Kia Stonic 1.0 T-GDI 2
Fine-handling Juke rival
Funny name, Stonic, isn’t it? It actually comes from the words ‘speedy’ and ‘tonic’. Somehow these are supposed to evoke youthfulness and fun.
Still, at least it helps the new Kia to stand out from the crowd, which it needs to as one of the later entries to the burgeoning small-suv market. It’s designed to go up against the Nissan Juke, Seat Arona and in-house rival the Hyundai Kona.
It’s not a dynamically gifted segment. Even dynamism masters Ford couldn’t shake up the category with the troubled Ecosport. Kia is facing an open goal with the Stonic, then. All it has to do is make a wellbuilt, frisky-handling small SUV for the right price. Don’t let the fact that nobody else has managed it yet suggest a foregone conclusion, either.
The ride of the 1.0-litre threecylinder turbo petrol Stonic is informatively firm but not overly so. However, it’s a shame about the excessive jiggling in the slightly harder-riding 1.6-litre diesel. The ride is a little stiff and fidgety up to around 50mph, although it settles at higher speeds. Every change in the road surface, crease and bump is detectable, but not to the extent that it’s uncomfortable.
Those driving mainly in town won’t appreciate the stiffness of the diesel but the 1.0-litre petrol is more suited to urban pootling anyway. There’s little in the way of body roll, although the seats aren’t the last word in supportiveness.
The Stonic is £600 cheaper than the equivalent Juke and feels far more solid inside than the Suzuki Vitara, if lacking some of its quirky charm. A few more soft-touch materials are required here, though.
The back seats could use a little more room too, although there doesn’t appear to be any less of it than in the average supermini. Head room is sufficient and the car feels wider inside than its supermini roots imply.
Kia reckons 60% of Stonic buyers will opt for a petrol engine, with the 1.0-litre tipped as the overwhelming favourite. You can see why. The frugal 1.6-litre diesel engine is loud at higher revs and the 1.4-litre petrol has to be worked hard. The 1.0-litre’s thrust is more than enough and what little engine noise exists isn’t an offensive sound. The 1.0-litre model feels lighter on its feet too.