Buying a compact SUV today is no longer just about price—it’s about finding the right balance between style, features, performance, and long-term value. The Kia Stonic is a new compact SUV that is likely to come to the Indian market in the year 2026. It is aimed primarily on urban customers, targeting at the modern style, fuel economy, and higher features at a low cost. The Stonic will be placed below Kia Seltos and will be competing in the sub-compact SUV segment in India, which has a high level of competition.
This article will provide complete information about Kia Stonic.
KIA Corporation: Company Overview
Kia India is a totally established subsidiary of Kia Corporation, South Korea. In 2019, the company managed to enter the Indian automobile market and become one of the key players in the sector. It has a manufacturing plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, covering an area of over 500 acres, and its manufacturing capacity is about 300,000 vehicles in a year.
The entry of Kia in India was also very strong as the Seltos was introduced and it was booked in record time in a few weeks. The brand has over the years diversified into other models like the Carnival, Sonet, Carens, and premium EV6. The design-oriented philosophy of Kia, named Opposites United, is an amalgamation of extreme design with a functional technology, and it helps the brand to shine in the competitive market.
| Milestone | Year | Details |
| Kia India incorporation | 2017 | Indian subsidiary established |
| Manufacturing plant | 2019 | Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh |
| First launch | 2019 | Seltos SUV |
| Sales milestone | 2025 | 6.5 lakh+ Seltos units sold |
| EV entry | 2022 | EV6 launched |
| Current capacity | Present | 300,000 units per year |
Kia Stonic Price and Variants
Kia Stonic will be offered in two versions the Base and Top, leaving the buyers with a clear decision to make between affordability and high-end features. Base with a price of ₹9 lakh ex-showroom is best suited to buyers with tight budgets and has an approximate of ₹10.07 lakh on the road in Delhi, with RTO, insurance, and the basic charges. The Top model, which is costing 10 lakh ex-showroom, will include some of the features such as LED lighting, alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment, and cruise control, bringing its on-road price in Delhi to approximately 11.25 lakh. Prices can be slightly different according to offers of the dealers, insurance and especially on the festive offers.
| Price Component | Base Variant (₹) | Top Variant (₹) | Explanation |
| Ex-Showroom Price | ₹9,00,000 | ₹10,00,000 | Starting price before taxes |
| RTO & Registration | 63,000 | 70,000 | Delhi road tax (≈7%) |
| Insurance | 37,834 | 39,003 | Comprehensive cover |
| Other Charges | 6,300 | 16,300 | FASTag, handling, accessories |
| Total On-Road Price (Delhi) | 10,07,134 | 11,25,303 | Final payable amount |
| Engine | 1.0L Turbo Petrol | 1.0L Turbo Petrol | Same engine for both |
| Transmission | Manual (Expected) | Manual / Automatic (Expected) | Variant difference |
| Key Features | Basic infotainment, steel wheels, manual AC | LED lights, alloys, touchscreen, cruise control | |
| Ideal Buyer Type | Budget-focused | Feature-focused | |
| Discount Potential | Up to ₹20,000 | ₹30,000–₹50,000 | Dealer & festive offers |
| Estimated EMI (5 yrs, 9%) | ₹18,000/month | ₹20,500/month | Approximate |
Kia Stonic On-Road Price (City wise)
Prices of Kia Stonic have varied across cities as there are different road tax and registration applications in every state. Usually Chennai and Mumbai have lower on-road prices with Bangalore being the most expensive. Delhi is in the range of the mid-to-high because of increased RTO charges.
| City | Base Variant (₹ Lakh) | Top Variant (₹ Lakh) |
| Delhi | 10.07 | 11.25 |
| Mumbai | 10.00 | 11.19 |
| Chennai | 9.80 | 10.97 |
| Bangalore | 10.38 | 11.61 |
| Kolkata | 10.05 | 11.22 |
Kia Stonic Colours Availability
| S No | Colour Name |
| 1 | Platinum Graphic |
| 2 | Silky Silver |
| 3 | Clear White |
| 4 | Deep Sienna Brown |
| 5 | Most yellow |
| 6 | Single Red |
| 7 | Smoke Blue |
| 8 | Urban Green |
Engine, Performance & Top Speed
The Kia Stonic will be likely to have a 999cc with a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. This engine is characterized by a balance between power, and fuel economy and it is quite appropriate to drive in the city. The turbocharging provides improved pick up and acceleration, particularly in congested traffic. It is predicted that the engine will deliver approximately 100 horsepower and 172 Nm of torque, and this is adequate to use in everyday driver usage and overtaking on the highway. The manual transmission can be made standard to buyers and the higher variants might come with an automatic gearbox.
| Variant | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–100 km/h | Top Speed |
| Base | 999cc Turbo | 100 hp | 172 Nm | 10.8 sec | 182 km/h |
| Top | 999cc Turbo | 100 hp | 172 Nm | 10.0 sec | 182 km/h |
Mileage & Fuel Economy
Indian customers consider mileage to be one of the primary purchasing factors, and the Kia Stonic does not fail in this respect. It is fuel-saving as per the expected ARAI-certified mileage of about 1920 km/l which is fuel-efficient in a turbo-petrol SUV. Miles in the real world vary according to the driving pattern and the traffic conditions.
