News & Top StoriesIf You Purchase One Now, Be Prepared To Wait Up To A Year To Bring A Premium MPV Home
Be Prepared To Wait: MPVs have long been a preferred option for those seeking a roomy family vehicle with several seating configurations, ample interior space, and practicality. There are up to four high-end MPVs available in our market, such as the Toyota Innova Hycross and Kia Carens. The waiting period to take one home is as follows if you intend to purchase any of them in February
| City | Kia Carens | Toyota Innova Crysta | Toyota Innova Hycross | Maruti Invicto |
| New Delhi | 2 months | 3-4 months | 12 months | 8-10 months |
| Bengaluru | 2 months | 6 months | 6-8 months | 3 months |
| Mumbai | 2 months | 3 months | 6-9 months | 4-5 months |
| Hyderabad | 1-2 months | 3 months | 8 months | 3 months |
| Pune | 3 months | 5 months | 7 months | 6 months |
| Chennai | 2 months | 3-4 months | 8 months | 5 months |
| Jaipur | 1-2 months | 3-4 months | 6-8 months | 5 months |
| Ahmedabad | 1-2 months | 5 months | 8-10 months | 3-4 months |
| Gurugram | 1 month | 3 months | 6-9 months | 5 months |
| Lucknow | 3 months | 4 months | 8 months | 5 months |
| Kolkata | 2-2.5 months | 3-5 months | 6-8 months | 7-8 months |
| Thane | 2 months | 3-4 months | 6 months | 6-7 months |
| Surat | 2 months | 4 months | 5-7 months | 5-6 months |
| Ghaziabad | 2 months | 5 months | 7 months | 5 months |
| Chandigarh | 2 months | 4 months | 5 months | 6 months |
| Coimbatore | 2 months | 4 months | 8 months | 4-5 months |
| Patna | 2 months | 3-5 months | 6 months | 5 months |
| Faridabad | 1-2 months | 4 months | 8 months | 4-5 months |
| Indore | 1-2 months | 5 months | 7 months | 6 months |
| Noida | 1-2 months | 4 months | 6-8 months | 4-5 months |
Important lessons learned
- A new Kia Carens will only be available to buyers in Pune and Lucknow for a maximum of three months. Buyers in Hyderabad, Gurugram, Indore, and Noida can take advantage of its shortest waiting period, which is one month.
- There are some of the longest wait times for the two Toyota MPVs, the Innova Hycross and Innova Crysta. The latter isn’t available any earlier than six months, whereas the former has a minimum waiting period of three months
- High wait periods are also a problem for the rebadged Maruti Invicto, which is the Toyota MPV. To drive it home, buyers in places like Chandigarh, Kolkata, and New Delhi will have to wait the longest.
News & Top StoriesOne lakh bookings for the Kia Seltos facelift, with 80,000 choosing the sunroof variant
From July 2023 to the present, Kia has averaged 13,500 Seltos reservations
- About the new Seltos bookings milestone, Kia has provided some intriguing insights.
- Eighty percent of Seltos purchasers choose higher-spec models (HTK+ and up).
- About half of all reservations are for the petrol-powered Kia Seltos trim levels, with the automatic variants accounting for the remaining 50%.
- Forty percent of purchasers are choosing Kia Seltos with ADAS when it comes to safety.
In July 2023, the Kia Seltos underwent a significant makeover that included a new 1.5-liter turbo-petrol engine choice, new features, and enhanced safety. Since its unveiling, the Kia Seltos has now received over one lakh reservations overall. During this time, the facelifted Seltos averaged 13,500 bookings per month.
Eighty percent of buyers prefer variants with higher specs.
Eighty percent of Seltos purchasers, according to Kia, favor the SUV models with the panoramic sunroof and the better-equipped models (HTK+ and up). Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) were one of the major feature changes included in the facelift, and according to Kia, more than 40% of new Seltos customers desire this safety element.
