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March 19, 2024

[BEHIND THE WHEEL] Kia Stonic is nimble and efficient

PUBLISHED : July 27, 2017 - 15:42

UPDATED : July 27, 2017 - 15:42

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[THE INVESTOR] Just like its name suggests, Kia Motors' latest Stonic subcompact sport utility vehicle delivers a fun yet agile drive. 

Stonic, a portmanteau of speedy and tonic -- which refers to the first note of musical scale -- is Kia’s take on the booming subcompact SUV segment, crowded with its bigger brother Hyundai Motor’s Kona, segment leader SsangYong Motor’s Tivoli and Renault Samsung’s QM3. 

To test what Kia has to offer, The Investor took the highest Prestige Trim of the Stonic on a 150-kilometer drive from western Seoul to Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, for a 2 1/2-hour ride.

The most impressive point about Stonic is its fuel efficiency that reached 19.4 kilometers per liter after driving more than 70 kilometers on highways and congested city roads. It is higher than the stated official gas mileage of 17 kilometers per liter. 

The car, that runs on 1.6-liter E-VGT diesel engine mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, delivers a sharp steering and swift acceleration for an exciting drive. It delivers a solid 110 horsepower with a 30.6 kilogram-force meter torque, strong enough for a petit car that is touted as an urban SUV rather than for long-distance cruise. 


Kia Motors’ subcompact Stonic SUV on a highway near Seoul in a media test-drive event on July 25.



Stonic is nimble, and easily speeds up when the throttle is given a push, although it feels light and bounces around on uneven roads. 

Another major concern for Stonic is its noticeable road and wind noise at higher speeds, which makes the car seem unsophisticated in comparison to its rivals. 

When it comes to Stonic’s looks, its exterior is simple -- but not boring -- and stands apart from its sibling rival Kona, which boasts an edgy design.  Stonic, which measures 4,140mm in length, 1,760mm in width and 1,520mm in height, is a bit smaller than Kona and Tivoli. 

The SUV features Kia’s signature tiger-nose grille, sleek headlights and a slightly rugged body cladding. The styling, with a low center of gravity, evokes a sense of sportiness. The rear is very similar to other Kia SUVs, such as bigger Sportage, with trapezoidal taillights and voluminous bumpers. 

The car is colorful, with seven palettes offered, including the most popular white color -- that claimed 43.1 percent of all orders -- bright yellow and vivid red color that stands out. 

Kia kept the interior quite modest with a straightforward layout. The driver can choose to highlight it with splash of orange or bronze color for an additional touch. 

Stonic has a host of advanced driver assistance and safety technology that is featured in most new cars, including lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and blind monitoring, depending on the configuration. 

Most of all, Stonic’s price tag stands out. It starts at an affordable 18.95 million won (US$16,926), the cheapest diesel subcompact SUV among its rivals. The price goes up to 22.65 million won for the highest trim, but it is still affordable for its target customers – youngsters in their 20s to 30s and first-time car buyers. 

Stonic is doing pretty well in terms of sales, considering only the diesel powertrain is available now. The carmaker has still not decided to introduce a gasoline version in the country. 

It has clinched 2,500 preorders orders in 20 days since they commenced on June 27, much higher than Kia’s monthly target of 1,500 units.


The Investor rating (out of 5 stars)

Design: 4 stars

Safety: 3 stars

Gas Mileage: 5 stars

Price: 5 stars

Overall: 17/20



By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)

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