[THE INVESTOR] Kia Motors has launched the Stonic subcompact SUV with a 1.0-liter engine to woo fuel-efficiency sensitive customers, the company said on Aug. 6.

The latest Stonic comes with a 1.0-liter gasoline turbo engine putting out 120 horsepower and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, Kia said in a statement.

“The 1.0-liter Stonic is mainly targeted at local customers in their 20s and 30s. The company has not decided on whether to sell it overseas yet,” a company spokesman said.

Last year, the country’s second-biggest carmaker by sales launched the Stonic with a 1.6-liter diesel engine and a 1.4-liter gasoline engine amid growing global demand for SUVs.

The 1.0-liter Stonic crossover is priced at 19 million won (US$17,000) to 21 million won, with the 1.4-liter model and 1.6-liter model at 16 million won-20 million won and at 20 million won-23 million won, respectively, the statement said.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)