Makeover for small SUV
Kia’s 2026 Stonic, featuring a raft of enhancements including design, interior and connectivity upgrades, as well as a versatile powertrain, will make its Kiwi debut in the first quarter of next year.
In addition, it offers “exceptional value” enhanced with the special launch price of $27,990, plus on-road costs, for the one-litre LX Turbo GDI – a saving of $2,000 for a limited period. The one-litre GT-Line Turbo GDI starts at $35,990.
Todd McDonald, managing director of Kia NZ, says: “The 2026 Stonic has evolved beyond its roots as a budget-friendly compact SUV by offering design, technology and safety features customers have come to expect and rely on. These place it alongside premium small SUVs.
“It will appeal to buyers who want a stylish, practical SUV but don’t want to sacrifice interior quality or driving convenience.”
The new Stonic is 4,165mm long, has up to 332l of cargo capacity and 1,070mm of front legroom. It introduces a refreshed front fascia with Kia’s star map signature lighting, a more structured grille and updated front bumper. There’s also a redesigned tailgate, enhanced tail-light signature and cleaner bumper profile.
The SUV’s multimode touch display has replaced traditional HVAC controls with an interface that enables users to seamlessly toggle between climate settings and infotainment menus.
Safety systems include blind-spot collision avoidance assist in the GT-Line trim only, forward collision-avoidance assist, multi-collision brake, lane-keep assist and lane-follow assist.
