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BHPian jasjotbains recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Being a member of Team BHP since 2016, I have always read the "New Car ownership" reports of our fellow members here with the excitement of a child going to a park. I have always dreamt of writing my own such post one day with a shiny new mean machine besides me. After much deliberations about staying in India or moving abroad, I finally made peace with the fact that home is where the heart is. And I needed a new love to keep my heart occupied.
Enter Kaleen Bhaiya, my Sonet GTX+ diesel AT.
I got married in 2018 and had to move to TN to join a bank famous for its never ending lunch breaks and passbook printing lines (P.S - There is/was no concept of "Lunch ke baad aana"). My i10 had been my sole companion since 2013 (before the Grand was launched) and I have had some memorable trips with it. However, driving on the national highways of TN (especially Krishnagiri-Hosur) made me realize that I was in need of a car with better pulling power, especially with the AC on.
I got transferred back to Punjab in 2021 and got posted some 140 kms from my home, which mandated bi-weekly trips on highways back home to Chandigarh. My i10 was not the safest bet while driving alongside heavy vehicles (0.5* rating) and the lack of modern tech was fast causing irritations for me. Being posted in the NRI belt of Punjab meant sooner or later you also bite the the "Kanedda dream". Reservations by the family and unending tensions later, I arrived at the conclusion that I needed a distraction to keep my heart occupied. What better than a brand new 4 wheel ride! And since my i10 was already 9 years old, convincing the family for a bigger car was not a big deal.
It was pretty clear that I required a diesel. Even though my daily running of 25 odd kms and bi-weekly 300 km trips did not necessitate a diesel per-se, however it was pretty clear to me that I will not be compromising on pulling power. I like spirited driving, even though I keep my speeds to max of 100-110 kmph even on highways. Apart from a diesel, I wanted few creature comforts; an automatic (and a proper one while we are getting it), a smooth jerkless ride, good sound system, reliability and good enough space. I narrowed down to a few vehicles:
Therefore, it was a battle between Nexon diesel and Sonet diesel. I drooled over the Nexon whereas mother and wife wanted my cheque book to be opened at Kia.
Test driving both the vehicles was the first task. Called up Tata dealerships in Mohali and Chandigarh and NONE OF THEM had a diesel-AT test drive vehicle. This was across 3 different dealerships in a state capital. Tried searching Zoomcar and Revv but no luck. It was surprising considering Nexon was outselling Sonet over the past few months. TATA dealers - If you're selling a vehicle, please have atleast a TD vehicle for it.
Called up Joshi KIA in Mohali and they informed me that their Chandigarh dealership had a GTX+ test drive vehicle. I reached there with the entire family and was greeted by the KEC. He informed me that the vehicle was out on a TD and will be back in 20 minutes. He noted down my requirements in the meantime and after 20 minutes, the vehicle came and we went for a test drive. I thought that the car drove decently, only to be told by the KEC (Kia Experience Consultant) that I was caressing, not pressing, the accelerator. I pressed the pedal a bit further and within no time I was at 3 digit speeds! The vehicle just let out a meaty growl, nothing else. The KEC already knew I was sold. I also test drove the Seltos but it seemed unnecessarily big for my requirement. Also, my father rejected the Seltos ride quality when compared to the Sonet. I was clearly told by my KEC that the waiting period was 24-25 weeks but I can expect my vehicle by Feb end / March beginning. I went home (all the time expecting my parents' i10 to let out a meaty growl), discussed with the family and booked the Sonet 1.5 GTX+ D-AT in Glacier White for Rs. 25000 online. I shared the screenshot with my KEC and they shared the quotation on their letterhead via email. Then the wait began.
I got a call around Jan 10 from my KEC that car is ready and they can allocate the VIN to me. My wife wanted delivery on Jan 21 (our anniversary) and I was informed by the dealership that it was possible. Got my loan sanctioned from the bank and transferred the money to the dealership. However, due to Covid affecting my colleagues, leave was not granted for 21st and I had to settle for 22nd as delivery date. Consulted a local dealer and parted ways with my i10 after 9 years together.
My KEC kept in regular touch with me and offered me a catalog of accessories provided by them for Sonet. I told him to consider my 50% NCB from my i10, which was accepted. Kudos to my previous dealership, Joshi Hyundai, for making the NCB process a smooth affair. No one tried to push for unnecessary stuff like under-body protection etc. I selected the accessories, informed them and was told that they will be installed by the time I reach.
I reached Joshi KIA Chandigarh on 22nd and was greeted by my KEC Mr Ravi Shankar. He also introduced me to ASM Mr Amit Sharma and we had a bit of a chat while my paperwork was being done. I wanted a particular number which was currently not available on the VAHAN portal. Mr Ravi Shankar guided me through the number selection process and meanwhile allocated me a temporary number. The paperwork was over in a jiffy and I finally laid my eyes on my decked up Sonet.
It was constantly raining throughout the day. However, the weather opened up a bit and we got the delivery ceremony underway. So many people clapping triggered my son who started clapping on his own . My family had purchased 4 Hyundai vehicles from Joshi Hyundai and we expected nothing less than stellar sales experience from Joshi KIA. As expected, the buying and delivery experience was top class.
Then we had a small cake cutting ceremony. I added a few more accessories at the last minute which were installed instantly by the team. We were provided a small plant, a bouquet and 5 litre fuel coupon. We were on our way then.
Mr Ravi Shankar KEC, Mr Amit Sharma ASM and yours truly!
We filled up from a nearby pump and took the Sonet to a Gurudwara first. The next day, we headed out on our first highway drive.
Coming from an i10, there is a big difference in driving experience and big-car experience:
Likes:
Dislikes:
This is one of the best features in the Sonet. The three driving modes will alter the behavior of the engine and suspension to suit the need of the hour.
Completed the first 1000 kms in a month. I was eagerly waiting for it since I wanted to get the oil change done and then revv the car in Sports mode. I reached Joshi Kia without appointment (some like to live dangerously) and the work was over within 30- 40 minutes. The best part was they did not use polish on the dashboard, windscreen and rear view mirror!
I finally got a chance to read the User Manual and wanted to congratulate myself on being able to maintain good speeds and keep the engine docile. However, the User Manual recommended RPM to be kept between 2-4k rpm. My SA informed me there is no such advise of not using "Sports" mode during run-in. Needless to say, I immediately switched to Sports mode on my way back.
My current fuel economy is around 15.4 kmpl, considering my driving is mostly in a city. However, with more highway runs, it can go up to 17-18 kmpl max.
Overall, the Sonet is going to cost me approx 15 lacs on road, thanks to the low RTO charges of approx Rs 63000 in Chandigarh. I hope to have plenty of memorable trips with my Sonet. Will be updating this forum with more posts as and when I complete my milestones.
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