come at a steep price and that made the overall deal a little sour for the Sonet. As the GTX+ AT and DCT prices are also revealed, the Sonet inches into the category of the Seltos. Kia Sonet is great in many ways but space is not one of them. If you want a family SUV at a budget of Rs 16 lakh, which one is a deal for you? We find just that in the Kia Sonet GTX+ Vs Kia Seltos HTK+ spec comparison.
Kia Sonet GTX+ Vs Seltos HTK+ - Design and Dimensions
We don't think anyone would disagree that the Sonet is one of best-looking cars of its segment if not the best. The signature Tiger nose grille and all-LED headlights have worked for the Sonet to make it look stunning. Some may call the rear a little "busy" or "overdone" but it doesn't look odd by any means. The alloy wheels on the GT line - the one we are comparing - looks great and suits the design of the car.
The Kia Seltos is the most stunning looking SUV of its segment and it is only of the many reasons for its success. The connected LED DRLs at the front atop the Tiger nose grille give it a premium car appeal and the GT line is the best looker. However, the HT line of the Seltos may get projector headlamps and plain alloy wheels but it doesn't look under-equipped.
| Dimensions | Sonet | Seltos |
| Length | 3995mm | 4315mm |
| Width | 1790mm | 1800mm |
| Height | 1642mm | 1645mm |
| Wheelbase | 2500mm | 2610mm |
| Boot space | 392L | 433L |
| Fuel tank | 45L | 50L |
With the table in place, it is obvious that the Seltos sports considerably bigger dimensions than the Sonet. While the width and height are more or less similar of both the cars, the Seltos excels in terms of length, wheelbase and boot space. Surprisingly, despite being smaller, the Sonet offers good width and height when compared to the Seltos.
Also read: This Wannabe Range Rover Velar Is A 2020 Modified Hyundai Creta
Kia Sonet GTX+ Vs Seltos HTK+ - Interiors and Features
Kia Sonet is a sub-compact SUV and at that price, you can't expect premium interiors. There are no soft touch materials used on the dashboard, however, we do get leather-wrapped elbow rests. The dashboard layout of the Kia Sonet is good and practical but the connected 10.25-inch touchscreen and instrument console may seem big to many customers. Moving to the features, the Sonet comes loaded with some great features like drive/traction modes, ventilated seats, automatic climate control, sound mood lighting, six airbags, TPMS, BOSE sound system and a lot more.
Coming to the Kia Seltos, as it is a bigger car, gets a bigger cabin space. The dashboard also gets leather wrapped but only in top trims. The HTK+ gets the plastic finish but that feels premium too. However, as the HTK+ is a lower trim, it misses out on automatic climate control, LED headlights, sound mood lighting, rear adjustable headrests, electric sunroof and a lot more. We get 8.0-inch touchscreen system with Android Auto and Apple Car Play, cruise control, keyless entry and go, R16 alloy wheels, rear sunblinds, height adjustable seatbelts and a lot more.
Kia Sonet GTX+ Vs Seltos HTK+ - Engine and Performance
Both the Kia Sonet and Kia Seltos offer an array of powertrain options. However, the Sonet takes the level a notch above by offering iMT transmission. As we are comparing the top spec GTX+ of the Sonet to the HTK+ of the Seltos, the only fair comparison between both the cars is 1.5-litre diesel MT/AT. The Sonet gets the same engine in two states of tune - 100 PS MT (WGT) and 115 PS AT (VGT).
If you go with diesel manual, the Seltos offers 15 PS more power and 10 Nm more torque. However, as the diesel AT combo is same in both the cars, we get 155PS and 250 Nm in Sonet is well. The Sonet may return more fuel efficiency as it is lighter and the service and reliability will be more or less the same.
Also read: Kia Sonet vs Nexon vs Venue vs XUV300 vs EcoSport vs Vitara Brezza - Specs and Price Comparison
Kia Sonet GTX+ Vs Seltos HTK+ - Price and Verdict
The Kia Sonet is a feature-packed and Kia hasn't left any stone unturned to make it a success. However, the Kia Sonet is priced at a premium and comes at Rs 1-1.5 lakh premium over its rivals. The price is the only caveat for the Sonet and the size and space it offers at this price is not easily justifiable. That's where the Seltos comes into the picture, the Seltos is a much bigger car with better ride quality and space. With around 70,000 - 80,000 premium, you can get the Seltos HTK+ which may offer less in terms of features but offers a one-segment above experience and mainly the space and comfort.
| Model | Diesel MT | Diesel AT |
| Kia Sonet GTX+ | 11.99 lakh | 12.89 lakh |
| Kia Seltos HTK+ | 12.69 lakh | 13.69 lakh |
