Comparison: New Kia Sonet vs Used Kia Sonet

Kia has made great inroads into the Indian car market in less than a decade of its arrival and the Sonet is a sub 4 metre SUV that has been one of its highest selling models in that time. The small SUV was first launched in 2020 to take on other high selling models like the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Brezza and the Tata Nexon. Since then, Kia has sold more than 3 lakh units of Sonet in the Indian market. In today’s day and age, it continues to be a great option in the sub 4 metre segment of SUVs, as not only is the Sonet great for urban commuting, but it’s capable enough for long highway journeys as well.

So, if you have decided on buying the Kia Sonet, there is only one question that needs to be answered – should you buy a new Kia Sonet or go for a used Kia Sonet? This can often be a paralysing question for car buyers in India, largely because of the difference in the overall cost associated with a new or used car. Furthermore, if you are looking to buy it using a car loan, the question becomes even more important. To solve this confusion, we have put together this blog comparing the financial outlay behind buying a new or used Kia Sonet.

New Kia Sonet Quick Overview

The Kia Sonet is currently in its first generation, although it did receive a facelift at the beginning of 2024. The Sonet is designed to appeal to a wide variety of Indian car buyers, primarily because of its segregated variant line up and diverse powertrain options. The variants of the sub 4 metre SUV can largely be divided into three different trim lines.

The first of these is the Tech Line up which has variants like the HTE, HTK and HTX, among others. These are designed to appeal to everyday drivers who prioritise comfort and efficiency. The next trim is the GT Line which only has the GTX+ variant to offer. This trim line features sporty cosmetic updates along with top of the line features such as the largest touchscreen and BOSE sound system. It offers a fully loaded experience for car buyers. The Sonet is also available in an X-Line trim, which is the top of the line variant and features cosmetic updates that set it apart from the rest of the variants. It can also be specced in a  matte finish, which is its biggest highlight.

The Sonet also offers a range of powertrain options. It is available with two petrol engines and one diesel engine. The first petrol engine is a 1.2 litre naturally aspirated unit and it can only be had with a 5 speed manual transmission. However, this powertrain option is limited to the HTE, HTE (O), HTK, HTK (O) and HTK+ (O) variants of the Sonet. The other petrol engine option is a 1.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine and it is mated to either a 6 speed iMT (clutchless manual transmission) or a 7 speed DCT. The iMT version can be had with the HTK, HTK (O), HTK+ (O) and HTX variants of the Sonet whereas the DCT version can be had with the range topping HTX, GTX+ and X-Line variants of the sub 4 metre SUV.

Kia also offers the Sonet with a 1.5 litre diesel engine which can be mated to either a 6 speed manual transmission or a 6 speed automatic transmission. The manual transmission version can be had with the HTE (O), HTK (O), HTK+ (O) and HTX variants of the Sonet. The automatic transmission version is only available on the higher variants of the SUV, namely the HTX and GTX+, however, surprisingly this powertrain combo is not available with the X-Line variant.

Key Updates of New Kia Sonet

The Kia Sonet is a new model in the Indian car market and was freshly introduced in 2020, with only one facelift to its name. Kia made some interesting feature updates to the Sonet at the time of the facelift in 2024 which gave it a refreshed edge in its fight against other sub 4 metre SUVs in the segment. 

The design of the Kia Sonet is in line with its contemporary rivals. It features a sharp design for the front end, which is made up of angular LED lighting for the DRLS that give it a distinct identity. While the headlamps use LEDs, the fog lamps of the Sonet can change according to the variant. The Tech Line variants get a cube shape setup whereas the GT Line and X Line variants of the Sonet feature a thin LED strip at the bottom of the bumper. Overall, the front bumper design of the Sonet also changes according to the different variant lines. The Sonet also used LED lighting at the rear which makes it look premium.

Kia also made an update in the features department including essentials like rear sun shades and other a 4 way power adjustable driver seat that make the experience of driving the Sonet a bit more premium. Not just that, the driver’s instrument cluster was also updated. While the previous cluster was also digital in parts, the updated driver instrument cluster features a single screen similar to what is found on the Kia Seltos.

However, the biggest update to the Sonet in 2024 was the increased safety quotient. It got Level 1 ADAS giving it abilities like Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist and High Beam Assist among others. The Sonet also got a 360 degree camera and six airbags were made standard on all variants of the Sonet giving safety a major boost.

Used Kia Sonet Quick Overview

The Kia Sonet is widely available in the used car market today with buyers having the choice to pick between different variants and powertrain options. In the used car market, the Kia Sonet is broadly divided into two categories. The units produced from 2020 to 2023 are the pre-facelift version of the sub 4 metre SUV and these are widely available. The units from 2024 onwards are the first generation facelift and they are available in limited numbers only.

The pre-facelift Kia Sonet can be easily distinguished from the facelifted model due to its design. The older Sonet features a different design for the headlights, front bumper and even the tail lamps as well. Generally speaking, the facelifted Sonet features more angular design elements making it look sharper whereas the pre-facelift Sonet features more rounded edges that give it a softer appearance. However, it makes the design age far better, keeping it looking fresh even today.

