2021 Kia Stonic GT-Line detailed: Sportier Mazda CX-3 and Volkswagen T-Cross rival debuts ahead of imminent launch

Kia has revealed the flagship grade of the first light SUV it will sell in Australia, the Stonic, with the sporty GT-Line to sit atop its range when it arrives as early as the end of this year.

Like other GT-Line models from Kia, the latest Stonic has a sportier side than its regular siblings, mainly owing to its unique, more aggressive bumpers and 17-inch alloy wheels.

In fact, the front-end upgrades even extend to a bespoke ‘tiger nose’ grille with three distinctive air intakes below, while the rear goes a step further with dual exhaust tailpipes.

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Inside, the GT-Line stands out from the Stonic crowd with its perforated leather-trimmed flat-bottom steering wheel, black cloth/synthetic leather upholstery with white contrast stitching and piping, and carbon-fibre-style trim.

In Australia, the GT-Line will be powered by a familiar 1.0-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine, which will likely match the recently facelifted Rio light hatchback’s 74kW/172Nm version.

2021 Kia Stonic GT-Line

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2021 Kia Stonic GT-Line

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Like all local Stonic variants, the GT-Line will be front-wheel drive. It will also be exclusively mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

As reported, Kia Australia is still planning to launch the Stonic “at the tail end of this year”, but the COVID-19 pandemic might push its arrival back to “the very beginning of 2021”.

Either way, aside from the GT-Line, the Stonic will be available in two grades: entry-level S and mid-range Sport, with both motivated by an also familiar 1.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, likely the Rio’s 74kW/133Nm unit.

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Transmission-wise, the S will be offered with the choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque-converter automatic, while the Sport will only be available with the latter.

While pricing and full specification details for the Stonic haven’t been released yet, Kia Australia recently told CarsGuide “it will be competitive up against the competition”, which includes the Mazda CX-3 and Volkswagen T-Cross.

For reference, the Stonic went on sale overseas in 2017 but is only now reaching Australia following its midlife facelift. It will slot underneath the Seltos, Sportage and Sorento here as Kia’s smallest and therefore most affordable SUV.