Gravells Kia Bridgend welcomes new member of the family
KIA enters Europe’s fastest-growing market sector with the all-new Kia Stonic, an exciting, sporty, confident and smart new model priced from £16,295, available from Gravells Kia in Bridgend.
The Stonic is based on the latest Rio supermini and is powered by high-efficiency, high-technology petrol and diesel powertrains from Rio and the cee’d family. It was designed in Europe at the company’s Frankfurt studios, with input from the main design centre at Namyang in Korea.
In the UK there is a five-model line-up based on grade ‘2’ and ‘First Edition’ trim levels. All versions offer an extensive package of connectivity features, including links to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via predownloaded smartphone apps, while advanced electronic driver assistance systems such as autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and automatic switching between high and low headlight beams are available.
Key signature design elements such as the ‘tiger-nose’ main front grille, the distinctive C-pillar and the straight lines and smooth surfaces ensure that Stonic is instantly recognisable as a member of the modern Kia family.
The First Edition version stands out even more thanks to its two-tone paintwork. The roof, wing mirror casings and rear spoiler are picked out in either black, lime green, red or orange, depending on the choice of main body colour, and there are colour accents in the interior on the seats and around the lower centre console and display screen areas.
The horizontal-theme evident in the exterior styling is repeated in the cabin, emphasising width and space while separating the upper information and lower control areas. The number of buttons and switches has been kept to a minimum to give a neater look and greater functionality. The First Edition follows the Rio in offering USB ports front and rear so that mobile devices can be charged from any seat.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) are standard. VSM is linked to torque vectoring, straight line stability and cornering brake control to help the driver maintain control in bad weather or on poorly surfaced roads. All versions also have hill-start assist.
Autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning are standard in the First Edition and optional on grade ‘2’ as part of an Advanced Driving Assistance Pack (ADAP). The lane departure warning system is linked to driver attention warning, which can alert a drowsy or distracted driver that it is time to take a break, and high beam assist, which automatically switches the car between dipped and full beam according to the traffic around it and the local street lighting.
The First Edition also has blind spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, to prevent the car from being driven into the path of a vehicle approaching from an angle out of the driver’s eye-line.
There is a seven-inch display with a DAB radio and MP3 compatibility in grade ‘2,’ and in the First Edition this is upgraded to a seven-inch touchscreen navigation and infotainment system featuring Kia Connected Services with TomTom.
Jonathan Gravell, managing director at Gravells Kia, commented: “We are very excited to introduce residents to the all-new Kia Stonic. It’s a fantastic urban crossover and the range of colours and technology make it a really strong offering for anyone looking for their next great car, so we look forward to welcoming people for a test drive!”
In common with all Kias, the Stonic has the best warranty in the business – a seven-year/100,000-mile declaration of faith in the reliability and quality of the car, covering all labour and parts except those subject to normal wear and tear. The warranty is transferable if the car is sold before the time/mileage limit expires.
It is also available with ‘Care-3’ and ‘Care-3 Plus’ servicing packages for retail customers. These cover the cost of all routine servicing work for three or five years respectively and, like the warranty, can be passed on if the car is sold before they expire.