Kia announces pricing and specification for Stonic small SUV

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Kia's first small SUV - Stonic - is available to order now, with prices starting from £16,295.

There will be five versions at launch, based on two trim grades (‘2’ and ‘First Edition’) and three powertrains.

The Rio-based vehicle will be available with a 99PS 1.4-litre multi-point injection petrol engine, a 120PS 1.0-litre T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct injection) unit and a 109PS 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel.

All models have a six-speed manual gearbox and feature ISG, Kia's engine stop/start system

Pricing will start at £16,295 for the 1.4-litre petrol grade ‘2’, rising to £20,495 for the ‘First Edition’ 1.6 CRDi diesel. Stonic will arrive in showrooms on October 23.

Stonic is slightly longer than Rio, at 4,140mm. It is also 70mm taller and rides 42mm higher from the ground. While the two cars share some mechanical components, Stonic has a bespoke body and interior.

All models will be front-wheel drive as the take-up for all-wheel drive in this sector of the market is only 8%.

Kia will offer only mid- and high-grade versions of Stonic in the UK in line with demand from both retail and fleet customers. The grade ‘2’ Stonic will be available with all three engines, while First Edition is being offered with the efficient 1.0-litre T-GDi and 1.6-litre CRDi units.

Al versions are fitted with electronic stability control (ESC) and vehicle stability management (VSM) as standard. VSM is linked to torque vectoring, straight line stability and cornering brake control. All versions also have hill-start assist to prevent the car from rolling backwards when setting off on steep inclines.

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane departure warning are standard in the ‘First Edition’ and optional on grade ‘2’.

AEB is linked to Driver Attention Warning, which can alert a drowsy or distracted driver that it is time to take a break, and high beam assist, which automatically switches the car between dipped and full beam according to the traffic around it and the local street lighting.

The ‘First Edition’ also has blind spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, to prevent the car from being driven into the path of a vehicle approaching from an angle out of the driver's eyesight.

There is a 7.0-inch display with a digital radio and MP3 compatibility in grade ‘2’. In the ‘First Edition’ this is upgraded to a 7.0-inch touchscreen navigation and infotainment system featuring Kia Connected Services with TomTom. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration are standard across the range.

All models have 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, all-round electric windows, roof rails, rear parking sensors, remote locking, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, a 3.5-inch supervision cluster, Bluetooth with voice recognition and music streaming, automatic light control, bi-function projection headlamps and cornering lights and LED daytime running lights.

There are body-coloured bumpers, door mirror casings and door handles, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, 60:40 split rear seats and a six-speaker audio system.

The ‘First Edition’ adds a smart key entry system and engine start/stop button, stainless steel pedals, black cloth and grey faux leather upholstery with colour accents, automatic air conditioning, LED rear lights, privacy glass on the rear side windows and tailgate, heated front seats and D-shaped steering wheel, chrome window trim and interior door handles and a dual-height luggage floor.

Kia expects to sell 70,000 Stonics across Europe in 2018, rising to 100,000 a year durign the car's lifetime. The UK will contribute at least 10% of the total.

Performance and economy