I currently drive a Skoda Slavia 1.0 manual, mostly on weekends, and am considering selling it to buy a Kia Sonet diesel automatic for my wife’s convenience. Would this be a good decision?

Autocar India

•21w

After the recent GST price cuts, the Kia Sonet diesel automatic offers excellent value. It is impressive for a diesel, providing good refinement, a smooth-shifting 6-speed torque converter, excellent fuel efficiency, and a comfortable, easy driving experience.

However, there are two points to consider: if most of your driving is in the city, you might occasionally encounter DPF issues, which can usually be resolved by revving the engine higher, and the Sonet’s rear seat is not very spacious, especially compared to your current Skoda Slavia.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.30 Lakh

Skoda

Slavia

from ₹11.30 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Got a suggestion for Kishore?

Add a Comment

Recommended questions for you

JAYAPRAKASH

•3d

I currently own a 2018 Honda WR-V diesel manual (6-speed), which has run about 50,000 km, along with a Tata EV purchased in 2023, which has covered around 20,000 km. I have now decided to replace my WR-V with a BS6 diesel automatic car. Could you please suggest which diesel automatic model would be the best choice according to Autocar?

Autocar India

•10h

Without knowing your budget and more requirements, we can't recommend the ideal choice for you. We have shortlisted models that you should consider, and why they are of interest. Compact SUVs- Hyundai Venue: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, good interior space, upmarket interior | (-) Expensive for its size- Kia Sonet: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, upmarket interior, good value | (-) Rear seat space is limited, due to be replaced in the coming year Midsize SUVs- Kia Seltos: (+) Spacious interior, well equipped, good ride comfort | (-) Performance is adequate only- Tata Sierra: (+) Class-best space, feature-packed, tough build, ride comfort | (-) Engine feels noisy, road noise- Hyundai Creta: (+) Well equipped, decent performance | (-) Due to be replaced in the coming year

Deen

Hi Autocar, I own a 2021 Nexon XZA+S Petrol and am now looking for a replacement. My annual running is around 15,000 km, mostly in the city, with decent highway runs every alternate month. We’re a couple with two children under 10. My requirements are an automatic gearbox, family comfort, great driving dynamics, good boot space, and a good music system for long drives. My budget is a maximum of ₹30 lakh OTR in Gurgaon.

Autocar India

•1d

Given your requirements, the Skoda Slavia would be a good option to consider. Within the Slavia range, we would recommend the 1.5-litre TSI engine with the DSG gearbox. This will give you the enthusiastic driving dynamics you want, which frankly, no mid-size SUV can offer. It also has fantastic handling manners and is extremely stable on the highways. The bootspace at 521 litres is massive, and it has a good ground clearance to clear most of our badly built roads.In the city, the Slavia also gets cylinder deactivation that helps save fuel, and it is light and breezy to manoeuvre. Also, the music system in the Slavia is one of the best stock systems out there. It is punchy, clear and feels properly high-end. If you're an audiophile, you will enjoy it compared to any other car or SUV south of Rs 30 lakh.

Skoda Slavia

Anushank

•1d

I am planning to sell my Mahindra XUV500 as it is nearing the end of its registration validity in Delhi NCR, and I want to buy a 5-seater SUV under ₹10 lakh. My preference is for a fuel-efficient car as my daily running is around 100 km, but it should also be spacious enough for five people. Since fuel efficiency is a priority, I am open to both CNG and diesel cars. My usage will be 70% city and 30% highway, mostly within Delhi NCR. I have narrowed my choices to the Maruti Brezza CNG, Tata Nexon CNG, Kia Sonet Diesel, and Maruti Fronx CNG. Please help me evaluate which would be the better option. I am also open to any other better option if available.

Autocar India

•11h

The Maruti Brezza CNG and Fronx CNG will be more fuel efficient than the Nexon iCNG, and their clutch and gearbox make them friendlier to drive, too. The Brezza is due for a facelift in the coming weeks, so you might want to wait for that to arrive. The Kia Sonet diesel will feel punchier to drive (than the CNG options listed above), while being very efficient too. Also, by opting for a diesel, you won't need to wait in long queues to refill CNG. Even the Sonet is due for a generation update, which is likely to be launched this year. Another option you could consider is the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel MX2, which is more spacious than a Sonet. Its ride-handling balance is very impressive; the Sonet, however, has an edge in terms of fuel efficiency.

View all Posts