The Kia Stonic, which was launched at the end of 2017, has now been comprehensively redesigned and is gearing up to compete at the forefront of the B-segment crossover models in the future as well. A total of over 150,000 Stonic models have been sold.000 Stonic units have been sold across Europe, almost 20.000 of them in Germany. For the 2021 model year, the B crossover presents itself with new assistance and infotainment systems, the UVO Connect online services, additional exterior and interior color variants and, above all, a fundamentally modernized powertrain range. The top engine now comes with a 48-volt mild hybrid system as standard. The manufacturer's new "intelligent manual transmission. The launch is scheduled for the end of the third quarter.
The body design was not changed in the model overhaul. Nevertheless, the Stonic also shows innovations in its appearance. These include the new, strikingly designed LED headlights and 16-inch alloy wheels (both equipment-dependent). In addition, the range of nine body colors includes the new Perennial Gray and Bathys Blue metallic paint finishes, and Floridian Yellow Metallic is now available as a contrasting roof color. The Stonic thus offers even more options for individualization, which is particularly important to buyers of B-SUVs. A total of 29 paint finishes are available for the exterior colors, including 20 two-tone combinations (equipment-dependent).
The interior can also be varied more in terms of color in the 2021 model year. While the standard fabric seats and the leather upholstery (high-quality reproduction) of the top version Platinum Edition continue to be in black, the upholstery of the Spirit version in fabric/leather combination (reproduction) can now be ordered with gray, blue or yellow color accents. Another technical innovation in addition to the larger touchscreen is the new instrument cluster with a high-resolution 10.7-cm display (4.2 in., previously 8.9 cm or. 3.5 inches; equipment-dependent).
The new, standard infotainment system has a larger touchscreen (20.2 cm resp. 8 inches, previously 17.8 cm respectively. 7 inches) and can now also be connected wirelessly to a compatible smartphone via the Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ interfaces. It also enables Bluetooth multi-connectivity. This allows two mobile devices to be combined with the system at the same time, one for hands-free phone calls or multimedia use, the other exclusively for multimedia use. The screen can also be divided via split-screen function to use different functions at the same time, and the subsections can be individually configured with widgets.
The UVO app, which can be installed free of charge on compatible Android and Apple smartphones (data plan required), can also be used to send planned routes to the Stonic's navigation system, determine the vehicle's location, and retrieve vehicle reports and diagnostic messages. A new "Phase II" feature is navigation for the "last mile". Because, especially in the city, it is often not possible to park directly at the navigation destination. In these cases, the app ensures that navigation on the smartphone continues seamlessly and the user is guided to the destination via Google Maps. Also new is the "user profile transfer" app feature, which allows personal vehicle settings, including navigation, radio and Bluetooth preferences, to be backed up in the cloud and transferred to other UVO Connect-equipped Kia vehicles. This is helpful, for example, when using fleet vehicles or for families with more than one Kia in the household.
The Stonic already had a wide range of driver assistance systems, and for model year 2021, depending on the version, additional high-tech helpers will be added: in the automatic versions, an adaptive cruise control system as well as blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning with brake intervention (Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, BCA / Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, RCCA). Also available, regardless of transmission type, is Intelligent Speed Limit Warning (ISLW) traffic sign recognition, and front collision warning now detects cyclists.
The mild hybrid system, called EcoDynamics+, includes a 48-volt lithium-ion polymer battery and a starter generator connected to the crankshaft via belt drive. In addition, the mild hybrid system enables longer shutdown phases of the combustion engine compared to 12-volt start-stop systems.
Electrification reduces CO2 emissions of the top engine by around ten percent. The intelligent manual transmission also contributes to the high fuel efficiency. It features an electronically controlled clutch ("clutch-by-wire") that can be operated by pedal or by an electronic control unit. If the driver takes his foot off the accelerator when coasting before an intersection or in other situations in which the combustion engine could be switched off, the iMT independently decouples the engine from the transmission. On the other hand, the six-speed transmission shows familiar characteristics in operation. The agility of a conventional manual transmission.
The Stonic 1.0 T-GDI 120 EcoDynamics+ can "sail" both in the manual version and with the optional seven-speed DCT. This shutdown of the combustion engine while driving is possible at speeds of up to 125 kilometers per hour. As soon as the driver presses the accelerator, brake or clutch, the engine automatically starts up again. In both transmission variants, the mild hybrid is equipped as standard with the "Drive Mode Select" driving mode selection (settings: Eco, Normal, Sport).
The combustion engine of the mild hybrid has also been optimized. The turbocharged gasoline engine from the "Kappa" series, which is also available in a non-electrified 74 kW (100 hp) variant, now features CVVD (continuously variable valve duration) valve control. This technology enables seamless switching between different combustion cycles depending on engine load to ensure maximum efficiency in all driving situations. While the power output has remained unchanged in both versions, there is a significant plus in power delivery in the more powerful version: the DCT version of the 1.0 T-GDI 120 now mobilizes a maximum torque of 200 Nm, 16 percent more than before. Kia has also revised the Stonic's third engine, the 1.2-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with 62 kW (84 hp). Among other things, the entry-level engine has been equipped with a dual-port injection system. In addition, automatic drivers now have more choice: The seven-speed DCT, which was previously reserved for the top-of-the-range engine, will in future also be available for the 1.0 T-GDI 100, whose standard manual transmission now has six gears (previously five). All engines of the new model year already comply with the Euro 6d-ISC-FCM emissions standard, which will become mandatory for new vehicles as of January 2021.