Strong Requirement for Automated Variants
The 1.5-liter normally aspirated (NA) gasoline, 1.5-liter diesel, and 1.5-liter turbo-petrol are the three engine options offered for the car. There is an automatic transmission option available for all three, and almost half of all reservations for the new Seltos, according to Kia, have been made with the automatic transmission. It has also been disclosed that 42 percent of all bookings to date have been made using the diesel-powered option, indicating continued high demand.
Safety & Features
Premium amenities such a panoramic sunroof, twin 10.25-inch screens (digital driver’s display and touchscreen infotainment), and dual-zone climate control are standard on the Kia Seltos. In addition, it has a heads-up display, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, and an air purifier.
Six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a 360-degree camera, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like lane keep assist, frontal collision warning, and adaptive cruise control are among the safety features of the Seltos.
Specifics of the Powertrain
The following lists the engine specifications and available transmissions:
| Engine | 1.5-litre NA Petrol | 1.5-litre Turbo-petrol | 1.5-litre diesel |
| Power | 115 PS | 160 PS | 116 PS |
| Torque | 144 Nm | 253 Nm | 250 Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed MT / CVT | 6-speed iMT / 7-speed DCT | 6-speed MT / 6-speed iMT / 6-speed AT |
With the diesel engine of the Car, Kia added a 6-speed manual gearbox as an option in January 2024. It is the only SUV in its class with an iMT setup (manual without clutch pedal) as an option.
Price Range and Competitors
Prices for the car range from Rs 10.90 lakh to Rs 20.30 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Competitors of the small SUV include the Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor, Honda Elevate, Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq, and Citroen C3 Aircross.
Car BlogLatest Car Rs 10-15 Lakhs in 2024
The Korean manufacturer’s second SUV, the Kia Sonet, was introduced as the brand’s third model after the Seltos made its debut in India in 2019. However, Sonet operates in the lucrative and competitive sub-compact SUV market, whereas Seltos competes in the mid-size SUV area.
September 2020 marked the launch of Sonet in the Indian market. At the time, there were already a ton of options available in the category. However, Kia aimed to not only join the field but also leave a lasting impression. Produced at the company’s Andhra Pradesh plant and shipped from there to both the domestic and international markets, Sonet was given a significant overhaul in January 2024
The 2024 Kia Sonet comes in seven different configurations and is still available with a choice of gasoline or diesel engines. There is the 1.2-liter naturally aspirated engine coupled to a manual 5-speed transmission. It can produce a maximum torque of 115 Nm and 82 horsepower of power. The 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine is the second choice. It can be paired with a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT transmission. The engine has a maximum torque of 172 Nm and 118 horsepower. A 1.5-liter diesel engine with 114 horsepower and 250 Nm of peak torque is the only available engine option. The 6-speed manual gearbox is back on this unit. With the diesel engine, the 6-speed iMT and 6-speed automatic transmission options are also available.
There are up to 11 color options for the 2024 Sonet SUV. Clear White, Glacier Pearl White, Sparkling Silver, Gravity Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, and Intense Red are eight of the single-tone exterior colors that are part of this collection. Additionally, Kia has debuted the brand-new Pewter Olive color for Sonet. Kia’s Matte Graphite color is only available for use with the X-Line trim.
News & Top StoriesExamine The 2024 Kia Sonet’s HTX Variant In Six Pictures
Dual-tone leatherette upholstery and a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel are features of the Kia Sonet facelift model, known as HTX.
The Kia Sonet just received a redesign that included new amenities and an updated look. The possibility to pair the diesel motor of the 2024 Sonet with a real manual gearbox has also been reinstated. Seven general varieties of the upgraded Sonet are available from Kia: HTE, HTK, HTK+, HTX, HTX+, GTX+, and X-Line. Let’s examine what the new Sonet’s mid-spec HTX version has to offer.
The 2024 Kia Sonet‘s mid-spec HTX version has a tiger nose grille up front that is encircled by matte chrome trim. LED fog lamps, LED DRLs, and LED headlights are also features of the HTX version. To further enhance its rough look, the bumper’s lower section has a silver skid plate.
