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Kia Stonic vs Suzuki Vitara

What's the difference?

VS
Kia Stonic
Kia Stonic

$16,888 - $29,999

2021 price

Suzuki Vitara
Suzuki Vitara

$19,880 - $33,990

2021 price

Summary

2021 Kia Stonic
2021 Suzuki Vitara
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 3, 1.0L

Inline 4, 1.6L
Fuel Type
-

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
5.4L/100km (combined)

5.8L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Front seats uncomfortable on long trips
  • Hesitant transmission
  • Grim rear seat accommodation - no armrest

  • No AEB availability in this grade
  • Stiff ride
  • Too much road and engine noise intrusion
2021 Kia Stonic Summary

As surely as night follows day, when there's a new Kia in a new segment, we're told we probably won't be getting it. Those lucky Europeans and then some months (this time years, as it turns out) later, we find out that actually we are getting it.

Not because Kia's Australian arm doesn't want the peculiarly named Stonic - we're still waiting for the reportedly excellent e-Niro. But when that new car is an SUV, even a tiny one, Kia can't make them fast enough. 

However, as m'colleague Tom White reported in December,  COVID stepped in. We're now in the strange position where due to a global pandemic and resulting economic calamity, a car Kia Australia thought it had to forego in return for the excellent Seltos, has in fact arrived to complete the range.

Fresh from the factory, my family scored a top-of-the-range GT-Line for a week to see what it's like in the urban rumble.

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2021 Suzuki Vitara Summary

Suzuki invented the modern compact SUV. It’s funny how quickly people forget.

Yes, the pioneering Vitara of 1988 rode on a ladder-frame chassis so was not car based, but it was successful enough to show the way for others to follow. Chiefly, Toyota, with the seminal Corolla-derived first-gen RAV4 of 1994.

Fun fact: this earliest Vitara was also known as the Suzuki Escudo (Japan) and Sidekick (North America), as well as the GMC/Geo/Chevrolet Tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner (USA), Asüna Sunrunner (Canada), and perhaps most evocatively, Wanli WLZ5020XLD and Guangtong GTQ5020XLZ (China).

So, respect to the Vitara, especially since it has evolved over four redesigns, eight different badges and 33 years, from fashionable 4x4 leisure machine to 4x4 off-roader (1998 FT and 2005 JT Grand Vitara) to 2015’s monocoque-bodied JY-series small SUV.

How does the 2021 JY Series II Vitara 1.6 auto stand up? Keep on reading.

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Kia Stonic 2021 Suzuki Vitara

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