In just few weeks, Tata Motors is going to launch the Nexon Facelift with some big changes as it prepares to take on its rivals, and possibly dominate its rivals in sales. So, we thought, why don’t we compare the Nexon Facelift against one of its rivals, Kia Sonet, to see just how much similarity these two SUVs share with each other!
The facelifted Nexon features a closed grille with a black element at the center to separate the two DRLs. The design is clearly Curvv-inspired. The facelift Nexon gets sleeker and thinner L-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). These lights might be reshaped to have a slimmer and more refined appearance. Below the DRLs, there are vertically positioned split LED headlamps. These headlamp units are positioned vertically, and the bumpers have been redesigned, with small rectangular elements that make the Nexon resemble the Curvv SUV.
The side profile remains largely unchanged, except for sleeker ORVMs (Outside Rear-View Mirrors) inspired by the Harrier and Safari. The wheels have also been slightly redesigned, featuring 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear of the Nexon Facelift features V-shape LED taillamps that are connected by a LED light bar for a distinctive design. It gets sequential indicators, C-shaped protrusions, and the reflectors have been positioned towards the edges for a wider SUV appearance.
The Sonet has the blacked-out tiger grille with cube like fog lamps at the bottom sides and dual-tone treatment for the front bumpers and creases on the bonnet for that aggressive sporty look. The headlamp has an LED DRLs in it which is also used for the indicators as well. The side of the Sonet looks great with the 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome door handles, black non-functional roof rails, chrome line at the bottom frame of windows, and thin wheel arches. The rear has LED taillamps which are joined by the reflector strip to make it look like one unit, small roof spoiler, and shark fin antenna.
The Nexon Facelift features a 10.25-inch infotainment system over the thinner and sharper AC vents, and the dashboard comes with dual-tone theme option. The Facelift features a new two-spoke steering wheel with new digital instrument cluster which is the same as the one in current Harrier and Safari, and a single-pane sunroof on top. The two-spoke steering wheel has a rectangular display which illuminates the Tata logo, which is the same as the Curvv SUV. Below the AC vents, there are no physical buttons to control the HVAC, but rather a new touch-sensitive control system for a clean design. There is a huge center console with steptronic gear lever, wireless charging pad in front of the lever, storage place behind the rotary dial drive modes, cup holders, and armrest. Moving to the rear, the seats are split in 60:40 ratio, and this SUV comes equipped with 8-speaker Harman sound system.
The Kia Sonet dashboard has the same layout as the Seltos as it has 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system placed above the AC vents and the AC vents at the sides are vertically positioned. The Sonet does not have dual-tone dashboard option unfortunately. It has multi-function three-spoke steering wheel with digital instrument cluster, the pedals finished in metallic silver, and has a single-pane sunroof. It has two USB ports at the front and two at the rear, and it has buttons for the ventilated seats for the driver and the passenger seats. At the rear, the seats have 60:40 split with recline option as well. The Sonet also has ambient lighting with 64 colors on offer and it has 7-speaker Bose sound system.
So, the exterior and the interior, Tata Motors nailed the designing and styling of the SUV, and now when you look at the Nexon facelift, it looks sportier and premium from the outside while looking spacious and premium from inside.
| Tata Nexon Facelift | Kia Sonet | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3995mm | 3995mm |
| Width | 1811mm | 1790mm |
| Height | 1610mm | 1642mm |
| Wheelbase | 2500mm | 2500mm |
| Ground Clearance | 209mm | 205mm |
| Boot Space | 350 L | 392 L |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 44 L | 45 L |
While we don’t have the official dimensions for the Nexon Facelift, but as we look at the spy shots, it looks the Nexon Facelift will undergo slight increase in length, height, and wheelbase. The length will be the same as the Sonet, i.e, 3995mm, and wheelbase will be the same which is 2500mm. The Nexon Facelift has a width of 1811mm, height of 1610mm, and ground clearance of 209mm where as the Sonet’s width is 1790mm which is 21mm narrow, height of 1642mm that is 32mm taller, and ground clearance of 205mm that is 4mm lower. The Nexon Facelift features boot space of 350 L which is smaller by 42 litres over the Sonet’s 392 L boot. The Nexon Facelift has a 44 L fuel tank but the Sonet got a 45 L fuel tank which is 1 litre bigger than Nexon.
| Tata Nexon Facelift | Kia Sonet | |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | 1.2 L 4-Cylinder Turbo Petrol | 1.0 L 3-Cylinder Turbo Petrol |
| Displacement | 1199cc | 998cc |
| Power | 118.35 BHP / 125 BHP | 118.36 BHP |
| Torque | 170 NM / 225 NM | 172 NM |
| Transmission Type | 5 and 6-speed MT, 6-speed AMT, 7-speed DCT | 6-speed iMT, 7-speed DCT |
When it comes to Engine Options, the Tata Nexon Facelift and Kia Sonet comes with turbo petrol powertrain that has two different power and torque output and gearbox option. The 1.2 L 4-Cylinder turbo petrol engine that puts out 118.35 BHP and 170 NM of torque for the lower to mid variants mated to 5-speed Manual and 6-speed Automatic Gearbox, and the higher variants with the same engine will see bump in power and torque output, which is 125 BHP and 225 NM of torque paired to 6-speed Manual, and 7-speed DCT (or DCA as Tata Motors calls it) Gearbox.
