Kia sketches all-new crossover, but ‘Sonet’ not for Oz

KIA is preparing to unveil an all-new compact crossover in India at the Delhi Auto Expo 2020 next week but there are no plans to introduce the model dubbed ‘Sonet’ in Australia, where the South Korean brand’s model range will be bolstered by the Stonic baby SUV later this year.

Codenamed QYI and shown in sketches ahead of its unveiling, the Sonic is tipped to measure in at under four metres in length, sitting below both the Seltos small SUV and the just-confirmed light-sized Stonic to add yet another offering in the fast-growing segment.

Kia Motors Australia general manager of product planning Roland Rivero this week confirmed to GoAuto that there are no plans for the all-new crossover to be introduced here – despite the ‘Sonet’ moniker being recently trademarked in Australia.

“Despite the Sonet name being registered on IP Australia in December, there are currently no plans for introduction in our market,” he said.

Looking past the mega-sized wheels and other details that look to be reserved for the show car, the QYI clearly follows Kia’s signature design formula with the familiar wide but short ‘tiger nose’ grille, aggressive-looking lower chin and foglights, and angular headlights.

New touches on the front of the QYI are headlined by two large air intakes skirting the foglights and feeding seamlessly into the flared wheelarches.

The cabin and glasshouse closely resemble that of the bigger Seltos while the thick, curved C-pillar could have come straight off the current-generation Sportage, albeit angled back a bit.

At the rear, the curved window wraps nearly all the way around the back of the tailgate and a horizontal red LED strip runs underneath the rear glass and links the two tail-light clusters.

Further down, the rear bumper mimics the front in its aggressiveness, resembling a rear diffuser with a large chrome exhaust tucked in the left corner.

Kia Motors Australia only launched the Seltos late last year, giving it a long-awaited entry into the burgeoning sub-$40,000 small SUV category.

The Stonic is due to arrive in the final quarter, slotting in between Seltos and the Cerato small car.