Kia’s B-segment SUV Stonic is ready to conquer Europe’s fastest-growing vehicle segment. Kia is eager to put the Stonic in the European market during Q3 2017, because Kia says that the B-SUV segment currently accounts for 1.1 million new car sales in Europe each year, around 7% of the market, and is expected to cross two million by 2020.
By volume, the B-SUV market is expected to overtake the C-SUV segment by 2020, when more than one in ten new cars sold in Europe will be from the Stonic’s segment. The B-SUV segment attracts buyers from across the spectrum, with 21% of all customers upsizing from a supermini, and another 15% downsizing from their family hatchbacks. Cars like the Stonic also appeal to those looking to replace their compact MPVs. – Michael Cole, COO, Kia Motors Europe
Kia doesn’t share on what platform the Stonic has been built but just says that the car is built on a strong and lightweight platform, with Advanced High Strength Steel accounting for 51% of materials used. The possibility of being the sister model of Hyundai Kona can’t be ruled out.
The Stonic has been designed in Europe, in collaboration with Kia’s Korean design studio. While it boasts a true European flair inside out, the front is easily recognizable as Kia, with the signature design elements such as the ‘tiger-nose’ grille.
Stonic’s ‘Targa’-style roof is customizable with a two-tone paint finish, which Kia says inspired by the 2013 Provo concept. There are up to 20 two-tone colour combinations, with a choice of 5 distinctive colours for the roof.
Kia promises a big list of features, driver assistance systems, and safety equipment for the Stonic. These include a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto as standard, heated front seats, automatic cruise control and keyless entry.
Safety kit includes Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) as standard. Specific functions of VSM include Torque Vectoring by Braking, Straight Line Stability, and Cornering Brake Control. Boot space measures 352-litres.
Along with the design, the suspension and steering have also been tuned in Europe.
Powertrains
Buyers will have the choice of 1.0-litre T-GDI (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine, producing 120 PS, as well as 1.25L or 1.4-litre naturally-aspirated MPI (multi-point injection) gasoline engines. A 1.6-litre diesel engine completes the range.
While the Kona gets an AWD option, Stonic appears to be just a front-wheel drive at the moment.
Buyers can choose from a selection of Kia’s DRiVE WISE Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These technologies include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian recognition and Forward Collision Alert (FCA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS). High Beam Assist (HBA) and Driver Attention Warning (DAW) complete the safety package.
The Stonic comes with a 7-year, 150,000 km warranty.
In April this year, Kia announced an investment of US$1.1 billion in Andhra Pradesh in India for a new manufacturing facility. While the Kona is not expected to be launched in India, its sister model Stonic might come sometime in 2019.
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