Tata Nexon vs Kia Sonet Comparison – Which Compact SUV is the best value for money

Tata Nexon vs Kia Sonet – The compact SUV segment in the Indian car market has become as if many strong players have landed in the same field. Every car promises something different. Someone insists on safety, someone wins hearts with features, then someone attracts youth with their style. Two names remain most discussed in this crowd, Tata Nexon and Kia Sonet. Both SUVs are strong in their own way, but when the question comes “which is better.

Tata Nexon and Kia Sonet are both cars of the same segment, so there is not much difference in their size. The length is almost the same for both and the wheelbase is also kept roughly equal, leaving no major difference in cabin space. However Nexon is slightly wider, while Sonet has a slightly higher height.

The headroom in Sonet feels slightly better due to the high height, especially for long height passengers. When it comes to design, Nexon’s look gives a strong and solid feel, while Sonet looks more sharp and youth-focused. Can say that Nexon realizes trust and Sonet tries to impress at first sight.

Nexon’s Dark and Red Dark Edition are liked by those who need a subtle but muscular look. On the other hand the GTX and X-Line variants of the Sonet come with a more sporty touch. These variants of the Sonet provide more cosmetic updates to the exterior as well as the interior.

The different nature of both SUVs looks clear as soon as they step inside the cabin. Tata Nexon’s interior offers a premium feel with simple dashboards, horizontal lines and gloss black inserts. However, dust and fingerprints are quickly seen on the gloss black surface.

At the same time, Kia Sonet’s cabin is more bold. The wide dashboard, large AC vents and sharp design elements make it more high-tech and youthful. Both cars have good space on the front seats. The legroom and ni-room are almost equal in the rear seats, but the headroom is slightly better due to the higher height of the Sonet.

In features, both Nexon and Sonet are none the less. Sunshades, rear AC vents, center armrests and charging options are available for the rear sitters. Three passengers may sit behind, but the middle passenger may have to sit upright.

The Sonet gets a 4-way powered driver seat, which increases comfort in long drives. Nexon’s big plus point is its panoramic sunroof, which makes the cabin more open and premium. Both SUVs also feature Level-1 ADAS features, which are considered a big thing in this segment.

Talking about engine options, the two companies take different types of customers into consideration. The Tata Nexon offers a choice of 1.2-liter turbo petrol, CNG and 1.5-liter diesel engines. The Kia Sonet features 1.2-liter naturally aspirated petrol, 1-liter turbo petrol and 1.5-liter diesel engines.

In the case of transmission, both SUVs offer many options ranging from manual to automatic. Meaning is clear, whatever the driving style, something fits both.

Talking about price, both SUVs fall in almost the same range. The X-showroom price of both Nexon and Sonet starts at around Rs 7.3 lakh and goes up to Rs 14 lakh. The difference here also keeps on need and priority. Safety and robustness should be done then Nexon, style and feature-focused feel should be Sonet.