Item: Used Kia Stonic 2017 - present
Rating: 4
Author: Steve Huntingford

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/used-review/n845">Renault Captur</a> 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/used-review/n17875">Seat Arona</a> 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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<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/kia/stonic">Find a used Kia Stonic with What Car? &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

There aren't any major issues with the Stonic so far, but if anything untoward were to happen,&nbsp;it should be covered under the seven-year manufacturer's warranty. &nbsp;

If you’re buying a diesel, make sure that the diesel particulate filter (DPF) light isn’t permanently on because, if it is, there might be a problem with a blocked filter or the sensor for it.

Kia as a brand achieved&nbsp;a highly impressive seventh-place result in our latest reliability survey, plus every Stonic comes with a seven-year manufacturer's&nbsp;warranty when new, so all examples will still have cover left.&nbsp;

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

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Estate

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

STONIC

The Stonic is a fine and capable small SUV with a long warranty and plenty of equipment, but the firm ride is an acquired taste

Used Kia Stonic 2017 - present

<h3 dir="ltr">MPG</h3>

A Stonic won’t be quite as economical as its main rival, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/review/n117">Seat Arona</a>, but it will be competitive with the class.

The 1.4-litre petrol has a combined&nbsp;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&nbsp;49.6mpg under the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">WLTP test</a> regime.

<h3>Road tax (VED)</h3>

Most Stonics are subject to the standard flat-rate&nbsp;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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">Servicing intervals</h3>

Petrol Stonics will need servicing every 10,000 miles whereas cars with a diesel engine need maintenance every 20,000 miles. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/kia">Kia</a> 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.&nbsp;

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A fine and capable small SUV with a long warranty and plenty of equipment, but the firm ride is an acquired taste

Prices for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/kia">Kia</a> 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&nbsp;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.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">Check the value of a used Kia Stonic with What Car? Valuations</a>

<h3 dir="ltr">Engine</h3>

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.

<h3 dir="ltr">Trim</h3>

There's little need to go above 2 models because these&nbsp;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&nbsp;standard.&nbsp;

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/kia">Kia</a> Stonic: 1.0-litre 2

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

The original baby SUV is the Nissan Juke, which remains a popular choice, but there are plenty of better rivals to consider instead. We’d recommend you look at either the Ford Puma or Skoda Kamiq, because they offer&nbsp;a great blend of practicality and value that keeps them&nbsp;clear of the opposition. Equally, if you’ve got more money to spend, the Audi Q2 and Volkswagen T-Roc&nbsp;are both fine choices.&nbsp;

Small SUV

Aside from the usual checks for parking dents and dings and kerbed alloy wheels, there isn’t much to look out for. The interior is pretty tough, too, but uses lots of hard and scratchy plastics that might show scratches if it's been abused.

If you are looking at a Stonic that's less than 18 months old from an approved used <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/kia">Kia</a> dealership, then make sure they top the warranty back up to the full seven years as part of the brand's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/kia-approved-used-car-scheme/n22245">approved used scheme</a>.

The suite of driver assistance technology fitted to 3 models and above&nbsp;was improved in the latter half of 2018 to include lane keep assistance, so if you're after all the latest safety tech, you'll need to keep this in mind.

&nbsp;

One of the downsides of buying most&nbsp;used cars is that you don't have a lot of&nbsp;manufacturer's warranty remaining. That's not the case with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/kia">Kia</a>;&nbsp;the brand's used cars can&nbsp;even be topped back up to the full seven years if&nbsp;less than 18 months old when you buy, giving the&nbsp;Stonic – an excellent contender&nbsp;in the hotly contested <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/category/small-suv">small SUV</a> market – another feather in its cap.

The engine range initially consisted&nbsp;of three choices: a fairly slow 98bhp 1.4-litre petrol;&nbsp;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&nbsp;48v mild-hybrid assistance&nbsp;to the more powerful 118bhp 1.0.&nbsp;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&nbsp;spartan.&nbsp;There's 17in alloys, rear parking sensors and&nbsp;a 7in touchscreen. You don't get sat-nav,&nbsp;but with both <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>&nbsp; standard, as is a 7in touchscreen,&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking (AEB)</a> 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/used-review/n17875">Seat Arona</a> 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. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/used-review/n17573">Audi Q2</a>.

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/used-review/n845">Renault Captur</a> 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&nbsp;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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/kia/stonic">used Stonic</a>, or any of the other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/category/small-suv">small SUV</a>&nbsp;mentioned here, head over to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a> pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Kia Stonic 2017 - present review

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Wondering what the best used Kia Stonic 2017 - present is for your money? The expert What Car? review team can help you out.

EngineUnless 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.,,TrimThere'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 2Page 4 of 5

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