Kia Launches Sonet Prime Facelift in Uzbekistan With 1.5L Petrol Engine and Local Assembly

Kia has launched the facelifted Sonet SUV in Uzbekistan under the name Sonet Prime. The new model is priced starting at UZS 269,900,000, which translates to about Rs 22.17 lakh. It will sell alongside the older, pre-facelift Sonet model, which continues to start at UZS 199,900,000 or roughly Rs 16.42 lakh. Both versions are put together locally at the ADM Jizzakh plant using parts shipped as CKD kits from India, as Uzbekistan serves as an export market for Kia India.

Design and Features

The Sonet Prime is offered in a single Prestige trim, while the older model remains available in five variants. The Uzbekistan-spec Prime features unique front and rear styling compared to the Indian version, including vertically stacked fog lamps, a silver skid-plate-style insert on the lower air intake, and geometric dual-tone alloy wheels. Measuring 4,120 mm long, 1,790 mm wide, and 1,642 mm tall with a 2,500 mm wheelbase, the SUV offers 205 mm of ground clearance and a 392-litre boot. Inside, it swaps the older model's screens for a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a matching 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster in a left-hand-drive layout. Comfort and safety equipment includes ventilated front seats, artificial-leather upholstery, an electric sunroof, a Bose audio system, six airbags, and driver-assistance systems like forward collision avoidance.

Performance and Future Plans

Under the hood, the Sonet Prime runs on a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated MPI petrol engine that makes 115 PS of power and 144 Nm of torque. This engine pairs with a CVT gearbox driving the front wheels, achieving a 0 to 100 km/h time of 10.3 seconds. Meanwhile, the older pre-facelift model keeps a manual transmission option. Looking ahead, Kia is working on a next-generation Sonet for India and other markets called the QY2E, expected around 2027 with styling and safety updates, and a possible strong-hybrid powertrain arriving later.

Context

Automakers often assemble vehicles locally in overseas markets using imported component kits to avoid high import taxes on fully built cars. Offering multiple generations of the same vehicle side by side allows a brand to target different budget segments at the same time.