As far as the powertrain options are concerned, the pre-facelift Sonet can be had in a variety of combinations. The 1.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine is one of the most easily available engine options in the used car market. As far as the transmission options are concerned, the iMT option is highly prevalent, although there are a few units with a DCT as well. About a quarter of the units available in the used car market are specced with a diesel engine. Close half of them are sporting a manual transmission whereas the other half feature an automatic transmission.

Looking at the variant breakup of the Kia Sonet units available in the used car market, most of them are aligned towards the higher end of the spectrum. The GTX+ variant is one of the most common ones available in the used car market along with HTX and HTX+ variants. After that, used car buyers will find the HTK+ variant to be available, although it is not as common. Lastly, variants lower than that are hardly available in the used car market. Furthermore, the X-Line variant of the SUV is also hard to find in the used car market. 

New Kia Sonet vs Used Kia Sonet: Financing Comparison

If you are planning on buying the Kia Sonet, you will either buy a new one or turn to the used car market to bring home a second hand unit. While the SUV remains the same, both these decisions will not just offer a different ownership experience, but the financial planning will also be vastly different for both of them. For starters, buying a used Kia Sonet will give you a break on the registration taxes that new car buyers have to pay for registering their vehicle. However, many people buy cars today using a car loan, and the calculation for that too will be significantly different when comparing a new and used Kia Sonet.

To give you a better idea of what it would be like to finance a new Kia Sonet and a used Kia Sonet, we have given an example in the table below. For this comparison, we have chosen the GTX+ variant of the Kia Sonet as it is the most popular variant of the SUV. Furthermore, we have chosen the 1.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 7 speed dual clutch transmission, as that is the most sought after powertrain of the Kia Sonet.

In the table above, we have chosen the same variant and powertrain to keep things fair and the down payment amount has been set at Rs. 3 lakh for a new and a used Kia Sonet. Furthermore, the loan tenure is set at 5 years. These metrics resemble the most commonly applied for car loans. It’s simply clear that a new Kia Sonet requires you to avail a car loan for a higher amount compared to a used Kia Sonet. This is simply because a 2 year old Kia Sonet has lost a good chunk of its value in car depreciation, and is thus available at a much lower price compared to a new Kia Sonet while offering similar practical value.

Looking at the rate of interest, a car loan for a new Kia Sonet will be pegged at a lower rate of interest compared to a car loan for a used Kia Sonet. This is simply because banks and other financial institutions offer a lower rate of interest for a new car compared to an older one. For the new Kia Sonet, we have taken 10% as the rate of interest and it has been set at 12.9% for the used Kia Sonet. While these values can differ from person to person, the rate of interest chosen for this comparison is what is offered on most car loans today.

As you can see in the table above, despite the higher rate of interest, the actual interest you will pay to bring home a Kia Sonet will be close to Rs. 65,000 lesser than the amount you will pay to bring home a new Kia Sonet. Not just that, you will also benefit from a lower EMI for the used Kia Sonet compared to a new one as the total loan amount will be lower. Ultimately, you will save close to Rs. 5 lakh when buying a used Kia Sonet via a car loan compared to buying a new Kia Sonet through a car loan.

New Kia Sonet vs Used Kia Sonet: Insurance Comparison

When one is buying a new car or a used car, the insurance premiums are another big cost which should be factored into the cost of a vehicle. In India, there are multiple insurance brokers offering different schemes such as comprehensive insurance and zero depreciation insurance. In fact, nowadays, add-ons such as engine protection and lost keys also come under the purview of insurance. Keeping these factors in mind, the insurance premium for a car will depend upon the type of package you opt for. That said, many insurance brokers charge roughly about Rs. 50,000 for insuring the top variants of a new Kia Sonet.

As a used car buyer, you can look at reduced insurance premiums if you find the right deal. As many of you might already know, insurance companies offer a No Claim Bonus or NCB when renewing the insurance of a car. The NCB can amount to a maximum of 50% if no claim has been made on a vehicle in five consecutive years. Therefore, as a used car buyer, if you find a Kia Sonet whose owner has made no insurance claims on the vehicle, you can look at reduced insurance premiums in the future.

All of that said, if you want the lowest insurance premium for your new or used Kia Sonet, you should opt for a third party insurance. The premium for third party insurance is listed in the table above and it is fixed by IRDAI, the regulatory body for insurance companies in IndiFurthermore, all new cars are mandated to be offered with a minimum three year third party insurance. Post that, car owners can opt for yearly renewal of their third party insurance.

New Kia Sonet vs Used Kia Sonet: Which to Choose?

When it comes to choosing between a new or a used Kia Sonet, the choice is pretty simple. If you are someone who is looking to save costs by being savvy, a used Kia Sonet is the better choice. Not only do you pay less for the vehicle, but buying a used Kia Sonet means that most of its early depreciating years are behind you. This way, buying a used Kia Sonet will mean that it loses less of its value compared to a new one.

Furthermore, despite used car loans commanding a higher rate of interest, you will end up paying a lower EMI over the same 5 year period due to the lower cost of a used Kia Sonet. As far as the user experience goes, a new Kia Sonet does offer some additional features such as ADAS, however, the older pre-facelift model of the SUV continues to be well equipped and will offer a premium ownership experience even today.

FAQs about Kia Sonet