Kia Stonic review

“Compact SUVs come in many
shapes and colours but if you want
to stand out you would do well to
spend your money on one of Kia’s
Stonic models, ideally one with the
attention-grabbing two-tone Storm
Grey and Zest Yellow paintwork...”

OF COURSE YOU WOULD NEVER buy a car just because of its funky looks, although in the Stonic's case you might be tempted… Fortunately there's much more than modish looks to Kia's compact SUV, starting with the price — at between Ł18,450 and Ł23,500, the Stonic is yet another good to drive yet very affordable Kia.

And as more and more cars joust for room on our crowded roads, Kia's socially acceptable-sized SUV looks more appealing than ever. Not only do these compact crossovers deliver the longed-for commanding driving positions of their biggest brothers but it's easy to understand their appeal — just look at one: eye-catchingly sharp-suited, especially so when decked out in one of the two-tone finishes on offer.

“With an eye on the
approaching 2030
deadline for all-electric
and nothing but all-
electric cars (assuming
any UK government
actually has the grit to
enforce this diktat),
the Stonic’s 118bhp
powerplant — a three-
cylinder 998cc T-GDi turboed petrol engine —
incorporates some 48V
mild-hybrid tech.
When it comes to
transmissions, it’s either
a six-speed manual
or a seven-speed twin-
clutch autobox...”

Our test car's snazzy grey-and-yellow paintwork certainly attracted plenty of interest. Check out the pictures and you'll see it's all very tasteful, with bright yellow picking out the A-pillars, roof, tailgate spoiler, and the three air intakes below one of the brand's seriously slimmed-down 'tiger-nose' grilles. Neat black body mouldings link the lower doors with the lined wheelarches, themselves wrapped around smart 'Y-spoke' two-tone alloy wheels. A sculpted bonnet, silver skid-plates nose and tail, and a sweeping C-panel complete the 'designer' treatment.

With an eye on the approaching 2030 deadline for all-electric and nothing but all-electric cars (assuming any UK government actually has the grit to enforce this diktat), the Stonic's 118bhp powerplant incorporates some 48V mild-hybrid tech. The alternative is a straight petrol 99bhp. Both make good use of Kia's three-cylinder 998cc T-GDi turboed petrol engine. When it comes to choosing the transmission it's either a six-speed manual 'box or a seven-speed twin-clutch autobox.

This past week we've been putting the more powerful 118bhp unit through its paces. This version brings a useful 148lb ft of torque to the party which enables a top speed of 115mph, 0-60mph acceleration in 10.4 seconds, and an official combined consumption figure of 49.6mpg. Driven normally, our real-world average came out at an impressive 53.7mpg, although long runs saw us get pretty close to its 'touring' fuel consumption of 58.9mpg. And that was without using the Eco Drive Mode setting = for the record, there's also a Normal and Sport (very perky!) plus a manual mode for DIY shifting via the selector lever.

Talking of things mechanical, the three-cylinder engine is a zippy little thing = flex your right foot and you'll find it's always willing to spurt ahead, while the Stonic's compact dimensions and fine 'jacked up' visibility let you nip in and out of gaps in the traffic. The seven speed autobox is a well-tooled fit with the engine and whips though the ratios to match your right foot's demands, with power delivered to the front wheels. Out on the motorway the three-pot is equally enthusiastic and makes light work of motorway speeds.

Back in the cabin where, despite a pocket-sized footprint compared to 5-metre-plus 'XL' SUVs, the Stonic's 4.1-metre long bodyshell provides all the room you really need. In fact, when it comes to inner space the Stonic's airy interior offers much more than you might be expecting.

“No question that a
major reason for buying
any SUV is the
commanding driving
position. And that’s
exactly what you get
in the Stonic.
The supportive seats
have ample adjustability
and generous height
adjustment, making
setting that perfect
driving position a quick
job, and provides a
wide-ranging view down
the bonnet.
Thanks to its SUV stance,
placing the Stonic
accurately is a walk in
the park...”

The driver and front passenger enjoy a fist of headroom and can move about freely without feeling they need to watch their elbows or knees; and even taller drivers don't go short of legroom and get a comfy left-foot rest for relaxed two-pedal cruising.

Sports-style seats with two-tone upholstery (black cloth and faux leather with upscale light grey piping, embossing, and stitching) are definitely a step-up, and their bolstering is effective without being trackday hard. Underscoring the sporty look is some distinctive carbon-look trim on the dash and a flat-bottomed multi-function three-spoke steering wheel with perforated leather work areas.

A large free-standing 8-inch infotainment touchscreen occupies the centre-dash. Set high, it's exactly where it should be in the driver's peripheral vision. The switchgear is logically laid out and — bravo! — the automatic AirCon is worked by proper knobs and buttons set in a panel below the touchscreen. Ahead of the driver the instrument pod contains two dials, with foolproof black-on-white markings, separated by a multi-mode information display that shows all the essential data including a digital road speed readout as well as the posted speed limit (also displayed on the active 3D mapping). The trad-style pull-up handbrake will also please many.

No question that a major reason for buying any SUV is the commanding driving position. And that's exactly what you get in the Stonic. The supportive seats have ample adjustability and generous height adjustment, making setting that perfect driving position a quick job and provides a wide-ranging view down the bonnet. Thanks to its SUV stance, placing the Stonic accurately is a walk in the park. And, thanks to a decent-sized rear screen, knowing what's coming up behind you is equally clear. Parking is easy-peasy, made easier by front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera system.

