AFTER an initial announcement a few weeks ago, the 2024 Kia Sonet has finally arrived in the Philippines. Replacing the Stonic, the new Sonet is now the brand's entry-level subcompact crossover SUV. It will compete head-to-head with the Toyota Raize, as well as some Chinese competitors like the Geely GX3 Pro and Changan CS15, and thanks to its broad pricing that starts at P758,000 and tops out at P1.138 million for the range-topping SX.

From the exterior, the Sonet we're getting is the facelifted model, which features a revised front end, new LED headlights for the EX and SX, and new 16-inch alloy wheels for all automatic variants. The Sonet has a sculpted side profile characterized by a rising beltline, and for the SX, the roof pillars can be painted in black. Finally, at the rear end, there's a new taillight design, which includes a full-width LED light bar in the case of the SX.