Kia Sonet EV to compete head-on with the Tata Nexon EV in India
Kia India currently has two electric vehicles on offer in their portfolio – Kia EV6 and the recently launched EV9. Both of these are high-end premium electric vehicles. However, they are now planning to introduce mass market EVs soon. One of them has been spotted testing in India, it is the Kia Sonet EV.
The heavily camouflaged test mule covers the entire exterior of the car. The proportions and the overall silhouette confirm the fact that it’s a Kia Sonet. Our spotter confirmed the fact that there was no engine sound and even the tail pipes were missing in the prototype, which makes us believe that it is an electric vehicle.
The Kia Sonet EV will be one of their first mass market electric vehicles, which is expected to launch in India by mid-2025. It will compete against the Tata Nexon EV, which will be the primary rival in the segment along with the Mahindra XUV 400.
We are currently not aware about the specifications of the upcoming EV but it is likely to get a sizeable battery to compete in the segment with a claimed range expected to be around 450 km on full charge. Just like the Tata Nexon EV, we can expect Kia to offer both standard range and long range variants at different price points.
The Kia Sonet EV is likely to get some new colour options to differentiate it with the ICE version. We can expect some styling changes like new grille, unique alloy wheel design and more details. Interior is also expected to get minor tweaks and reworked UI for the EV model. We can also expect more features on offer.
Along with this, Kia is also working on the Carens EV, which will be offering a 7/8 seater layout. It is expected to get drastic styling tweaks and new features on offer. The facelifted Carens will be available in both ICE and EV versions.
