For someone driving 40-50 km every day in Bengaluru traffic, an automatic compact SUV can make daily commuting much easier. The Kia Sonet is one option worth considering, but a ₹10-12 lakh on-road budget puts some limits on which automatic variants you can choose.
The 2026 Kia Sonet is available with two automatic powertrain options: a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol with a 7-speed DCT and a 1.5-litre diesel with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. Kia recently expanded both automatic options to lower variants, with the diesel AT starting at ₹9.78 lakh ex-showroom and the turbo-petrol DCT at ₹9.90 lakh ex-showroom.
However, the situation changes once on-road costs are added. Current Bengaluru price listings put the entry Sonet HTK(O) turbo-petrol DCT and HTE(O) diesel AT at around ₹12.05 lakh on-road. That means buyers with a strict ₹12 lakh ceiling may need to negotiate carefully or consider a slightly higher budget.
For heavy city use, the diesel automatic offers 250Nm of torque and uses a conventional 6-speed torque converter, while the turbo-petrol produces 172Nm and gets a quicker-shifting 7-speed DCT.
The diesel makes more sense for buyers covering high monthly kilometres and looking for strong low-speed torque. The turbo-petrol DCT should appeal more to those who prefer petrol refinement and quicker responses.
The Sonet also offers features such as a touchscreen infotainment system, connected-car technology, electric sunroof and, on higher variants, a 360-degree camera and Level 1 ADAS.
For this Bengaluru-based buyer, the Kia Sonet automatic is worth considering, but the ₹12 lakh on-road budget is right at the entry point. A test drive of both automatic versions would be useful before making a final choice.