The Kia Stonic is a crossover SUV which has been manufactured by Kia since 2017, after making its debut at the International Motor Show Germany the same year.
Designed for urban adventures, this crossover aims to appeal to drivers seeking a versatile and well-equipped vehicle that doesn't compromise on style or functionality. From its muscular exterior and comfortable interior to its range of efficient engines and comprehensive safety features, the Stonic presents a compelling option for those navigating the demands of contemporary driving.
It won two design rewards in 2018, Car Design at the Red Dot Awards 2018 and Product Design Award at the iF Design Awards, highlighting Kia's ethos of "Movement that inspires".
The new Kia Stonic is built on the Hyundai-Kia GB platform, which it shares with the Kia Soul and previously shared with the Hyundai i20.
It is designed with adventure in mind, which you can see from the Stonic's muscular design made up of aerodynamic lines and bold grille. This is matched with strong fenders, bumper, and air flow-regulating skid plate which really highlights the Kia Stonic urban crossover appeal.
At the rear of the car there's also a distinctive style thanks to the sporty rear bumper and spoiler capped rear window. These perfectly complement the sleek LED rear lights and ensures that the new Kia Stonic offers great looks at every angle.
Alloy wheels are 16 inches as standard but you have the option to add 17 inch alloy wheels if you'd prefer something a little bigger. GT-Line models adds a whole array of GT-Line exterior styling which includes the dynamic GT-Line grille.
Along the model options you'll also have privacy glass for your rear windows, electric folding door mirrors with LED indicators, and a suite of LED lighting to keep you visible on the road and make sure that you can see the world around you.
The interior space of the Kia Stonic offers sleek and stylish interior design alongside ample room and high quality finishing touches.
Central to the carbon look dashboard is the 8 inch colour touchscreen which houses the integrated navigation system as well as access to a range of connected features from Kia Connect and Android Auto, Apple Carplay, and Bluetooth connections for your smart phone.
There's also a 4.2 inch colour supervision cluster nestled in between the speedometer and tachometer to display vehicle status information, audio information, and gives you access to the vehicle setting menus. This lets you display the most important information for you to look at, at a glance and in an easy to read format.
Elsewhere you'll find USB charging ports in both the front and rear of the car, ideal for a long journey with a full set of passengers, and an engine start/stop button to make it easy to get going without having to search for your keys every time you get in.
The Kia Stonic might be the smallest in Kia's SUV range but it doesn't mean it cuts corners on space.
The boot space, with all five seats in use, offers 352 litres of space for whatever you need to take with you. Folding the rear seats down fully opens this up to 1155 litres and you can tailor the space set up to suit you with the 60:40 split rear seats to create ample space for your load.
This is matched with a roomy cabin with plenty of room to comfortably take friends along for the ride with you. Headroom comes in approximately at 996mm for those in the driver's seat and front passenger seat and approximately 850mm for those in the rear seats, providing lots of space in the small SUV.
Across the range there are several comfortable and plush interior stylings which includes a standard cloth option, cloth and faux leather upholstery, and the GT-Line One Tone interior. These are all designed to reflect the personality of each trim level.
For example, the GT-Line interior is inspired by its sports styling and offers a D-Cut steering wheel in perforated leather, complete with the GTL emblem, whilst the black cloth styling reflects a simpler design for practical use.
You can also utilise features such as heated front seats, automatic air conditioning, and a heated steering wheel to elevate your comfort, particularly in cold weather, so that you can enjoy every journey.
Elsewhere throughout the cabin there's lots of handy storage space like sunglasses case built in to the front cabin light, front and rear door storage, and a storage box in the centre console.
There are two engine options available on the Kia Stonic: a 1.0 litre petrol engine and a 1.0 litre petrol engine with mild hybrid support.
The petrol only engine is offered with both a six speed manual and seven speed automatic transmission and 98BHP on both. The top speed is 111mph and 0-62mph acceleration can be achieved in 11.3 seconds whilst a combined mpg figure varies slightly across the trim levels but peaks at 51.4mpg. CO2 emission levels also sit between 125g/km and 135g/km depending on your trim and engine selection.
