Kia Stonic review

Kia’s strapline may be ‘The power to surprise’, but in the era of soft-roaders, adding a small SUV to your range is no more of a bombshell than a weeping X Factor contestant babbling: "All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing!"

Nevertheless, the Kia Stonic is the smallest SUV in the brand’s portfolio, being related to the Rio small hatchback in much the same way Renault uses the Clio as the basis for the Captur.

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So, what’s the nitty-gritty? Well, the Stonic is front-wheel-drive-only, so don’t buy one if you want to cross the Sahara. It does, however, have a slightly jacked-up ride height, roof rails and black plastic wheel arches that give it a fashionably rugged look. The trim levels are named 2, Maxx, 3 and 4, and there are just two engines to choose from: a petrol and a diesel.

Read on for the low-down on the Stonic’s pros and cons. We’ll tell you how it compares with the Captur and other small SUV rivals, such as the Suzuki Vitara and Citroën C3 Aircross.

And if you decide on a Stonic, don’t forget to check out our New Car Buying pages to see how much you could save with no effort at all.