The Kia Sonet facelift’s mid-spec HTX variation sports 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels with diamond cuts in the profile, but other features are the same as the Sonet’s HTK+ model, which is positioned slightly below the HTX variant. A sunroof is another feature of this subcompact SUV version that comes standard with every engine option.
Speaking of the back, it has a shark fin antenna and linked LED taillights. A blacked-out rear bumper with a silver skid plate integrated adds to the tough appearance.
Interior
The 2024 Kia Sonet HTX’s interior has brown leatherette seat coverings and an all-black dashboard. The door handle and the silver details surrounding the AC vents give off a more upscale vibe.The gear knob and steering wheel on this version are also covered in leatherette. It is important to note that the 1-liter turbo-petrol DCT and 1.5-liter diesel iMT or AT versions of the 2024 Sonet HTX are the only vehicles available with the dual-tone upholstery seen in this picture.
Features of the aircraft An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, a 4.2-inch semi-digital driver’s display, Type-C charging ports, electrically foldable ORVMs, drive modes, paddle shifters for automatic transmission versions, and a 6-speaker sound system are all included in the Kia Sonet facelift’s HTX variant.
Six airbags, an electronic stability control (ESC), a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), hill start assist, a rear parking camera, front and rear parking sensors, and seat belt reminders for every passenger all contribute to passenger safety.
Regarding the redesigned Sonet’s rear compartment, it features 60:40 split seats for increased usability, adjustable headrests, and rear AC vents.
Powertrain Selections
Two engine options are available for the Kia Sonet facelift in its HTX variant: a 1.5-liter diesel engine (116 PS / 250 Nm) and a 1-liter turbo-petrol (120 PS / 172 Nm). While the latter has three transmission options—a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed iMT, and a 6-speed torque converter—the former is coupled to either a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (DCT) or a 6-speed iMT (manual transmission without clutch pedal).
Price & Rivals
The price range for the 2024 Kia Sonet HTX model (introductory ex-showroom nationwide) is Rs 11.49 lakh to Rs 12.99 lakh. It competes with vehicles such as the Mahindra XUV300, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, and Tata Nexon.
News & Top StoriesTo view the 2024 Kia Sonet facelift in person, visit your neighborhood dealership.
For the Sonet facelift, Kia is currently taking orders; prices should be revealed by the middle of January.
With the exception of the prices, which should also be revealed by mid-January, Kia has already disclosed the entire Sonet facelift. Before the official release, customers can also reserve the updated SUV in advance for a nominal fee of Rs 25,000. Since the 2024 Kia Sonet has started to arrive at dealerships, you can now view one in person.
With the exception of the updated alloy wheel design, the profile of the Kia Sonet is virtually identical to the previous model. The Sonet facelift now has a revised rear bumper and connected LED taillights on the back.
Interior
The Kia Sonet facelift has only seen minor changes to the upholstery and climate control panel. The dashboard layout is still the same. The SUV’s new features include ventilated front seats and a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. The outgoing model of the Sonet comes equipped with wireless charging and a single-pane sunroof.
The 2024 Sonet boasts six airbags, a 360-degree camera, electronic stability control (ESC), and level 1 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which include blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning.
The Sonet that arrived at the dealership is a diesel-automatic model, as can be seen in the picture. Three transmission options are available for this 1.5-liter diesel engine, which produces 116 PS and 250 Nm. They are a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed iMT (clutchless manual), and a 6-speed automatic. Additional engine choices include a 1-liter turbo-petrol unit (120 PS / 172 Nm) paired with a 6-speed iMT (clutchless manual) or a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT), and a 1.2-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine (83 PS / 115 Nm) mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.
Competitors & Anticipated Price
Priced from Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom), the Kia Sonet facelift is anticipated to cost more. It will still compete against vehicles like the Mahindra XUV300, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, and Tata Nexon.