The Kia Sonet on the other hand comes with 1.0 L 3-Cylinder Turbo Petrol Engine producing 118.36 BHP and 172 NM of torque paired to 6-speed iMT, and 7-speed DCT Gearbox.
| Tata Nexon Facelift | Kia Sonet | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | – | 1.2 L 4-Cylinder NA petrol |
| Displacement | – | 1197cc |
| Power | – | 81.86 BHP |
| Torque | – | 115 NM |
| Transmission Options | – | 5-speed MT |
| Fuel Efficiency | – | 18.4 kmpl |
Other than the Turbo Petrol engine, the Sonet is powered by the 1.2 L 4-Cylinder NA petrol engine that puts out 81.86 BHP and 115 NM of torque. It drives the front wheels via a 5-speed Manual Gearbox only with a fuel efficiency of 18.4 kmpl. It has no Automatic Gearbox and no diesel engine on offer. Tata Nexon has no non-turbo petrol or diesel engine on offer.
| Tata Nexon Facelift | Kia Sonet | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5 L 4-Cylinder Turbo Diesel | – |
| Displacement | 1497cc | – |
| Power | 113.42 BHP | – |
| Torque | 260 NM | – |
| Transmission Type | 6-speed MT, 6-speed AMT | – |
| Fuel Efficiency | 24.05 kmpl | – |
Other than the turbo petrol engine, the Nexon Facelift will continue to sport the turbo diesel powertrain. The 1.5 L 4-Cylinder Turbo Diesel engine produces 113.42 BHP and 260 NM of torque paired to a 6-speed Manual and 6-speed Automatic Gearbox with a fuel efficiency of 24.05 kmpl.
| Tata Nexon Facelift | Kia Sonet | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | – | 1.5 L 4-Cylinder Diesel |
| Displacement | – | 1493cc |
| Power | – | 113.48 BHP |
| Torque | – | 250 NM |
| Transmission Type | – | 6-speed iMT, 6-speed AT |
| Fuel Efficiency | – | 19 kmpl |
The Sonet has an additional engine and that is the diesel engine. The 1.5 L 4-Cylinder Diesel engine puts out 113.48 BHP and 250 NM of torque and that has a 6-speed Manual Gearbox only with a fuel efficiency of 19 kmpI.
| Features | Tata Nexon Facelift | Kia Sonet |
|---|---|---|
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED |
| Taillamps | LED | LED |
| Wheel Size & Type | 16-inch alloy wheels | 16-inch alloy wheels |
| Sunroof | Single-Pane | Single-Pane |
| Auto Power Window | Yes | Yes |
| Seat upholstery | Leather | Leather |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient Light | – | Yes |
| AC | Auto | Auto |
| Rear AC vents | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated Seats | Yes | Yes |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital | Digital |
| Infotainment System | 10.25-inch | 10.25-inch |
| Android Auto, Apple CarPlay | Wireless | Wireless |
| Voice Control | Yes | Yes |
| Air Purifier | Yes | Yes |
| Sound System | 8-speaker JBL sound system | 7-speaker Bose Premium Sound System |
| Cooled Glovebox | Yes | – |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-dimming IRVM | Yes | Yes |
| Paddle Shifters | – | Yes |
| Drive Modes | Yes | Yes |
| Powered Seats | – | – |
In features, the Sonet misses out on cooled glovebox, 8-speaker sound system, powered seats, and ventilated seats while the Nexon facelift misses out on paddle shifters. This makes the Tata Nexon Facelift a much preferred choice over the Kia Sonet.
| Safety Features | Tata Nexon Facelift | Kia Sonet |
|---|---|---|
| Airbags | Six airbags | Six airbags |
| ABS with EBD | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | 360-Degree Camera | Reverse-Parking Camera |
| Parking Sensors | Front and Rear | Front and Rear |
| Rain-Sensing Wipers | Yes | – |
| TPMS | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Headlamps | Yes | Yes |
| ESC | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise Control | Yes | Yes |
| Traction Control | Yes | Yes |
| Hill Assist | Yes | Yes |
| All 4 Disc Brakes | Front Disc | Front Disc |
| ISOFIX anchorages | Yes | Yes |
In Safety, Kia Sonet misses out on Rain-Sensing Wipers, All 4 Disc Brakes, and 360-Degree Camera.
| Model | Price (ex-showroom) |
|---|---|
| Tata Nexon Facelift | Expected Rs. 8.20 L |
| Kia Sonet | Rs. 7.79 lakh – Rs. 14.89 lakh |
The Kia Sonet starts at Rs. 7.79 lakh for the entry-level ‘1.2 HTE’ variant and goes up to Rs. 14.89 lakh for the ‘X-Line Automatic’ Diesel variant which is a top variant, where as the Nexon Facelift is expected to be priced from Rs. 8.20 Lakh, and it is expected to have new variants name as like the Smart, Smart+, Smart+ (S), Pure, Pure+, Pure+ (S), Creative, Creative+, Creative+ (S), Fearless, Fearless+, and Fearless+ (S).
As for the warranty, Tata Motors offers 3 years/1,00,000 km warranty period for Nexon and can be extended for additional 3 year/1,25,000 km and Kia is offering 3 years/1,00,000 km warranty period for the Sonet and can be extended up to 5 years/1,00,000 km.
In the end, the decision to buy which SUV depends totally on you, however, it is recommended to wait for the launch of Nexon Facelift as its going to come with big changes, new features, powertrains, and matches the dimensions of the Sonet. The Sonet is a really good SUV as well and has almost the same features but the facelift is going to be feature-loaded than the Sonet. The facelift for the Sonet is also in the works. So, if I was you, I would wait it out, and buy the Nexon Facelift over the Sonet, or if you don’t wanna wait, you can go ahead and buy the Sonet. So, what’re you going to do?