Without making much noise, the Kia Stonic has become one of the pillars of the Korean firm’s sales in our country, in addition to having been among the most in-demand models in the B-segment SUV segment for some time. Although it has had momentum since its launch in 2017, the incorporation to the catalog of light hybridization engines, or mild hybridhas further strengthened its acceptance, especially among users in large cities, due to the Eco environmental distinctive that distinguishes models equipped with any hybrid (non-plug-in) technology.
Among the secrets of success Stonic We find its compact dimensions – 4.14 meters long, with 2.58 m wheelbase -, compatible with enough interior space for four – better than five – occupants and ideal for couples without great space needs or for a single person The trunk, of 352 liters, is what would be expected in a model in its segment and its most notable feature, which should be taken into account, is a notable distance between the edge and the loading surface.
Another attraction of this small SUV is a good quality of finish that is accompanied by a notable simplicity in the handling of various instrumentation and controls, something notable in this era of ubiquitous screens that it is necessary to resort to even to adjust the rearview mirrors. Let’s add to this the possibility of having an automatic transmission, which is not common in vehicles of this size, and prices that, as always at Kia, we can consider reasonable for the quality of the product provided to the customer.
that inside the Stonic Although we find a sensible amount of physical controls, it does not mean that the vehicle lacks an attractive central screen, 8 inches in most versions, as well as a 4.2-inch instrument panel. To this we must add Kia’s connected services, which include real-time traffic information and information on service stations, parking lots and places of interest, along with speed control alerts and the weather forecast.
Also add the functions of the telematics system UVO Connect, such as the location of the car and the summary of our trips, the last mile walking navigation, the information and transfer of the user profile and the vehicle started alert, which sends a notification to the driver when he leaves the vehicle started and the door open .
Let’s now pause for a moment on the engine range. There is one available with a 1.2 liter and 79 horsepower, without hybridization, and another 1.0 T-GDi MHEV that was previously offered in 100 and 120 HP variants and can now only be requested in the least powerful one.
A very welcome hybridization
The system mild hybrid 48 volts incorporates an electric motor that, powered by a small battery, has among its functions that of assisting the main combustion engine under certain conditions, particularly during acceleration. In this way, the aim is to improve the car’s performance while slightly reducing consumption, in addition to having access to the precious Eco badge already mentioned.
Not only does the user not have to do anything for this technology to work, but it will also go unnoticed except in two specific situations. The first, by lifting the foot off the accelerator during deceleration phases, where the electric motor begins to function as a generator and the retention increases in intensity. The second takes place when the same electric motor is in charge of starting the thermal engine (which is almost always), a function that it performs quickly and smoothly.
He Stonic made a qualitative leap in safety features in its 2021 update. Devices such as lane keeping assistant, blind spot collision alert, automatic switching to high beams, driver fatigue alert, emergency braking were then introduced. emergency, recognition of speed signs, adaptive cruise control or assistant to avoid perpendicular collisions in the rear, among others. To all of this are now added the ADAS—driving aids—mandatory by law since last July.
The Korean model range is made up of two finishes —Drive and concept— for the 1.2 naturally aspirated engine, on sale from 21,294 euros, and a total of four for the MHEV 1.0: the same Drive and concepthe Style Edition and the most luxurious and sporty GT Line. In this case, the price range is between 21,566 and 24,619 euros.
Both the version Drive like the GT LinThey can incorporate a seven-speed automatic transmission that involves an extra outlay of 1,600 euros in both cases. The model with the 79 HP engine has a five-speed manual transmission, and the mild hybrid In principle, it has an intelligent manual one that has six relationships.
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