Koreans go super Stonic with new Kia

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 more than 1.1 million sales in Europe each year and that figure is only likely to grow. Forecasts expect the number to top 2m by 2020, at which point sales will overtake those in the ‘C’ part of the SUV segment — that for Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage-sized Crossovers.

Kia has noted 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 another Korean contender in this class, Hyundai’s Kona.

As expected, the Stonic shares the engine line-up used in Kia’s Rio supermini. That means a range of lightweight, downsized, turbocharged petrol and diesel powerplants, each paired with a manual transmission.

Buyers have the choice of the brand’s lightweight 120PS 1.0-litre T-GDI turbo petrol unit, as well as the older-tech but cheaper 1.25 or 1.4-litre naturally-aspirated MPI petrol engines.

An efficient 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine completes the range, offering the lowest emissions in the line-up.

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. All models are front-driven: there’s not much appetite in this segment for 4WD.

Expect the Stonic to sell in the same kind of £15,000 to £24,000 bracket common to the two leading small SUVs, Nissan’s Juke and Renault’s Captur.

It will be available with up to 20 two-tone colour combinations, with a choice of up to five distinctive colours for the roof. The car gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard, bringing seamless smartphone-mirroring functionality to the touchscreen infotainment system.

As with all Kias, the Stonic is covered by a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.