Kia Stonic SUV prices announced for the UK
Entry level Kia Stonic crossover starts from £16,295, and order books are open now
Kia has announced UK prices for it’s new Stonic SUV, introducing five versions of the car with two trim levels and three different engines that will be available from launch.
The entry-level ‘2’ variant comes with a choice of 1.4-litre or 1.0-litre turbo petrol engines as well as a 1.6-litre turbodiesel option. The cheapest of these is the 1.4-litre variant, which produces 98bhp and 133Nm. Prices start at £16,295, with a promised return of 51.4mpg.
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Meanwhile the ‘First Edition’ trim drops the entry-level 1.4-litre engine, offering the more expensive 1.6-litre diesel with 108bhp and 260Nm, as well as a 0-60mph figure of 10.9s and 67.3mpg. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol is also available here and is the most powerful of the range, with 118bhp and a 0-60mph time of 9.9s, although economy suffers at 56.5mpg. All models come with a six-speed manual gearbox, and an engine start/stop system as standard.
Order books for the latest addition to Kia’s line-up are now open, and the Korean brand expects it to become one of its best-selling UK models after it goes on sale on 23 October.
The small SUV market is booming and Kia is chasing a slice of the profits: the Stonic is set to sit beneath the Sportage and Sorento in the range, and will take on the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur, and new Hyundai Kona.
In order to make the new Rio-inspired crossover stand out in this increasingly crowded marketplace, Kia promises this is its most customisable car to date.
Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Management and hill-start assist are standard across all models, while Kia’s Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning System are optional in ‘2’ trim and standard in ‘First Edition’ form. ‘First Edition’ customers will also receive the brand’s Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
In ‘2’ guise, a seven-inch display provides a DAB radio and MP3 compatibility. ‘First Edition’ models get a seven-inch touchscreen providing navigation and infotainment, combined with Kia connected services and TomTom. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however, are standard across the range.
All models get 17-inch alloy wheels, air con, electric windows, roof rails, rear parking sensors, remote locking, heated door mirrors, bluetooth with voice recognition, bi-function projection headlamps and daytime running lights. Body-coloured bumpers, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a six-speaker audio system are also standard.
The ‘First Edition’ spec adds smart key entry and an engine start/stop button, plus stainless steel pedals, black cloth and grey faux leather upholstery. Automatic air con, LED rear lights and rear privacy glass are also included.
The standard paint colour is ‘Sienna Brown’, with black roof on ‘First Edition’ models. ‘2’ paint options include Clear White, Blaze Red, Graphite and Midnight Black, with additional options for ‘First Edition’ cars.
Kia promises that space won’t be at a premium, with generous leg and headroom, plus class-leading shoulder room. In the back, a two-step floor will allow ‘First Edition’ owners to expand or shrink the 352-litre boot to suit their needs.
In terms of design, contemporary Kia cues such as the ‘tiger-nose’ grille and strong, swept headlights define the Stonic’s face, but Kia has made an effort to distance the crossover from the Rio hatchback on which it’s based. Looking down the side of the car, sharp creases and kinks are found near the door sills, while the window line kinks upwards, too. Rugged-looking black plastic cladding runs in a ring around the bottom edge of the car and around the wheelarches, giving the crossover a tougher stance. Similarly, brushed metal skidplates are found front and rear.
Kia has turned to past concept cars to influence the design – the ‘targa’-style roof loop at the C-pillar is plucked from the Provo coupé concept of 2013. In the cabin things take on a much more Rio-inspired bent. The dash is near identical, while the switchgear is carried directly over. Again, lots of customisable colour schemes are promised.
Hybrid versions of the Stonic could appear in the future by adapting the technology underpinning the Niro. All Stonics will be front-wheel drive only, and will come as standard with Kia’s seven-year/100,000 mile manufacturer warranty.
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