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Kia has finally priced its heavily updated Stonic SUV, confirming a familiar three-variant range with just one engine option.
It hasn’t quite made the switch to full hybrid, but the good news is the new engine is a lean 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit with 48-volt mild hybrid assistance.
A variant-by-variant spec breakdown is yet to be locked in, but the Stonic range kicks off at $28,180 for the base S, moving to $32,290 for the mid-spec Sport and $35,740 for the top-spec GT-Line.
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This represents only a small price-hike over the entry-level outgoing car (which started from $26,160 for the base S), although it is significantly pricier in top-spec form, with the previous GT-Line starting from $31,780.
The new engine is more powerful, at 86kW/200Nm (for overseas markets), and the cabin has received a proper next-generation overhaul, making this update more than the average facelift.
Inside has been heavily updated with dual 12.3-inch screens across the dash, the same ‘multimode’ switchable control panel as used in the EV6, as well as the new steering wheel design out of other recent Kia entrants.
USB-C ports become standard throughout the cabin, and in overseas specification there is also a lift in standard safety kit across the range.
There is also a swathe of new higher-end material choices as well as a more upmarket cabin layout compared to the outgoing vehicle.
The new Stonic maintains the same overall dimensions and silhouette as the previous car, but adds a more contemporary set of front and rear LED light clusters to sync it up with other current Kia models like the EV3. This significant design overhaul is helped along by new choices of aero-look alloys in either 16- or 17-inch designs.
Despite its relative age, the Stonic continues to rank well in the light SUV segment, amassing 5491 units so far in 2025, up 15.6 per cent. It is outsold by the Hyundai Venue (6619 units), Suzuki Jimny (6399 units), Toyota Yaris Cross (9197 units) and the segment-leading Mazda CX-3 (13,266 units).
At its price-point, it will also need to do battle with the Chery Tiggo 4 ($23,990 - $34,990) a half-size up, which is the small SUV success story of the year, moving 15,864 units up 457.9 per cent year-on-year.
The Stonic is slated to hit showrooms before December 2025, so expect detailed pricing and specifications imminently.
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