Thinking of getting a Kia Stonic?
The style of the car
The Kia Stonic is a compact SUV that’s small in size but big on style. It’s about the same size as the Hyundai Kona or Nissan Juke and, like those cars, it’s available in some bold exterior colour combinations.
How it drives
Despite its SUV looks, the Stonic feels quite sporty to drive. It’s a lot of fun whether you’re on a country road or just nipping around town. Its small size and elevated seating position make it really easy to park and sensors are standard on all models. The Stonic feels composed and comfortable on motorways, too. You can choose from among two petrol engines and one diesel. The 1.4-litre petrol is fine around town but if you regularly do long journeys or carry a full complement of passengers, the 1.0-litre turbo petrol or the diesel are a better bet. An automatic gearbox is available with the 1.0-litre engine.
The interior
The Stonic is a small SUV with five doors and five seats. It’s the same size as the Citroen C3 Aircross and Volkswagen T-Cross. It’s surprisingly spacious for a small car, with ample room for four adults, several large storage spaces dotted around the interior and two sets of Isofix mounts on the back seat. There are other small SUVs with bigger boots, but the Stonic’s still has more space than that of some larger family cars. A week’s worth of holiday luggage will easily fit. The back seats fold down for more space. All models have air con, cruise control and smartphone connectivity. High-spec models have luxuries like part-leather heated seats and sat nav.
Running costs
According to official figures, petrol-powered Stonics give fuel economy of 45-47mpg and the diesel gives 57mpg. Road tax and insurance costs are very low, too. Safety experts Euro NCAP gave entry-level Stonic models a three-star rating because they lacked some advanced driver safety systems. High-spec models have those systems and get a full five-star rating.
How it compares with similar cars
There are a lot of small SUVs to choose from including the Nissan Juke and Hyundai Kona. The Stonic isn’t the most practical option and doesn’t offer as much choice of engine and spec. But its style, sporty feel and excellent value stand out.
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