For a 'compact' model the Stonic sure does provide plenty of in-cabin storage for your personal 'stuff': bottle-holding door bins, dual-use cupholders, storage under the front central armrest, a deep open tray ahead of the selector lever and a shelf for your mobile, an illuminated glovebox, and a drop-down case for your shades. The Stonic is also well specced when it comes to its comms. The touchscreen comes with smartphone mirroring: Apple and Android are fitted (both with voice control), so you can music stream or use any of your phone's apps.

“The Stonic is a relaxing
to travel in, with bumps
soaked up smoothly
despite the ride being
agreeably firm — a good
compromise between
settled passengers and
keeping the driver
engaged.
Pootling around country
roads in the ‘jacked-up’
Stonic is surprisingly
tranquil wherever you’re
sitting. And it feels
equally laid-back in town
where the ride-friendly
205/55-profile Continental
rubber helps counter any
higgledy-piggledy
blacktop...”

Kia Connected Services deliver TomTom Live and the 8-inch screen's infotainment and foolproof SatNav come with crisp, clear graphics, useful shortcut buttons, and quick-acting and intuitive menus (usefully you can also pinpoint where you've parked your car via your phone). You also get a six-speaker audio system with DAB radio, USB and AUX ports and Bluetooth with music streaming. The intuitive and easy to use comms are boosted by voice control for Navigation, Phone, and Media functions and combined with all the other positive cabin features create a calm and relaxing driving environment that's exactly what you need on today's stress-fuelled roads.

Kia are well-known for their unstinting kit levels: in addition to the sporty seats, comprehensive comms, and parking camera already mentioned, you also get keyless entry and locking on both front doors plus keyless engine Start, three-stage heated front seats and steering wheel, four electric windows (the driver's with auto up/down op), auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated and on-demand powerfolding door mirrors, Smart cruise control with Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, privacy glass, auto lights and wipes, height-adjustable front seatbelts, drive-off automatic door locking, aluminium pedals, and a set of 17-inch alloy wheels.

Headlights are Bi-function Projection items with static cornering lights, daytime running lights are LED as are the front fogs and tail lights, plus there's a full suite of airbags. Driver assistance includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (City/Pedestrian/Cyclist-aware with autonomous emergency braking), Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and automatic headlight dip/main beam switching. You also get Blind Spot Collision Warning and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance (Rear), Emergency Stop Signalling, Torque Vectoring, Straight Line Stability and Cornering Brake Control, Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Management systems, hill-start assist and tyre pressure monitoring.

The Stonic's rear passengers sit higher than front row users and enjoy well-canted backrests and ample legroom even when seated behind a six-footer; if three must travel in the back they can without being squeezed (the welcome lack of a transmission tunnel ensures comfy feet too). Privacy glass from the B-pillars back takes the sting out of the sunlight but the tinting doesn't hamper the decent views out through the long, deep side windows. Naturally there's a USB charging point, a pocket on the front passenger's seatback, bottle-holding door pockets, and Isofix child seat fixtures.

“For a supermini-sized
SUV the Stonic’s 352-
litres will swallow the
monthly family shop and
even awkward everyday
cargo such as a folded
baby buggy.
For those with gear to
stow the 60:40-split rear
seats can be folded to
open up a 1,155-litre
loadbay with a seamless
and perfectly level floor.
You can, of course,
use the roof rails which
aren’t there just for
show, and towing is on
the menu too:
a braked 900kg...”

The Stonic is a relaxing to travel in, with bumps soaked up smoothly despite the ride being agreeably firm — a good compromise between settled passengers and keeping the driver engaged. Pootling around country roads in the 'jacked-up' Stonic is surprisingly tranquil wherever you're sitting. And it feels equally laid-back in town where the ride-friendly 205/55-profile Continental rubber helps counter any higgledy-piggledy blacktop.

All Stonics are front-wheel-drive; no problem — there's more than enough grip to dismiss any need for full-blown four-wheel drive. It's easy and relaxing to drive, whether you're in the city or wild in the country. It's agreeably agile and when you're pressing on through back lane twists and turns the rack and pinion steering is as quick as the Stonic's nose is keen.

Also good is the reassuring stopping power, as too is the Torque Vectoring which brakes an inner wheel if the car is in danger of running wide in corners, bringing it back onto the driver's desired line. You don't need to drive far to get that this trustworthy compact SUV is as chuckable as you need it to be = although for most owners the need for speed is unlikely to be a high priority.

Which brings us, finally, to the boot. Accessed via a high-lifting tailgate, the load-cover is a no-hassle, lift-up parcel shelf. For a supermini-sized SUV the Stonic's 352 litres will swallow the monthly family shop and even awkward everyday cargo such as a folded baby buggy. For those with gear to stow the 60:40-split rear seats can be folded to open up a 1,155-litre loadbay with a seamless and perfectly level floor. You can, of course, use the roof rails which aren't there just for show, and towing is on the menu too: a braked 900kg. The boot also offers plenty of bag hooks, tether points, and useful net pockets.

Likeable, a smart-looker, and a cinch to drive: 50+mpg with the best features of an SUV but without the bulk and heavier fuel consumption. Seriously, what's not to like? And although it's not the most pressing reason to choose a Stonic, the peace of mind that comes with its industry-leading seven-year warranty will, for would-be owners locked-in to a budget, be a major factor when making that final call between brands. ~ MotorBar

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