Kia’s new rival for the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR and Mazda CX-3 has been given a name – the Kia Stonic (portmanteau of “speedy” and “tonic”) is set to go on sale in the second half of the year, but before that the Korean carmaker has revealed a couple of sketches to preview the design of the B-segment crossover.
As expected, the Stonic carries plenty of Kia design cues, starting with the trademark “tiger nose” grille flanked by trapezoidal headlights. There’s a strong shoulder line that wraps around the car, while bold fender flares emphasise the car’s stance. An upswept window line provides a more dynamic look, and the tail light shape mirrors the headlights. Protective skid plates and twin exhaust exits complete the look.
Inside, it’s a fairly simple design, with a horizontal dashboard design, “floating” infotainment touchscreen and tiered centre console that is reminiscent of the new Rio and Picanto. Underneath, the Stonic should share its mechanicals with the also-upcoming Hyundai Kona, which uses components from the i20 and i30.
Engines are expected to be taken from the larger i30, including a 1.4 litre T-GDI turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.6 litre CRDi turbodiesel, mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Stonic is part of Kia’s three-pronged strategy to take on this tightly-packed segment, being a more conventional petrol- and diesel-powered offering. The company also sells the more Niro hybrid – which is available in regular and plug-in hybrid forms – as well as the China-only KX3.
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Iriz SUV > all
WoW !!! nice
With that kind of look, 7-speed DCT & power to boot, I’m willing to trade in my Rio.