Does the Kia Sonet's 1.0L turbo-petrol engine live up to all the hype on the road?
Of course, the Kia Sonet’s 1.0L turbo-petrol has been the talking point among car enthusiasts, and Kia has been marketing it as peppy and fun to drive. The debate, however, has been around how this small turbocharged engine performs in real world conditions in a country like India that has varied driving environments. Owners that like it note it's responsive and fun to drive on the highway whilst others complain about lag in the city and less than stellar fuel efficiency. It's a common debate of whether this engine is fit for a compact SUV and how it measures up to naturally aspirated engines of similar class. There's also interest in how the engine works with other transmission options like the DCT and iMT. I am finding out other people's real world experience will the 1.0 L trobo Petrol engine in this engine and how does work, its efficiency if its caramelised for indian driving conditions.
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Comments (8)
@monika-sinover 1 year ago
The truth is, the 1.0L turbo isn't going to provide much in the way of practical benefits for most users. Typical Indian driving conditions are smoother and more predictable for the regular petrol engine.
@saket-jhaover 1 year ago
I was worried about performance coming from a larger naturally aspirated engine. In the mid range though, the turbo Sonet does actually feel more responsive. The thing is, how you drive it.
@kuldeep-teover 1 year ago
In slow moving traffic the turbo engine with the DCT can be jerky. They're like the transmission gets confused. Great for open road, but not so great for bumper to bumper city driving.
@lokesh-goyover 1 year ago
I had doubts about a 1.0L engine in an SUV but it’s very capable. It won’t win drag races, but for driving everyday and the occasional highway trip it’s more than adequate.
@agha-saquiover 1 year ago
The sweet spot is the iMT with the turbo engine. It’s the fun of a manual without the clutch fatigue in traffic. It is the best of both worlds and takes advantage of the engine's character.
@arjun-guptover 1 year ago
I've driven both the turbo and NA versions and the turbo is a ton more fun. It’s not cheap, however, and is less fuel efficient. It's a head vs heart decision.
@priyanka-rover 1 year ago
I honestly believe that a turbo engine is really overkill on a car this small. Fuel economy is disappointing and the lag in stop and go traffic can be annoying. Most buyers will find the naturally aspirated engine makes more sense.
@nimish-raiover 1 year ago
I have the 1.0L turbo with the DCT and it is a lot of fun to drive! Yes, there's a bit of lag below 2000 rpm, but once it's on the go it's really quite quick. It's great for highway overtakes.
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