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Kia Stonic review

2017 onwards (change model)
Parkers overall rating: 3.3 out of 53.3
” Still competent after all these years “

At a glance

Price new £21,265 - £25,820
Used prices £5,358 - £23,300
Road tax cost £190
Insurance group 8 - 14
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Fuel economy 44.8 - 56.5 mpg
Range 539 - 770 miles
Miles per pound 6.6 - 8.1
View full specs for a specific version

Available fuel types

Petrol

Diesel

Pros & cons

PROS
  • Good looks
  • Practical boot
  • High level of standard equipment
CONS
  • Feels quite cheap inside
  • Noisy engines
  • Firm ride

Written by Tom Wiltshire Updated: 5 October 2023

Overview

The Stonic – meant to be Kia’s portmanteau of ‘speedy’ and ‘tonic’ – was Kia’s first attempt at a compact SUV to go up against a whole raft of small crossovers that are replacing more traditonal family hatchbacks in the minds of car buyers. Launched in 2017, it received a minor facelift in 2020 and is due to be replaced in 2024.

It really does have a lot of rivals. With everybody from Audi to Volkswagen building compact SUVs, these days the Stonic has a really tough job on its hands to stand out. But that’s not to say that Kia’s not in a good position to earn your monthly payments with it – the Stonic is economical, practical and is available with a peppy mild hybrid engine and manual or automatic transmissions.

It also comes with a low starting price and generous standard equipment, and that means you don’t need to spend too much in order to get a perfectly serviceable Stonic, while Kia’s standard seven-year warranty gives some real peace of mind. No wonder it has earned itself a reputation for reliability that cannot be said for some of its rivals.

There’s a choice of four trim levels, two engines and two transmission. The range rather confusingly kicks off with ‘2’ trim, moving through GT-Line, Connect and GT-Line S. The two GT-Line cars come with a bespoke bodykit, signature LED daytime running lights and sportier-looking alloy wheels, while ‘2’ and Connect trims look rather plainer with old-fashioned halogen projector headlights.

You’ll need Connect or GT-Line S trim to benefit from a contrasting roof colour, a feature which does make the Stonic look a lot sharper and up there with its most desirable rivals.

As for engines, they’re both 1.0-litre turbocharged petrols. All but the entry-level cars come with 48V mild hybrid assistance, though – aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and improving engine response and fuel economy. You can choose either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.