Car review: Kia Stonic
After six years, Kia’s smallest SUV in Australia has received a much-needed facelift packed with more technology than ever alongside mild-hybrid assistance.
We tested the top-of-the-range Kia Stonic GTLine. Priced at about $37,000, it’s a bit expensive for the SUV’s size, and the ongoing servicing costs are on the higher side. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, the Stonic base model has a recommended retail price of $28,180.
Features
The GT-Line features a sunroof, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, heated front seats and steering wheel, alloy pedals, ambient lighting and a ventilated wireless phone charger.
It also includes the Kia Connect suite with embedded internet connectivity, app-based remote services, and over-the-air software updates. All of this is covered by Kia’s seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.
When Kia stopped selling the popular Rio hatch, the Stonic became the SUV-styled replacement in January 2021.
The facelift includes significant upgrades to justify the $2000 to $3200 price increase. The dashboard and centre console have been redesigned to include a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and the GT-Line also has a matching 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Most noticeable is the two-tone leatherette square-looking sports steering wheel. As is the norm in many modern cars, the steering wheel lacks one-touch dials or switches for many frequently used functions.
Despite its size, the Stonic is reasonably spacious with adequate space for rear seat passengers. A handy retractable parcel shelf lives behind the rear seats and the mild-hybrid battery is under the boot floor where the spare wheel used to be.
On the road
The same 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine powers the Stonic but now the 48-volt mild-hybrid version, which has been on sale in overseas markets for some time, is now available in Australia. The result is a fun drive with a unique but powerful sounding rumble that’s a trademark of three-cylinder engines.
At low revs it can take a while to build up steam, but once in the mid-range – thanks to the 48-volt system’s assistance – it’s very driveable even at highway speeds on country roads. On top of that, the locally tuned suspension helps provide a balanced ride and handling package.
The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission occasionally has the odd hesitation on take-off, and when the engine is cold it can surge a little.
The mild-hybrid EV system boosts fuel economy but during testing we used 6.1 litres per 100km, not the 5.0 litres per 100km claimed by Kia.
Besides the stop and start function, to save fuel the Stonic will ‘sail’ when coasting, switching off the engine or letting it idle.
The refresh has given the Stonic a new lease on life with more modern tech and a powerplant that has enlivened the Stonic. It has, however, come at a price increase that might deter some potential buyers.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | $37,490 |
| ANCAP safety rating | Not yet rated |
| Warranty | Seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty |
| Fuel consumption | 5.0L/100km |