There’s no shortage of choice in the sub-4 metre SUV segment. And yet, every mass-market player wants a piece of that pie. Why? The answer is simple – India loves SUVs, especially if it caters to the subcompact SUV space. The latest to join the party is what you see here – the Kia Sonet. Apparently, it is “Wild By Design”. Kia says it took the design inspiration from a baby elephant. That’s wild but in a more coochie-coo sort of way. To balance that out, Kia’s made the “Tiger” grille more aggressive with flared nostrils.

Don’t worry! Decoding design is outright dull, and we’re not diving any deeper in the details. One design trait that is worth mentioning is that Kia has managed to make the Sonet look larger than it is. That aspect alone will bring in customers. At least in India! Okay, just one more! The faux skid plates are a delight to behold but, at the same time, scream desperation. The kind where you feel the car shouting, “Look at me! Oh, you better look at me properly!”. On the whole, however, you have to agree that the Sonet will turn heads. It looks catchy and refreshing at the same time.

Just like it did with the Seltos, Kia Motors India will offer the Sonet in two trim lines – Tech and GT. That probably means choosing the former family will have variants names such as HTK and HTX, whereas the latter will bring in GTK and GTX. And yes, expect some to carry the “+” sign as well.

In the powertrain department, the Sonet will get three engine and four transmission options. And yes, the choice of an iMT (intelligent Manual Transmission) will be on offer too. The range will start with the 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol mill, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The remaining two engine options are a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel and a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol. Transmission choices for the diesel will include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic. With the turbocharged petrol motor, customers will have the option of a 6-speed manual (with or without iMT tech) and a 7-speed DCT.

In essence, the Sonet gets the powertrains from its step-sibling and fierce rival – the Hyundai Venue. Although Kia hasn’t shared them, we can safely deduce that the power and torque figures will be identical too. If you want an example, compare those for the Creta and Seltos. There’s just one thing worth noting here. Unlike the Venue, the Sonet will offer a diesel-auto combination. Could that be a hit?

Features? Well, going by Kia’s trend, the Sonet will probably shame all its competitors. Some of the highlights include a 7-speaker Bose Sound system, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, UVO connect with 57 connected-car features, front and rear parking sensors, air purifier and ventilated front seats. The car will also offer LED DRLs, an electric sunroof, a digital instrument cluster, cruise control, wireless smartphone charger with cooling function and automatic climate control.

Kia will start accepting bookings for the Sonet soon. The launch should happen within the festive period. Expect a competitive introductory price to get the ball rolling. In India, it will rival the Ford EcoSport, Mahindra XUV300, Tata Nexon, Honda WR-V and the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. Products from Toyota – the Urban Cruiser – and Nissan – the Magnite – will join the party too. All-in-all, quite an exciting time ahead!