Hyundai Venue vs Kia Sonet 2026: Price, Specs and Which to Buy in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: The all-new Hyundai Venue and the new Kia Sonet sit in the same corner of the subcompact SUV market in the Saudi market. Both offer stylish design, advanced tech, and efficient performance and start in the mid-SAR 70,000s. The Venue opens at SAR 77,334 while the Sonet starts between SAR 72,999 and SAR 74,635 depending on the distributor. One offers a turbocharged engine with a dual-clutch gearbox, while the other offers a naturally aspirated engine with a variable transmission. Here is how they compare and which one you should buy. 

Price in Saudi Arabia

Model	Distributor	Starting price
Hyundai Venue	Mynaghi (Western region)	SAR 77,334
Kia Sonet	Aljabr	SAR 74,635
Kia Sonet	Al Ahlia (NMC)	SAR 72,999 (VAT included)

Engine and Performance

Specification	Hyundai Venue	Kia Sonet
Engine	1.0L Turbo GDI petrol	1.5L MPI, 4-cylinder
Power	118 HP	115 PS
Torque	172 Nm	Not published
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch (7DCT)	IVT / CVT
Drivetrain	2WD	2WD
Drive modes	Sport, Eco, Normal	-
Terrain modes	Snow, Mud, Sand	-

The 1.0L Turbo in th Venue feels stronger on quick overtakes, while the naturally aspirated 1.5 in the Sonet is more predictable in stop-start city traffic. The dual-clutch shifts faster and feels more direct, and the CVT is smoother in traffic but the same under hard acceleration.

Screens and Technology

Feature	Hyundai Venue	Kia Sonet
Touchscreen	12.3-inch ccNC Lite	8-inch
Driver cluster	4.2-inch	10.25-inch
Apple CarPlay	Wireless	Supported, wireless not stated
Android Auto	Wireless	Supported, wireless not stated
Wireless phone charger	-	Yes
USB-C port	-	Yes
Connected services	Bluelink	-

The Venue gives you a large 12.3-inch central touchscreen with a small 4.2-inch instrument display. Sonet goes completely in a different direction with a modest 8-inch touchscreen alongside a 10.25-inch digital driver cluster.

Safety and Driver Assistance

System	Hyundai Venue	Kia Sonet
Airbags	6 (front, side, curtain)	Dual front airbags
Lane Keeping Assist	Not listed	Yes
Lane Following Assist	Not listed	Yes
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist	Not listed	Yes
High Beam Assist	Not listed	Yes
Driver Attention Warning	Not listed	Yes (Aljabr page only)
Parking sensors	Forward and reverse	Front and rear (Al Ahlia page only)
Surround View Monitor	Yes	-
Rear View Monitor	Yes	-
Parking Collision Avoidance Assist	Yes	-
Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold	Yes	-

Design and Colours

The Venue features quad-beam LED headlamps with twin-horn daytime running lights. It uses Horizon LED rear lights plus a dark chrome grille. Sixteen-inch diamond-cut alloys are standard. The N Line trim moves to 17-inch wheels.

The Sonet uses LED star map connected tail lamps with Kia's new tiger nose grille. It runs LED daytime running lights on 16-inch crystal cut alloy wheels.

Which Should You Buy?

Both are great choices for buyers looking for a compact front-wheel-drive SUV with modern in-car technology at a sub-SAR 80,000 price point in Saudi Arabia.

Buy the Hyundai Venue if you want the bigger central touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, turbocharged pull for highway overtakes, plus a surround view camera for tight Riyadh parking.

Buy the Kia Sonet if you want the lower entry price, stated 5-year or 100,000 km warranty, active driver assistance systems like lane keeping and forward collision avoidance, plus eight colours to choose from.

Also Read: All-New Hyundai Venue in Saudi Arabia: Bold Design, Smart Tech, and Everyday Versatility