SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Poetry: 2021 Kia Sonet EX, IVT

Singular magic

Pics by Motorpress
Posted: June 15, 2021

The numbers
Price: R305 995
Engine: 1497 cc, DOHC, 16-valve four-cylinder
Power: 85 kW at 6300 rpm
Torque: 144 Nm at 4500 rpm
0-100 km/h: 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 170 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 6.3 l/100 km
Tank: 45 litres
Luggage: 392 litres+
Turning circle: 10.6 metres
Ground clearance 190 mm
Towing capacity, unbraked/braked: 500/800 kg
Standard tyre size: 215/60R16
Spare: 195/65R15
Warranty and roadside assistance: 5 years, unlimited km
Service plan: 4 years, 60 000 km


Nobody seems to know for certain but, with Kia’s fondness for Italian-sounding names, we suspect that Sonet might stem from Sonetto, for sonnet, a 14-line poem.

Whatever the case, it’s a new light SUV that landed here recently. Built only in India for “emerging markets,” there’s a sub-four metre version for home use and a slightly longer (+125 mm) one for export. Chill: That extra length is all in the bumpers; traditionally built, one might say.

Contrary to what we usually find with cars from India, however, is an upward step in build quality, quietness and general solidity. A German-car fan recently mentioned that he would only buy cars from that country “because the quality is so much better.” Time to broaden your horizons, Karl-Heinz; things have changed. Just as there are now some Teutonic cars with hard plastic dash- and door surfaces, this little Indian has some soft trimmings too. And is equally well constructed.

Although the steering feels marginally firmer than usually expected, the car is responsive and easy to drive. Its body feels solid, the ride is decently comfortable in a firm-ish sort of way and it handles bumps and rumble strips confidently. “Reassuring” describes it well.

While other engines are available overseas, the four South African models use the naturally aspirated, 1497 cc petrol motor found in Hyundai Creta. There are two trim grades, LX and EX, and choice of transmissions; six-speed manual or IVT. That stands for Infinitely Variable Transmission, and is basically a normal CVT. But this one has a secret.

Rather than the old fabric-based belt, or a multi-layered steel “push belt”, IVT uses a steel “chain” made of interlocking pieces, rather like some watch straps. Its singular magic is that it grips the drive cones more tightly, thereby reducing slippage.

Hyundai’s website puts it like this: “IVT simulates the gear shifts customers like about automatic transmission, so it feels like you’re driving something with a 6AT. IVT utilises a chain belt, rather than the much more common push belt; the first time this has been done in the compact car segment. It helps to improve fuel efficiency.

“Finally, the IVT uses new Shift Control Strategy technology to align driver input, vehicle behaviour and acceleration. This makes it more responsive and ultimately delivers a better driving experience on the road.”

What that means is that the car no longer just gathers speed while the rev counter remains constant and flare on sudden demand is no longer quite as pronounced, yet can still be provoked. It behaves more like a conventional automatic; doing its job quietly while keeping revs as close as possible to the engine’s “sweet spot” for greatest efficiency.

Briefly, drive it calmly and sensibly and you’ll be as happy as a kid on a jumping castle. Drive like a hooligan and you may be disappointed, although there is always the option of shifting manually through its eight “gears” should you choose to. That won’t turn it into a road rocket but can be quite fun.

Another thing Indian engineers are rather good at is fitting goods and people into small spaces; 45 litres of fuel, 392 litres of luggage before laying the one-piece rear seatback down, and reasonable space for four or five. Unlike most SUVs, this one’s boot is recessed downward by about 18 cm, so the seat folds with a step. You can’t have everything but, on the plus side, the spare is an equivalently sized steel unit.

Unusually, there is little reason to spend extra on buying upward. The base car offers all the expected kit like two airbags, aircon, ESC, hill start assistance, ISOFix with tethers, touchscreen infotainment, powered widows all around, auto-on headlamps, reversing camera and height adjustable driver’s seat. Cost savings include 15” steel wheels and simpler trim. EX level adds some appearance items, rear parking distance beepers, 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and front fog lamps.

Spacious with plenty of headroom and all the cup holders, storage, comfort items, power points and convenience items you really need, its quality construction and overall lack of unnecessary frills make this an interesting proposition. Spouse summed it up well: “I’ll be sad to see this one going back.”

Test unit from Kia SA press fleet

We drove the manual version as well

Manual version shown

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

Comments or questions?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.