![]() However, although the fascia appears extremely well manufactured and impeccably screwed together, Kia has gone heavy with hard and brittle-looking black and grey plastics, and we’d like a bit more attention paid to lavishing the interior with more soft-touch materials. Inside, the Stonic benefits from a functional and attractive design, as well as impressive fit and finish for this class. If you’re looking for a diesel powered Stonic on the used market the 1.6 CRDi model offers 108bhp and 260Nm, which is enough for a 0-60mph in 10.9 seconds and 112mph, but we feel the 1.0 T-GDi petrol is better suited to most drivers’ needs. The 0-60mph dash takes 12.2 seconds, and the top speed is capped at 107mph. With just 98bhp and only 133Nm of torque, it feels more sluggish too. The now discontinued 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine was bigger but less powerful. The 99bhp engine gets to 60mph in 11.7 seconds. The 0-60mph time of 10.4 seconds for the 118bhp unit is not too shabby, and top speed is 115mph. You’ll need to rev it quite aggressively to access the performance, but with maximum torque delivered from 1,500rpm, the engine responds well to everyday driving demands. Once you’re using more revs on the move it’s refined, too, and quiet at a cruise. The downsized turbo unit makes 118bhp or 99bhp according to your choice, and delivers its power without too much noise and fuss. It's a little rattly at idle, but it pulls smoothly and revs well. Neither does it inspire as much confidence, as this unsettled edge undermines much of the car’s other, acceptable dynamic qualities. There’s not much roll, and you can carry a good amount of speed through corners, but the Stonic never feels fun in the way a SEAT Arona does. The Kia isn’t as comfortable or as relaxing on the motorway as some of its competitors either. The suspension fidgets around, and the damping over aggressive bumps is not as smooth as some rivals. ![]() While the Stonic has enough grip, it never quite feels settled on the move. The steering is light, if lacking in feel, and the gearchange is light and slick. In doing so, they’ve also created a car that feels more agile, is relatively roll-free and handles in a composed and tidy fashion. Kia engineers have re-tuned the Kia Rio’s rather average MacPherson strut front and torsion-beam rear axle suspension set-up to handle the Stonic’s higher centre of gravity. The Stonic’s agile handling is let down by a fidgety ride, but otherwise it’s a refined performer Namely a 48V mild-hybrid assisted and turbocharged petrol three-cylinder 1.0 T-GDi engine with a choice of 99bhp or 118bhp outputs, both with the additional option of six-speed manual or dual-clutch auto transmissions. The Stonic comes in a single five-door body style, and while the engine range used to comprise of two petrols and a diesel, a limited 2020 facelift saw various options removed in favour of the only current choices. Engines, gearboxes and even the interior of the Stonic are also carried over from the Rio, but while the car's name is a portmanteau of 'speedy' and 'tonic', there isn't much of the former on show through the range. It's based on the same platform as the Kia Rio supermini, so all models are front-wheel drive, but the raised ride height means there's a higher driving position. While sister models like the Sorento and Sportage deliver practicality and some off-road ability, the Stonic taps into the small crossover market where style largely takes over from practicality.Īs a result, the Stonic features a sportier look, although compared to some models in the class, it's still fairly restrained. Over the years, Kia has built a reputation for producing decent SUVs and crossovers, but the Kia Stonic is something different.
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