2027 Kia Sonet And New Creta Caught Testing Together In Manali
Test mules of the 2027 Kia Sonet and the next-generation Hyundai Creta have been photographed running together in Manali. The sighting, shared by enthusiasts Amarttyajit Sinha and Dhanushree, confirms both Hyundai Motor Group SUVs are now in advanced validation, with the Sonet staying sub-4m and the Creta growing in length.
What was announced
Hyundai Motor Group is accelerating development of its next-generation India SUVs, and the latest spy shots from Manali, captured by automotive enthusiasts Amarttyajit Sinha and Dhanushree, show test mules of the 2027 Kia Sonet and the next-generation Hyundai Creta running together. Both cars are clearly through to advanced validation stages, which typically points to a launch window inside the next 12 to 15 months.
If Hyundai and Kia skip a strong-hybrid answer for the new Creta, the segment lead they have held for years is genuinely vulnerable.
The Sonet mule is the same QY2E development prototype first photographed earlier in the month, but the new images expose more of the rear lighting signature. Despite the heavy camouflage, vertically oriented LED tail-lamp elements are visible, connected by what appears to be a full-width light bar. The Sonet will stay within the sub-4 metre category to retain its small-car GST benefit, so exterior changes will be design-led rather than dimensional.
The Creta is the bigger structural change of the two. The next-generation car is expected to grow by roughly 100mm in length, which directly addresses the rear knee-room gap against the Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder and Honda Elevate. Hyundai and Kia are expected to share platform hardware, electrical architecture and core powertrains between the two SUVs, while keeping the cabins, lighting and feature lists clearly differentiated for their respective showrooms. Powertrain details, including whether a strong-hybrid option finally joins the line-up, have not been confirmed by either brand.
The Car Jury verdict
Hyundai Motor Group running both mules in the same convoy is a tell: shared electrical architecture, shared powertrain calibration work, shared validation miles. That is how you keep two of India's best-selling SUVs on schedule without doubling the engineering bill. The current Creta and Sonet are both TCJ BUYs, and a longer Creta finally addresses the one real complaint buyers have, rear-seat space against the Grand Vitara and Elevate.
The engine choice will decide everything. Gagan Choudhary of Gagan Choudhary's channel notes that "the 1.5 NA petrol is clearly the most in-demand engine" in this space, echoed by Grand Vitara and Seltos data. If Hyundai and Kia stay with the 1.5 turbo-petrol and diesel mix and skip a strong-hybrid answer, the Creta's segment lead is genuinely vulnerable next year. The Sonet has less to worry about.
