Used Kia Stonic 2017 - present review

One of the downsides of buying most used cars is that you don't have a lot of manufacturer's warranty remaining. That's not the case with Kia; the brand's used cars can even be topped back up to the full seven years if less than 18 months old when you buy, giving the Stonic – an excellent contender in the hotly contested small SUV market – another feather in its cap.

The engine range initially consisted of three choices: a fairly slow 98bhp 1.4-litre petrol; a thrummy but ultimately more impressive 118bhp 1.0-litre petrol, and a clattery 114bhp 1.6-litre diesel. In 2020, the line-up was revised with the diesel and 1.4 petrol being dropped, the latter being replaced with a 99bhp version of the 1.0. A facelift towards the end of 2020 introduced 48v mild-hybrid assistance to the more powerful 118bhp 1.0. All versions come as standard with a relatively slick six-speed manual gearbox, but you can also have a seven-speed automatic with the 1.0-litre petrol.

Even though the Stonic 2 is the entry-level model, it isn’t spartan. There's 17in alloys, rear parking sensors and a 7in touchscreen. You don't get sat-nav, but with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, as is a 7in touchscreen, you can use your phone for navigation instead. Move up to 3 for climate control, sat-nav, a reversing camera and safety tech such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-departure warning. Top-of-the-range 4 brings leather trim with heated front seats and steering wheel, two-tone exterior paint and keyless entry.

As far as handling goes, the Stonic is up there with the best in the class in terms of nimbleness because it doesn’t roll all that much in the corners, and any surprise bumps that might appear mid-corner don’t upset the Stonic’s composure. The steering isn’t the last word in communication, but it is perfectly precise and well weighted.

However, the Seat Arona is nicer still to drive and it also manages to offer a more comfortable ride. The Stonic tends to fidget quite a lot over even relatively smooth surfaces no matter what speed you’re doing. This can be a little annoying on longer journeys and, when combined with the road and wind noise, means the Stonic isn’t the best motorway companion.

The interior itself is well screwed together and all the controls are logically laid out. There isn’t a soft-touch surface in sight, but this is the case with most small SUVs. If you want a luxurious interior, you’ll need to spend a lot more on an Audi Q2.

Space up front is perfectly acceptable and the adjustable central armrest is a nice touch. Taller children and adults will find the back to be a squeeze, and the Stonic doesn’t have a clever sliding rear bench like the Renault Captur to improve available space. The Stonic also trails the class best for luggage capacity, and you’ll have to step up to top-spec 4 versions to find an adjustable boot floor; otherwise, you’ll have to put up with a significant load lip to lift things over.

If you're interested in finding a used Stonic, or any of the other small SUV mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for a Kia Stonic start at £10,000 for a 2017 example that's covered 30,000 miles or less. Spend between £10,000 and £12,000 on a good 2018 car, roughly £12,000 to £14,000 on a 2019 one and between £14,000 to £16,000 on a 2020 model. A Stonic with the latest mild-hybrid engine will set you back at least £16,000, which is still a useful saving over its list price.

To keep up to date with used Stonic prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal.

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MPG

A Stonic won’t be quite as economical as its main rival, the Seat Arona, but it will be competitive with the class.

The 1.4-litre petrol has a combined figure of 45.6mpg, but the more powerful turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol is slightly more efficient at 56.5mpg. If you want maximum economy, go for the 1.6-litre diesel, which has an economy figure of 67.3mpg.

Later 99bhp 1.0 and mild-hybrid 118bhp engines both manage 49.6mpg under the latest WLTP test regime.

Road tax (VED)

Most Stonics are subject to the standard flat-rate annual car tax (VED) fee introduced since April 2017. The only exception being the 48v mild-hybrid version that arrived in late 2020 because it is classed as an alternative fuel vehicle and gets a £10 discount. The current fee is £155 a year. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.

Servicing intervals

Petrol Stonics will need servicing every 10,000 miles whereas cars with a diesel engine need maintenance every 20,000 miles. Kia servicing isn’t generally that expensive compared with rivals, plus there are the usual sorts of service plans available that cover maintenance over a three, or five-year period. You can even take out finance if money is tight by paying a quarter of the total bill upfront and spreading the remaining amount over a three month repayment period.

Engine

Unless you travel long distances and would benefit from the greater economy of the diesel, there’s little point going for anything other than the 1.0-litre petrol. Aside from a little lag, it has plenty of punch and offers reasonable economy.

Trim

There's little need to go above 2 models because these have all the equipment you really need, plus the infotainment system has full smartphone connectivity to negate the fact it doesn't have sat-nav as standard.

Our favourite Kia Stonic: 1.0-litre 2

The Renault Captur may not be the fastest or best-handling small SUV, but its flexible rear seating makes it one of the most practical. What’s more, used prices are remarkably low, so it’ll be the one to go for if you’re on a budget.

The Seat Arona is the best used small SUV you can currently buy because it is well equipped, has the biggest boot in the class and manages to be both very nice to drive and remarkably comfortable.

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