SEVERAL years after launching in Europe, Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) has lastly launched its Stonic gentle SUV with the Rio-based high-rider checking in from $22,990 driveaway.
Measuring in 4140mm lengthy, 1760mm journey and 1520mm tall (together with roof rails), the Stonic rides on a 2580mm wheelbase and boasts between 165-183mm of floor clearance.
Pegged by KMAu as a direct rival for the Mazda CX-3 and Hyundai Venue, the Stonic shall be accessible in three totally different trim ranges with three totally different powertrains supplied relying on the variant, all that includes 352 litres of boot area (1155L with rear seats stowed).
On the backside of the vary is the S, accessible with the selection of both a six-speed guide transmission or a six-speed computerized, the latter of which carries a $1000 worth premium over the stick shifter ($23,990 d/a).
Each choices are paired to a naturally aspirated 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine growing 74kW of energy and 133Nm of torque.
In guide guise, KMAu claims this engine will devour between 6.0 and 6.7 litres of gasoline per 100km on the mixed cycle whereas emitting 155g of CO2 per km (computerized).
The usual gear listing of the S varieties the inspiration for the remainder of the vary to construct on, consisting of 15-inch metal wheels, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (each wi-fi) and multi-device Bluetooth connectivity, six-speaker stereo system, a 4.2-inch TFT driver’s show, cruise management, computerized headlights, reversing digicam, rear parking sensors, material upholstery and halogen daytime operating lights.
Security gear on the bottom mannequin in the meantime consists of autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and bike owner detection, ahead collision warning, driver consideration alert, lane following help and 6 airbags.
With reference to security, KMAu is advertising and marketing the Stonic as having the identical 2017-issued five-star security ranking as its Rio cousin quite than submitting the automotive for testing underneath the newest 2020 testing protocols.
When quizzed on the matter by media, KMAu product planning common supervisor Roland Rivero mentioned it was all the way down to the complexities and bills of crash testing.
“The place there’s a chance to clearly piggyback or carry over a ranking we’ll go that path before everything,” he mentioned.
“Crash testing shouldn’t be one thing that’s relative easy to execute, it’s an enormous job, it’s useful resource intensive in addition to it’s not low-cost both, it’s fairly costly and we’re on the mid-way level within the lifetime of inventory and subsequently as a lot as doable, we’d wish to launch it with out having to spend one other enormous portion of {dollars} to get it via.”
In response to Mr Rivero, the same technique was employed in Europe by the native arm of Kia Motors.
Transferring up the vary, the mid-level Sport is offered with the identical alternative of both a guide ($24,990) or computerized ($25,990) transmission because the S and it depends on the identical 1.4-litre engine for propulsion.
Commonplace gear is of course improved over the bottom mannequin with additional niceties together with 17-inch alloy wheels, energy folding mirrors, premium steering wheel and shifter, push button begin, illuminated solar visor and satellite tv for pc navigation, nevertheless the wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are downgraded to wired connections solely.
On the top quality in the meantime resides the GT-Line which not solely serves because the flagship of the vary however can be touted by KMAU managing director Damien Meredith to be the quantity vendor.
Priced from $29,990 driveaway, the GT-Line provides a wealth of additional goodies in comparison with the S and the Sport together with distinctive 17-inch alloys, GT-Line physique package deal, cease/begin system, LED head-, fog- and daytime operating lights, two-tone paint or a sunroof, fake leather-based trimmed seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain sensing wipers, local weather management and privateness glass.
The additional outlay will even web patrons a gutsier engine with energy within the flagship coming from a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder mill growing 74kW/172Nm.
Drive is shipped to the entrance wheels similar to within the different variants nevertheless this time it’s by way of a seven-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission.
Not solely is there an additional 39Nm on faucet, KMAu says the force-fed three-banger boasts superior gasoline economic system and emissions figures of 5.7L/100km and 125g/km respectively.
As traditional for KMAU, the Stonic’s suspension and chassis tune has been optimised for Australian street situations with the majority of the work reportedly being full earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
In response to Mr Meredith, the Stonic is launching Down Below at a “essential time of development” for the model as it’s coming into a phase which grew 14.5 per cent final 12 months whereas the market as a complete fell by 13.5 per cent.
“When Stonic was first mooted we had an in depth take a look at it and made the choice that Seltos made a extra enticing proposition for the Australian market, a call backed by the truth that on the time, there was restricted Stonic provide accessible for Australia,” he mentioned.
“With Seltos firmly established and really importantly, a big enhance in Stonic provide to accommodate our gross sales expectations, there’s a way more compelling case for this sporty city crossover with all the security, worth, fashion and practicality on the core of Kia’s DNA.”
Mr Meredith additionally mentioned he was anticipating some gross sales cannibalisation between the Stonic and the Rio given the latter had advanced extra right into a “fleet-type automotive” whereas the majority of Stonic gross sales could be personal purchases with its driveaway pricing being everlasting.
2021 Kia Stonic pricing
| RRP* | Driveaway | |
| S | $21,490 | $22,990 |
| S (a) | $22,990 | $23,990 |
| Sport | $24,490 | $24,990 |
| Sport (a) | $25,990 | $25,990 |
| GT-Line (a) | $29,990 | $29,990 |
*Excludes on-road prices
