2nd-gen Kia Sonet spotted testing in Pune, new design details emerge

The 2nd-generation Kia Sonet will go on sale in India next year. The upcoming model has been spotted testing on Indian roads several times since May 2026. Internally codenamed QY2E, the new Sonet will get a slew of cosmetic changes. The recently surfaced spy shots of the SUV give a closer look at these updates. We expect new feature additions on the next-gen model, but it will remain unchanged under the hood.

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2027 Kia Sonet: Here’s what the new spy shots suggest

The most recent test mule of the 2nd-gen Kia Sonet was spotted in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area on the outskirts of Pune, Maharashtra. While the mule was completely camouflaged, the cutouts hinted towards a split LED headlamp setup, not too dissimilar from the Hyundai Venue. These headlamps are positioned on the bumper, while the boomerang-style LED DRLs appear to be placed above them. The front grille retains its honeycomb pattern from the outgoing model, but looks visibly sleeker.

There aren’t any big changes to the profile of the SUV. The new model retains the roofline of the previous-generation model. Kia may update the SUV with larger 17-inch alloy wheels. In that scenario, the wheel design will get some tweaks too. At the back, the upcoming model gets boomerang-style LED tail lamps, similar to the DRLs up front. The tail lamps appear to be sleeker than their current counterparts. The test mule’s tailgate was completely covered, but we expect it to get some cosmetic changes.

The newly surfaced spy shots of the 2nd-gen Sonet do not give a look at its interior, but previous leaks have suggested a curved dual-screen setup comprising 12.3-inch displays for the digital instrument cluster and the touchscreen infotainment system. This will bring it up to par with Kia’s other two popular SUVs – Syros and Seltos. There will be support for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay onboard. The 2nd-gen Sonet will ditch the K2 platform for K1 architecture, which means the rear passengers will get more legroom.

Other features like a 360-degree camera, a Bose sound system, a sunroof, and more will be retained on the upcoming model. On the safety front, the SUV will get six airbags, TPMS, ESC, hill-start assist, and more standard features. The current-gen Sonet carries a Level 1 ADAS package with features like lane keep assist, high beam assist, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning. It remains to be seen whether the new version of the SUV will come with the Level 2 suite.

No changes are expected under the hood, as the 2nd-gen Kia Sonet will continue to be offered with three engine options at launch – a 1.2-litre petrol engine, a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The 1.2L petrol engine churns out a maximum power output of 83hp and 115Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The 1L turbo petrol unit produces 120hp and 172Nm. It can be paired with an iMT or DCT gearbox. Lastly, the 1.5L diesel engine generates116hp and 250Nm. It can be paired with a manual or automatic transmission. Kia is reportedly preparing a strong-hybrid powertrain for the SUV, but it won’t join the lineup before 2028.

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Final Thoughts

Prices for the current-gen Sonet start at Rs 7.45 lakh and go up to Rs 14.47 lakh. The 2nd-gen model will demand a premium over these prices. Upon launch, it will continue to compete with the Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Nissan Magnite, Tata Nexon, and Renault Kiger.