Kia India Broadens Sonet AT Range with Diesel and Turbo Petrol Options Below ₹10 Lakh

Kia India has launched the Model Year 2026 (MY26) edition of the Sonet compact SUV, expanding the model's automatic transmission offerings to include new Diesel 6-speed Automatic (6AT) and Turbo Petrol 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (7DCT) variants. The Diesel 6AT is priced from ₹9,77,900 and the Turbo Petrol 7DCT from ₹9,89,900 (ex-showroom), making both technologies available under the ₹10 lakh threshold — a first for the segment.

The update adds the 1.5-litre Diesel 6AT across four trim levels — HTE(O), HTK(O), HTK+, and HTK+(O) — and extends the 1.0-litre Turbo Petrol 7DCT to the HTK(O) and HTK+(O) trims. Kia stated the expansion is intended to address increasing consumer demand for automatic vehicles in urban driving conditions.

According to the company, the Sonet's automatic portfolio is already among the widest in the compact SUV segment. The MY26 update further broadens the range, positioning the model to cater to buyers who prioritise driving ease without a significant price premium over manual transmission alternatives.

The diesel automatic combination targets customers seeking fuel efficiency alongside the convenience of automatic gear changes, a pairing that has historically been offered at higher price points in the segment. Kia's decision to introduce this combination below ₹10 lakh is notable in a market where price sensitivity remains a key purchasing factor.

"With the model year 2026 update, we are expanding our automatic line-up with Diesel Automatic and Turbo Petrol 7DCT options at highly competitive price points, enabling more customers to experience the ease of automatic mobility," said Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India.

In addition to the powertrain changes, the MY26 Sonet receives a new exterior colour, Magma Red, expanding the available palette for the model. The Diesel 6AT variants are priced between ₹9,77,900 and ₹11,56,900 across the four trims, while the Turbo Petrol 7DCT is available at ₹9,89,900 for the HTK(O) and ₹10,83,900 for the HTK+(O), all prices ex-showroom.

The Sonet was launched in India in 2020 and has since crossed 5 lakh cumulative sales. The model is offered across multiple trims and five powertrain configurations, and comes equipped with 15 standard safety features, 10 ADAS Level 1 features, and over 70 connected car functions. Kia India currently operates a manufacturing facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, with an installed annual capacity of 300,000 units, and has a dealer network spanning 821 touchpoints across 369 cities.