Kia Sonet has clinched the top spot for the lowest maintenance cost in the fiercely competitive Compact SUV segment, as per the recently released Total Cost of Ownership Benchmark analysis by Frost & Sullivan, a leading Growth Advisory Company in India. The analysis not only lauds the Sonet for its cost-effective ownership but also positions it as a leader in residual value, showcasing an impressive 3% higher value than the segment average in both Diesel and Petrol variants.
Breaking down the numbers, the maintenance cost for the Sonet’s Petrol and Diesel models stands out, being 16% and 14% lower than the segment average, respectively. This solidifies the Sonet’s position as an economical choice for buyers who prioritize long-term affordability. Moreover, the Diesel variant of the Sonet takes center stage by securing the numero uno position in the segment for the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). It outpaces the competition by a substantial 10%, solidifying its reputation as the most value-for-money package in the Diesel category. The Petrol variant, not to be outdone, secures the second position with a TCO 4% lower than the segment average, trailing closely behind the segment leader.
The analysis dives deeper into the specifics, revealing that the Scheduled Maintenance cost of the Diesel Sonet is a whopping 17% lower compared to its nearest rival and an impressive 23% lower than the segment average. Meanwhile, the Petrol Sonet continues to impress with maintenance costs that are over 7% and 28% lower than its closest competitor and other models in the competition, respectively.
Frost & Sullivan’s findings further emphasize the Sonet’s prowess by highlighting its fuel efficiency. The Diesel variant of the Sonet boasts the best Fuel Economy in the segment, with consumption rates 6% lower than the segment average, based on an average annual distance traveled of 10,000 km. While the Petrol model secures a position among the top three, closely following the segment’s best performers in terms of fuel efficiency.
The analysis also takes into account various parameters such as Initial Acquisition Cost, Finance and Insurance Costs, and Fuel Expenses, providing a comprehensive view of the Sonet’s overall cost of ownership. Notably, the Initial Acquisition, Finance, and Insurance costs of both Sonet models are found to be lower than the segment average.
In response to these noteworthy findings, a spokesperson from Frost & Sullivan commented, “We analysed the overall cost of ownership trends of the compact SUV segment. The Kia Sonet comes out to be the most value-for-money proposition with the lowest maintenance cost in the segment, which is a challenging accomplishment.”
Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar, National Head Sales & Marketing, Kia India, expressed Kia’s commitment to delivering exceptional quality, features, and an unparalleled ownership experience. He emphasized Kia’s dedication to setting benchmarks and highlighted the Sonet’s recognition for its low cost of ownership by Frost & Sullivan as clear evidence of the brand’s steadfast dedication to redefining industry standards.
The Kia Sonet, launched in India in September 2020, has seen overwhelming success, with over 3.65 lakh units sold domestically and in export markets. As the refreshed Sonet is set to debut on December 14, 2023, Kia continues to build on its reputation for delivering vehicles that meet the evolving needs of discerning customers.
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