We are seeing rollbacks in fuel prices these past weeks. Still, I don’t think it would return to the 50-60/L we’ve enjoyed prior to Trump’s attack on Iran. This is why those that still have a budget opt to get an electrified car now – granted the one you can afford suits your needs.
Case in point – the attainable hybrid segment. It currently sits around PHP 1.2-million. At that price you have the BYD Seal 5 DM-i, or the Toyota Ativ. If your budget can’t accommodate that, the BYD Seal 5 has a more affordable trim that has a smaller battery – but that’s a sedan.
There are those like me who want form over function. I can’t force myself to get an electrified car if it doesn’t suit my lifestyle. I don’t want my things getting cooked at the trunk and so I’d opt for a fuel efficient crossover instead. For that, there’s the Kia Sonet SX.
The Kia Sonet is the last pure internal combustion engine offering of the brand (so far). After its launch, all the cars they brought in were either electrified or fully-electric. But the Sonet doesn’t let itself be overlooked by its flashy siblings. It has its own flair that leads to great value despite the tumultuous times we are in right now.
First off, it looks great. It dons the new aesthetic of Kia very well and has that mature stance despite its subcompact dimension. The front face is a bit busy, but it stops there. The other sides of the Sonet have just the right amount of contours to avoid being bland.
The cabin is what captivated me the most. It puts your money in the right places and results in a great aesthetic especially here at the front row. We have leather seats, padded contact points, and a good design overall for the dashboard. I also commend how the gloss black trims are relegated to non-touch areas. This is why despite this unit having more than 25,000 km, there’s minimal scratches in these glossy surfaces.
What I loved about the Sonet most is it has everything I’d want in a modern car. Aside from being a crossover, it has USB-C ports, Rear Air Vents, Apple and Android connectivity, Automatic Climate Control, Wireless Charger, Rear Camera, and a full suite of Advanced Driver Assist System. There’s even a sunroof for extra cinematic points when driving at night.
It also helps that the Sonet is very easy to drive. It doesn’t have a turbo and yet the 1.5L engine doesn’t seem stressed in carrying the car even under full load. Acceleration is easy to manage and the brakes are very comfortable – a word that’s rare to use in describing brakes. The Sonet doesn’t have an Electronic Parking Brake or Auto Brake Hold, and so one would think it would be as stressful to operate in Stop and Go traffic situations but the opposite is true. It doesn’t need a deep press in order to hold, and so your leg won’t be stressed in such scenarios.
The ride is also very comfortable although it would pray for a bit of mercy come curvy roads. It can tolerate EDSA and C5’s truck lanes but has noticeable body roll, which again, can be forgiven.
Best thing about the Sonet is the efficiency. This beauty can pull off 9.5km/l in the city with normal traffic and reaches 22.7 km/l on the highway. Granted, you don’t pull off a lot of overtakes. Still, that’s a good figure for a non-turbocharged engine in this size of a car.
In my opinion, the previous Kia Stonic chased a price point – and that’s understandable. Kia did a different take with the Sonet and just decided, again in my opinion, to be the best they can, then manage the price point later. It really is nicely kitted considering the price. If you are not ready for electrified cars yet and need a small one for the city and weekend getaways, the Kia Sonet SX remains to be a great choice.
