In October last year, Kia’s design chief Peter Schreyer had hinted at bringing the Kia Stonic to India. According to a new report from Autocar India, along with the Kia Carnival, the company is considering the Kia Stonic for our market. These models generated the most interest at its Auto Expo 2018 stand.
Introduced in July last year, the Stonic is Kia’s answer to small SUVs like the Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and sister brand Hyundai’s Kona. The sub-compact SUV rides on the fourth generation Kia Rio’s platform. It measures 4,140 mm in length, 1,760 mm in width and 1,520 mm in height. It has a 2,580 mm wheelbase and a 183 mm ground clearance.
The Kia Stonic is globally available with four engine options: 1.0L T-GDi petrol, 1.2L MPI petrol, 1.4L MPI petrol and 1.6L CRDi diesel. The 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine produces 120 PS and 172 Nm of torque. The 1.2L MPI and 1.4L MPI naturally aspirated petrol engines are tuned to deliver 84 PS and 122 Nm of torque and 100 PS and 133 Nm of torque respectively. The 1.6L turbocharged diesel engine develops 110 PS and 260 Nm of torque.
The 1.0L T-GDi petrol engine is coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. Starting this year, Kia will offer it with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as an option. The 1.25L petrol engine sends drive to the wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. The 1.4L petrol engine is linked to a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 1.6L diesel engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. An AWD system is unavailable in the Kia Stonic.
Bi-function projection headlights with LED DRL, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, leather upholstery, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshift knob, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, stainless steel pedals and rear USB charging port are the equipment highlights of the Kia Stonic.
Kia offers its B-SUV with a number of advanced active safety features like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
Also Read: Kia Rio – Auto Expo 2018 Live
With the Kia SP Concept-based premium B-SUV already confirmed and a sub-4 metre B-SUV (Hyundai Carlino’s mechanical cousin) following later, it will be interesting to see where the Kia Stonic, if greenlit, slots in Kia’s Indian line-up.
[Source: Autocar India]
