Kia Sonet Turbo-Petrol To Offer Only 7-speed DCT and iMT (Clutchless Manual), No Manual

The Kia Sonet will miss out on the 6-speed manual, unlike the Venue which is also powered by the same 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine

Update (18/09/2020): Kia has launched the Sonet with prices beginning from Rs 6.71 lakh (ex-showroom). Read more about it here.

• The Hyundai Venue turbo-petrol iMT costs Rs 21,000-Rs 24,000 more than the manual variant.

• iMT, standing for intelligent manual transmission, is Hyundai-Kia’s latest clutchless manual technology.

• So, the Venue Turbo offers three transmission options: manual, iMT and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. 

• iMT features manual gear shifter but eliminates the need for a clutch pedal with the help of sensors.

The upcoming Kia Sonet has been the talk of the town ever since it was unveiled on August 7. One of the highlights during the reveal was Hyundai-Kia’s new transmission option: the iMT clutchless manual. We know the Sonet will share its engine options with the Hyundai Venue, which it is based on. Kia’s sub-4m SUV will however miss out on one option found in the Venue.

In the turbo-petrol variant, the Sonet will forego the option of a 6-speed manual transmission and will only offer the 7-speed DCT and iMT (clutchless manual) transmission options. This move comes as Hyundai-Kia’s latest technology is set to replace manual transmissions in cars as a more viable and convenient option. 

As seen in the Venue, the MT option costs about Rs 21,000 to Rs 24,000 less than the iMT option on the turbo-petrol variant. This is the only difference between the Sonet and the Venue’s powertrain options for now. So it seems like Hyundai-Kia’s 1.0-litre turbo-petrol would be more economical in the Venue than the upcoming Sonet. 

Related: Hyundai Venue iMT vs Rivals: What Do The Prices Say?

Pictured: Hyundai Venue's 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine

Under the hood of this variant, the Sonet will be powered by a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, which in its current state of tune produces 120PS. Drive will be provided via a 7-speed DCT or an iMT clutchless manual.

The Sonet is expected to be launched next month. It is estimated to be priced around Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh. It will lock horns with sibling Hyundai Venue, and other sub-compact SUVs such as the Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Mahindra XUV300, and the upcoming Nissan Magnite and Toyota Urban Cruiser.