Kia Stonic SUV - Interior & comfort
All Kia Stonic trim levels come with lots of standard equipment
If you’ve spent time in a Kia Niro, you’ll immediately notice similarities with the Stonic’s interior. The overall design can be described as ‘function over form’, although Kia has added a smattering of body-coloured accents to brighten up the Stonic’s otherwise dour cabin.
The overall fit and finish of the interior is good, however, rivals incorporate much plusher materials at this price point. The low-slung driving position also feels rather at odds with the Stonic’s SUV styling and relaxed drive, and may deter those looking for an elevated view of the road.
Infotainment and navigation
Sitting on top of the dashboard, almost like a glued-on iPad, is the Stonic’s eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, which comes as standard even on the entry-level car. The interface is straightforward to understand and responsive to your inputs, with the system coming as standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can connect your smartphone.
Newer rivals boast flashier digital instrument clusters as part of their infotainment setups, whereas the ageing Stonic makes do with a set of old-school analogue dials and a small TFT display in the centre for additional readouts. We do like the fact that Kia has included a row of physical shortcut buttons for the centre screen, as well as a set of knobs for the climate controls – both being easier to operate on the move than having to delve into the touchscreen.
Equipment
The Stonic is available in five different trim levels: '2', 'GT-Line', ‘Quantum’, ‘3’ and the range-topping 'GT-Line S'.
In 2 trim, the Stonic comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, electric windows, roof rails, rear parking sensors, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, power-adjustable door mirrors, Bluetooth, plus the aforementioned eight-inch infotainment system with DAB radio and MP3 connectivity.
GT-Line adds a sportier bodykit, 17-inch alloy wheels, black door mirrors, privacy glass, LED headlights and fog lights, sat-nav, automatic air-conditioning and a reversing camera. New for 2023 is the Quantum model which ditches the racier styling and LED lights for exclusive Storm Grey paintwork with a contrasting yellow roof and door mirrors, model-specific 17-inch alloys, yellow interior accents, plus heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Stepping up to the ‘3’ trim – once called ‘Connect’ – introduces faux-leather upholstery, keyless entry, LED lights front and rear and autonomous emergency braking. Finally, the top GT-Line S spec re-adds the GT-Line’s sportier styling and brings features like faux-leather sport seats, smart cruise control (in combination with an automatic gearbox) and front parking sensors.
We’d recommend sticking with a more affordable trim, with GT-Line offering the best balance of value and desirability, while the Quantum could appeal to buyers who like to stand out.
