A SPEEDY TONIC (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

The Kia Stonic 'B'-segment small SUV will be at its most popular in 1.0 T-GDI petrol turbo guise. Jonathan Crouch looks at the 118bhp 48V mild hybrid version.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 82

The Kia Stonic offers customers for small SUVs yet another tempting choice. In this improved form, the looks can be eye-catching and it's good to drive in comparison to most obvious rivals. In addition, this car is reasonably spacious and pretty affordable to run, thanks to an efficient 1.0-litre T-GDI petrol engine that can now be had with 48v mild hybrid tech. Plus prices are pitched keenly and you get a seven-year warranty. It is, in short, a very competitive proposition indeed.

Backgroundword count: 149

In recent years, Kia has become a very significant player on the market for compact crossover SUVs. But the company's never really had a product of this sort to directly target the smallest section of this segment. That's the brief assigned to this Stonic model and, on paper at least, it seems to be almost everything you might want a car of this kind to be. The name's interesting isn't it? (apparently a combination of the words 'speedy' and 'tonic'). A little surprisingly, this car doesn't share those same underpinnings with sister company Hyundai's rival Kona model, though the two manufacturers do use the same engineware, most notably in this case the 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol unit which Kia now insists that Stonic folk should choose. These people will be buying into a car that gives Kia one of the widest crossover SUV product selections available from any current brand.

Driving Experienceword count: 250

This Stonic is 70mm taller than the Rio model it's based upon and to compensate, has lengthened springs and dampers. At the wheel, you don't get a particularly commanding driving position but what is on offer, rather surprisingly, is a slightly sharper driving experience than is available in the Rio. That's down to a standard torque vectoring system that gives you extra traction at speed through tight corners. Plus there's a stiff body shell and fairly firm suspension that acquaints you with small bumps and tarmac tears a little more keenly than is the case with some rivals. It's nothing you couldn't live with though and suspension smoothness improves the faster you go. Thanks to this and very reasonable levels of refinement, the Stonic is a surprisingly able partner for longer trips. Engine-wise, there's a two-way choice. Many buyers will opt for the 1.0-litre T-GDI turbo petrol powerplant in conventional 99bhp form, available with either manual or 7-speed DCT auto transmission. The alternative is the gutsier 118bhp version of this same engine, which has been paired with the brand's latest 48-volt mild hybrid tech. Again, there are manual or auto options. Across the range, predictably, there's no 4WD system or traction-enhancing set-up on offer, but a 42mm ride height increase that this model enjoys over its Rio supermini donor design suggests that reasonable progress could be made in slippery car parks or on light field tracks if you were to equip this car with a decent set of Winter tyres.

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