The alternative engine is a 1.0 litre petrol engine which is supported by a 48 volt electrical system to help the engine run more efficiently. It also offers a six speed manual and seven speed automatic transmission and 98BHP on both. Figures for mpg, CO2 emissions and 0-62mph acceleration all fall into a similar range to the petrol only engine but it is worth noting that the 2 and GT-Line trim lines are unable to be matched with this engine.
The Kia Stonic is available in four different trim levels: 2, GT-Line, 3, and GT-Line S.
The entry-level model delivers a comprehensive package, featuring: exterior enhancements with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights, front and rear fog lights, LED high-mounted brake lights, electrically adjustable, folding, and heated door mirrors with LED indicators, a gloss black radiator grille, black side sills and wheel arches, and roof rails; interior comfort and convenience with a heated rear window, manual driver's and front passenger seat adjustment, manual steering wheel adjustment, electric front and rear windows; advanced technology including an 8-inch touchscreen navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, front and rear USB ports, a 4.2-inch driver display screen, and a 6-speaker audio system; and enhanced safety and connectivity with rear parking sensors, a reversing camera system, and a complimentary 7-Year Kia Connect Services package.
The Kia Stonic GT-Line features 17 inch alloy wheels with GT-Line styling, GT-Line exterior styling, LED headlights, LED front fog lights, LED rear lights, gloss black door mirrors, chrome window surround, rear privacy glass, GT-Line interior styling, automatic air conditioning, automatic defog system, and alloy pedals.
The GT-Line styling on the inside and outside of the vehicle is the real pull of the GT-Line model which also has the standard features listed for the previous specifications.
The 3 trim level loses all of the GT-Styling and gains the following above the 2 trim and GT-Line trim levels: 17 inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED rear lights, chrome window surround, rear privacy glass, rain sensing wipers, front heated seats, heated steering wheel, automatic defog system, automatic air conditioning, start/stop button with smart entry system, and auto-dimming rear view mirror.
The top trim GT-Line S adds back in the GT-Line styling and also includes front and rear parking sensors, and smart cruise control with stop and go functionality, as well as the features of the Kia Stonic 3.
The GT-Line S gives you the best of all options available, including the mild hybrid engine.
The current safety rating from Euro NCAP has expired so the model is due a retest. The previous model scored three stars, with Euro NCAP noting that it was a test of the standard model and did not include optional safety equipment. The new Stonic appears to have many of these features included across the entire range.
These include rear parking sensors, reversing camera system, forward collision avoidance assist for city, pedestrian, and cyclist, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, cruise control, intelligent speed limit assist, speed limiter, driver attention warning, hill start assist control, and electronic stability control.
Kia offers an excellent seven year warranty on all new cars, which has unlimited mileage for the first 36 months and then is capped at 100,000 miles for months 37-84. Kia's warranty is much better than most of the market, where 3 years is much more common.
At time of writing, the Kia Stonic starts at £21,265 and ranges to £25,810 for the top range GT-Line S model with the mild hybrid engine. Adding additional equipment, premium paint, or making other changes to your Stonic will increase the price further.
For comparison, the SEAT Leon starts at £24,805, the Volkswagen T-Cross starts at £24,895, and the Dacia Sandero Stepway starts at £15,700 although Dacia strives to provide cars at a lower price point. The Stonic falls into the same bracket as most of these, making it an attractive and competitive model to consider for your next car.
The Kia Stonic presents itself as a stylish and practical urban crossover and its design emphasises an adventurous spirit with muscular lines and a bold grille, complemented by a well-appointed interior featuring modern technology like an 8-inch touchscreen and smartphone integration. Offering ample cabin and boot space, the Stonic caters to both comfort and practicality, with various trim levels providing diverse styling and feature sets.
For more information about the Kia Stonic, including current offers and available finance packages and to book a test drive, contact John Clark Kia Peterhead today.
