The improved version of Kia's Stonic offers small SUV buyers yet another tempting choice. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Kia continues to build its share of the market for small Juke-style compact Crossover SUVs with this car, 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 99bhp. With 48V mild hybrid tech, there's a 118bhp output. Either way, there's the choice of either the latest iMT manual transmission or a 7DCT automatic. 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 £21,000 and rises to just under £26,000; 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 four trim grades - '2', 'GT-Line', 'Connect' and 'GT-Line S'. 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

One thing that designers of B-segment SUVs have lately got very good at is restricting the size of the weight penalty that would ordinarily be a major drawback of a car of this kind. With this 1.0-litre T-GDI turbo petrol-powered Stonic model, the weight increase over an equivalent version of the Rio supermini it's based upon can be as little as 25kgs. It's no surprise then, to find that that the running costs of this little SUV are only around 8% down on the fuel and CO2 returns of its more conventional showroom stablemate. Specifically, that means a 1.0-litre T-GDI 99bhp manual derivative can return 49.6mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and manage 129g/km of CO2. It wasn't very long ago that you'd have needed a diesel to get figures like these in a small SUV. For the 118bhp 48v mild hybrid version of this engine, the figures are 50.4mpg and 127g/km. 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.

Summary

Kia may be a late entrant in the B-SUV segment but it's produced an impressively complete contender here. Change the perception you might have of this brand as being somewhat dull and characterless. Products like the Stinger are changing that and this improved Stonic model is further evidence that Kia is mastering the art of producing desirable, yet affordable cars. Which is just as well because buyers in the small Crossover class want charisma and individuality, attributes delivered in surprising measure here. If you're buying in this class, this contender is another that really ought to be on our list.

Body Glass

Rear wash/wipe

Tinted glass

Heated rear window

Rain sensing front wipers

Automatic defog system

Speed variable front wipers

Windscreen Washer Level Warning

All round electric windows with drivers auto up/down function

Privacy glass - Rear windows and tailgate

Brakes

Hill start assist control (HAC)

Electronic stability control (ESC) and vehicle stability management (VSM)

ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist System (BAS)

Communication

Apple car play/Android Auto with voice control

Driver Aids

Electric power steering

Cruise control + speed limiter

Rear parking sensor

Emergency stop signalling system

Drive mode selector

Lane follow assist

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) - City/Pedestrian/Cyclist

Intelligent speed limit assist

Lane keeping assist system (LKAS), Driver attention warning (DAW) and High beam assist (HBA)

Reversing camera system

Driver Information

Trip computer

4.2" supervision colour cluster display

Emergency call service

External temperature display

8" touchscreen navigation

Driving Mirrors

Automatic dimming rear view mirror

Electrically adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors with LED indicators

Body coloured door mirrors with matt black lower housing

Embellishment Trims

High gloss black centre fascia

Engine

Intelligent Stop and Go

Entertainment

Steering wheel mounted controls

Audio system with 6 speakers

Bluetooth with music streaming

USB ports for connection of a media device

Exterior Body Features

Premium paint

Roof rails

Black/body colour bumpers

Chrome side window trim

High gloss black radiator grille

Shark fin antenna

Body coloured exterior door handles

Front and rear silver skid plates

Black side sill, door garnish and wheel arch trims

Rear side wing doors

Body coloured rear roof spoiler with high mounted LED braking light

Exterior Lights

Front fog lights

LED daytime running lights

Rear fog lights

LED rear combination lights

Welcome and follow-me home light functionality

Automatic headlights control

LED Bi-function projection headlights with static bending

Headlight levelling device

LED position light

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Automatic air conditioning

Air filter

Interior Features

Centre console with cupholders

Heated steering wheel

12V power point front

Tilt/telescopic adjustable steering wheel

Alloy pedals

Luggage net with hooks

Satin chrome interior door handles

Leather trimmed gearshift

Gear shift indicator

Front and rear door storage

Luggage area parcel shelf

Passenger front seatback pockets

Centre armrest storage box

Front and rear door map pockets with bottle holder

Overhead console with sunglasses cases

Rear USB charging port

Cloth and artificial leather upholstery

Leather steering wheel with blue contrast stitching

Blue centre console detailing

Interior Lights

Glovebox illumination

Dash illumination dimmer switch

Luggage area light

Overhead console lamp

Front and centre cabin lights

Safety

Height adjustable front seatbelts

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Front seatbelt pretensioners + load limiters

Rear airbags

Rear seat Occupancy alert

Impact sensing auto door unlocking

All round 3-point seatbelts

Twin front airbags

Front passenger airbag cut-off switch

Seatbelt reminder warning

Twin curtain airbags

Twin front side airbags

Manual child lock in rear doors

Seats

Heated front seats

60/40 split folding rear seat

3 seat bench in 2nd row

All-round height adjustable headrests

ISOFIX Child seat top tethers and anchor fixings outer rear seats

Single front passenger seat

Manual driver seat adjustment

Security

Engine immobiliser

Locking wheel nuts

Visible vehicle identification number

Alarm system

Speed sensitive auto door locking

Door deadlocks

Smart key with engine start/stop button

Customisable automatic door unlocking

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with vanity mirror illumination (Driver and front passenger)

Wheels - Alloy

17" Gunmetal grey alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

Tyre mobility kit

Emissions - ICE

Particles: 0.0001

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 129

HC+NOx: N

NOx: 0.018

HC: 0.024

CO: 0.089

Noise Level dB(A): 70

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

Engine and Drive Train

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Gears: 7 SPEED

Transmission: AUTO

Compression Ratio: 10.0:1

Cylinders: 3

CC: 998

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Number of Valves: 12

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 84

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 71

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: TURBO INJECTION

Catalytic Convertor: No

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

General

Based On ID: 104324

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

Generation Mark: 1

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Badge Engine CC: 1.0

Badge Power: 98

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

Special Edition: No

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Service Interval Mileage: 10000

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 8E

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Special Order: 0

Coin Series: Shadow

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 5

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 100000

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 7

Coin Description: T-GDi 48V

Performance

Engine Power - BHP: 98

Engine Power - PS: 0

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Torque - MKG: 20.4

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 148

Engine Power - RPM: 6000

Engine Power - KW: 73

Engine Torque - NM: 200

Engine Torque - RPM: 2500

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 205/55 R17

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Wheel Style: N

Tyre Size Rear: 205/55 R17

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Vehicle Dimensions

Width: 1760

Width (including mirrors): N

Height: 1505

Height (including roof rails): 1520

Wheelbase: 2580

Length: 4140

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1710

Minimum Kerbweight: 1260

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 45

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 710

Max. Loading Weight: 450

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 352

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.2

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1155

Paint - Special

Premium paint - Midnight black

Premium paint - Astro grey

Premium paint - Smokey blue

Trim - Part Leather

Cloth/Artificial leather - Black with blue stitching and inserts