Kia Stonic 1.0T GDi GT-Line 5dr DCT Petrol Estate

Ten Second Review

Kia continues to build its share of the market for small Juke-style compact Crossover SUVs with this model, the Stonic. This revised model showcases the brand's fresh, more charismatic styling approach and offers buyers a highly personalisable choice in this growing segment.

Background

Kia couldn't afford not to be in the B-SUV segment for Nissan Juke and Renault Captur-style Crossovers. This sector of the market does, after all, currently account for over 2 million sales in Europe each year and that figure is only likely to grow, hence the need for the Stonic model updates we look at here. Kia has noted that the B-SUV segment attracts buyers from across the spectrum, with 21% of customers upsizing from a supermini and another 15% downsizing from their family hatchbacks. Cars like the Stonic also appeal to those looking to replace their compact MPVs. This model is based on the underpinnings and engineering of Kia's Rio supermini and shares much of its design with anther Korean contender in this class, Hyundai's Kona.

Driving Experience

As expected, the Stonic shares the engine line-up used in Kia's Rio supermini. Which means a petrol engine range that now offers both conventional and mild hybrid versions of the brand's usual three cylinder 1.0-T-GDI petrol unit. The conventional version of this powerplant offers 100PS. With 48V mild hybrid tech, there's the choice of 100 or 120PS outputs and the choice of either the latest iMT manual transmission or a 7DCT automatic. Kia also now offers an entry-level naturally aspirated 1.2-litre 'Smartstream' petrol engine, putting out 84PS. Diesel has been dropped. The car's European-tuned steering and suspension are designed to offer the kind of fun responses buyers are now expecting from small SUVs these days. The stiff bodyshell should help here, this having allowed the development team to introduce a more compliant suspension system. A carefully calibrated power steering system should provide decent feel through the helm too. The standard 'VSM' 'Vehicle Stability Management; system includes 'Torque Vectoring; and 'Cornering Brake Control; to help you get the power down through the corners. All models are front-driven: there's not much appetite in this segment for 4WD.

Design and Build

This improved Stonic looks much the same as before, the only change being the addition of re-styled full-LED headlights. This design has aged well and incorporates several of the brand's key recognisable signature design elements, such as the 'tiger-nose' grille. Styled in Europe, in collaboration with Kia's Korean design studio, the body aims to blend sharp horizontal feature lines with softer sculpted surfaces. The brand knows that individuality is important to many customers in the B-SUV segment and the Stonic's 'Targa'-style roof enables buyers to choose a two-tone paint finish. The idea has been to distance this Crossover from the Rio hatchback on which it's based. Hence also the sharp creases and kinks near the door sills and the way that the window line kinks upwards too. Rugged-looking black plastic cladding runs in a ring around the bottom edge of the car and around the wheel arches, plus there are brushed metal skidplates front and rear. Inside, it's all much more Rio-like. The fascia is basically the same as is the switchgear, though Kia has tried o disguise this with a range of customisable colour schemes. The key changes in the cabin include the addition of a larger 8-inch centre-dash touchscreen and a higher-resolution 4.2-inch digital display in the instrument cluster. Space inside is slightly better than you'd expect from a car of this class, with decent leg and headroom, plus class-leading shoulder room. In the back, a two-step floor allows owners to expand or shrink the 352-litre boot to suit their needs.

Market and Model

Stonic pricing starts at just over £18,000 and rises to just under £22,000; that's the same kind of pricing bracket common to the two leading small SUVs, Nissan's Juke and Renault's Captur. There are currently three trim grades - '2', '3' and '4'. This revised model offers more exterior customisable options - various different two-tone colour combinations and with a choice of distinctive colours for the roof. Media connectivity is much improved thanks to the installation of the brand's latest UVO Connect 'Phase II' telematics system. This works via a larger 8.0-inch centre screen and offers Bluetooth multi-connection which allows users to connect up to two devices at the same time. As before, the car gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard, bringing seamless smartphone-mirroring functionality. Options include niceties like heated front seats, cruise control and keyless entry. Kia claims that the Stonc is an intrinsically very safe car thanks to a strong lightweight platform and bodyshell, 51% of which is fashioned from Advanced High Strength Steel. Thanks to a clever fusion camera system, a wide range of camera-driven safety features are available and buyers can choose from a selection of Kia's 'DRiVE WISE' 'ADAS' 'Advanced Driver Assistance Systems'. These technologies include 'Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian recognition and Forward Collision Alert', plus there's also 'Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert', a 'Lane Departure Warning System', 'High Beam Assist' and 'Driver Attention Warning' to further satisfy the safety needs of customers.

Cost of Ownership

The key news here is the introduction of the brand's latest petrol mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) 'EcoDynamics+' powertrain. Pairing a new 'Smartstream' 1.0-litre T-GDi engine with a 48V MHEV system, the EcoDynamics+ powertrain delivers greater efficiency by seamlessly deploying and recuperating electric power. A compact 48-volt lithium-ion polymer battery supplements the engine's torque output with electric power, and extends engine 'off time' with a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator (MHSG) unit. The MHSG is connected by belt to the engine's crankshaft, and switches seamlessly between 'motor' and 'generator' modes. In 'motor' mode, under acceleration, the MHSG provides electric power assistance to reduce engine load and emissions. As the car decelerates, the MHSG has the ability under certain conditions to switch to 'generator' mode, recuperating energy from the crankshaft to recharge the battery. As with all Kias, the Stonic is covered by a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty that's longer than any other car in the same class. Servicing should be affordable and the various pre-paid servicing packages you can buy will further help manage costs in this regard, with 'Care-3' or 'Care-3 Plus' packages offering retail customers fixed-cost, inflation-proof servicing for either three or five years. Should you sell the car in this period, the remaining scheduled maintenance allocation can be passed on to the next owner.

By Jonathan Crouch

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