KIA Sonet

At EX specification, the Sonet transforms from a competent small crossover into a genuinely well-equipped premium sub-compact SUV. The changes over the LX are not cosmetic additions but substantive improvements to comfort, safety, and daily experience. Leather upholstery — proper leather seating in a sub-compact crossover at this price — makes the Sonet EX's interior feel like a vehicle from a class above. The front seats gain ventilation, which in the context of South African summer driving is a feature that buyers in Johannesburg, Durban, and the Cape coastal areas will use constantly: a ventilated seat on a 35-degree Gauteng afternoon, when the car has been parked in the sun for eight hours, transforms the experience of sitting down in hot leather from an ordeal into an immediately comfortable one. The Bose eight-speaker audio system is calibrated for the Sonet's specific cabin acoustics — a meaningful upgrade from the standard speakers at LX specification, and one that buyers who listen to music or podcasts for an hour each way on their commute will appreciate from the first week of ownership. Alloy wheels replace the steel covers of the LS and LX. The specific alloy design at EX specification integrates with the Sonet's body colour and character better than any cover can. Functionally, the alloys reduce unsprung weight fractionally, which contributes to the Sonet's settled ride quality that the EX's slightly wider tyre section also influences. The exterior appearance step from LX to EX is immediately visible — the Sonet EX looks like a specified, intentional vehicle rather than an entry model. The EX CVT adds ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) features that the LS and LX do not offer: forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and driver attention monitoring are among the features enabled at EX specification. In South Africa, where the fatality rate on national roads remains among the highest in the world and where long-distance travel on two-lane roads involves sustained concentration through multiple hours, the ADAS features are not marketing bullet points — they are genuine safety interventions that reduce the risk of collision in the situations where most South African road accidents occur: inattention, unintended lane departure, and following distance reduction. Lane keep assist on a three-hour N3 drive from Johannesburg to Harrismith is not a feature you notice on a good day; it is a feature you appreciate on the 170th kilometre when concentration naturally drops. The CVT pairs with the 1.5-litre 85-kilowatt engine in the EX as in the LX. Fuel consumption at EX specification is approximately 6.2 litres per hundred kilometres — the same as the LX CVT — because the powertrain is unchanged. The additional weight of the EX specification (heavier alloys, more electronics) has a negligible effect on consumption in normal use. What changes is the character of the driving experience: the cabin is quieter (Bose system and better-fitted door seals at EX), the seats are more comfortable (leather with ventilation), and the safety features reduce driver stress on longer journeys. The EX CVT and the EX+ CVT share the variant slug 'ex-cvt' on the Hagalu platform. The EX+ adds a panoramic sunroof to the EX's specification. In the Sonet's relatively compact cabin, a panoramic roof increases the sense of space and light meaningfully — the cabin feels larger and more airy. At highway speed, the panoramic roof contributes slightly to wind noise through the vehicle, which the Bose audio system partially compensates for. Buyers prioritising the open-sky experience should assess the EX+; buyers prioritising maximum acoustic refinement should note the trade-off. The seven-year warranty applies to the EX CVT and EX+ CVT identically to all other Sonet passenger variants. Kia's ADAS systems are covered within the warranty period along with all other mechanical and electronic components. Service costs rise modestly at EX specification due to the additional electronics, but the Kia dealer network is well-equipped to service and update the ADAS systems through standard maintenance appointments. Against rivals at EX pricing — the Renault Kiger top trim, Hyundai Venue Elite, Nissan Magnite top spec — the Sonet EX CVT offers leather ventilated seats, Bose audio, and ADAS as a combination that most rivals at this price cannot fully match. Hyundai Venue's top specification is competitive, but Kia's warranty remains the decisive differentiator.