Planning to buy a Sonet iMT. Is the iMT gearbox reliable for long-term use?

Asked by: Nitish

The Kia Sonet iMT offers the engagement of a manual and the convenience of an automatic. While it is generally reliable, some owners have reported premature clutch wear, so that is something to be aware of.

If your budget allows, the DCT automatic is a better option as it offers a more convenient and seamless driving experience than the iMT.

Kia Sonet

Answered by

Autocar India Team

Oct 25, 2025

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Asked by: Vivek Raghuvansh Hi Experts, I have a daily running of about 80-85 km, with a mix of city and highway. I am a first-time buyer and need a reliable car with essential features and a good engine within a ₹10-12 lakh budget. I’m open to any fuel option that suits my needs. Please suggest some good options to consider. I had the Tata Altroz diesel and Kia Sonet diesel in mind. Given your requirements, we would recommend you opt for the Kia Sonet diesel. The car will likely be more reliable, and the Kia diesel engine delivers a good mix of refinement and performance. It's also very well equipped and, with the SUV body style, will give you a better view of the road outside. Do bear in mind, though, that the rear seat space is quite limited, so we would suggest you personally check to see if this is ok with you.

Autocar India Team

Dec 16, 2025

Asked by: Monika I need to change my car and am looking for an automatic petrol model. My monthly running is about 200-300 km in Bangalore city, and my budget is ₹10-12 lakh. Please suggest suitable options. There are a plethora of automatic petrol cars available within your budget. Given your monthly travel is just 200-300km, we will give less weightage to fuel economy and more weightage to driving comfort. As we don't know other preferences, here's a shortlist of the best options by body style - Hatchback - Hyundai i20 IVT Asta (O), Citroen C3 X Shine ATCompact sedan - Honda Amaze CVT ZXCompact SUV - Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT, Renault Kiger Turbo CVT Emotion

Autocar India Team

Dec 16, 2025

Asked by: Monika I need to change my car and am looking for an automatic petrol car. My monthly usage is around 200-300 km in Bangalore city, and I want to keep my budget between ₹10-12 lakh. Please suggest suitable options. You can consider the Skoda Kylaq. Most automatic cars in this price segment offer an automated manual transmission (AMT), which is not a very smooth shifter. The Kylaq, on the other hand, comes with a torque converter (TC), which is by far the smoothest gearbox around. The Kylaq's compact dimensions also make it perfect for the city, and it has enough space inside. Fuel efficiency will not be as high as that of a Maruti Suzuki Swift. However, since your running is low, this should not be too much of an issue. You will certainly enjoy the smoother shifting gearbox.

Autocar India Team

Dec 16, 2025

Asked by: Aditya I am planning to buy a new Kia Seltos but am confused between the IVT and DCT transmissions. Considering heavy Bangalore traffic and occasional long drives, which transmission would you recommend? The New Kia Seltos with the IVT gearbox is a better option for you. The IVT is a very smooth transmission and provides jerk-free gearshifts, which you will really appreciate in city driving. Kia's IVT also works well on highway drives and doesn't have that 'rubberband effect' (sharp rise in revs without a corresponding rise in road speed) that other CVT gearboxes are notorious for. The DCT gearbox is quicker shifting and also comes paired to a more powerful engine. On the flip side, gearshifts on the DCT are not as smooth as the IVT in slow-speed driving scenarios.

Autocar India Team

Dec 16, 2025

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