Within the heavy city traffic such as in the case of Delhi, users may get an average of 15-18km/l of mileage, whereas 22km/l of mileage may be achieved when driving on the highway. The 45 litre fuel tank ensures long range of driving hence eliminating frequent refueling.
| Mileage Overview | Figures |
| City mileage | 15–18 km/l |
| Highway mileage | 20–22 km/l |
| ARAI rating | 19–20 km/l |
| Fuel tank | 45 litres |
| Driving range | 700+ km |
Off-Road Hardware & Capability
Kia Stonic is not meant to be used in serious off-road, but on the city and highway. Nonetheless, it has sufficient ground clearance to deal with the Indian road conditions such as potholes, speed breakers and rough surfaces.
Having a front-wheel-driven car set up and comfortable oriented suspensions, the Stonic is applicable in light off-road conditions like rural roads or broken areas of a city, but not in off-road conditions.
| Off-Road Capability | Details |
| Ground clearance | 165–183 mm |
| Drive system | FWD |
| Suspension | McPherson + torsion beam |
| Off-road use | Light only |
| Ideal terrain | City, highways |
Kia Stonic Interior & Features
The Kia Stonic is supposed to have a premium interior that will be feeling good to its segment. Kia has been characterized by providing feature-packed cabins and the Stonic will probably follow the same pattern. High quality materials, high-quality displays with a modern dashboard design are anticipated. The most desirable models can have such features as ventilated seats, wireless charging, ambient lighting, and connected car technology. The rear seat comfort is appropriate to two adults whereas the boot space is sufficient to use on weekdays and during weekends.
| Interior Highlights | Availability |
| Touchscreen infotainment | Standard |
| Android Auto / Apple CarPlay | Standard |
| Ventilated seats | Top variant |
| Ambient lighting | Top variant |
| Boot space | 352 litres |
Kia Stonic Exterior Design Highlights
Kia Stonic adheres to the global design philosophy of Kia called Opposites United. It has a big front grill, sharp LED headlights and sporty alloy wheels. Its small size ensures that it is easy to drive it and park in busy urban environments. The revamped design will feature updated bumpers and LED tail lights, which will make Stonic look modern and youthful, which is attractive to young customers.
| Exterior Detail | Specification |
| Headlamps | LED |
| Alloy wheels | 15–17 inch |
| Length | ~4140 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2580 mm |
| Design focus | Sporty, urban |
Kia Stonic Safety Features
One of the strengths of the Kia Stonic is the safety. The international version has been rated highly in terms of safety and the India-spec model should provide an all-inclusive safety package.
Other standard safety features are multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control and traction control. An advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) can be provided in higher variants.
| Safety Feature | Availability |
| Airbags | Up to 6 |
| ABS + EBD | Standard |
| ESC | Standard |
| ADAS | Top variant |
| TPMS | Top variant |
Ride & Handling
Kia Stonic has a moderate ride quality that can be used in the city. The suspension system does absorb small bumps and uneven surfaces very well. Nonetheless, the ride might be a bit hard on the rough roads when used in high speed.
The handling is accurate and not heavy, thus the car is simple to navigate in congested areas and narrow parking points. Highway performance is satisfactory, but comfort is more biased towards an urban environment.
| Ride & Handling | Description |
| Ride comfort | Good for city |
| Steering | Light and easy |
| Highway stability | Stable |
| Suspension feel | Slightly firm |
| Driving ease | High |
Kia Stonic vs Competitors Comparison
| Model | Delhi On-Road Price (₹ Lakh) | Engine / Power | Mileage (km/l ARAI) | Key Strength |
| Kia Stonic | 10.0 – 11.3 | 999cc Turbo / ~100 hp | 19 – 20 | 7-year warranty, bold design, ADAS |
| Hyundai Venue | 9.5 – 14.5 | 1.2L / Turbo options (83–120 hp) | 18 – 19 | Sunroof, refined cabin, tech features |
| Tata Nexon | 9.0 – 15.5 | 1.2L Turbo / 120 hp | 17 – 24 (Petrol/CNG) | 5-star safety, strong build |
| Nissan Magnite | 7.0 – 12.0 | 999cc / ~100 hp | 18 – 20 | Lowest price, value for money |
| Maruti Brezza | 9.5 – 14.0 | 1.5L / 103 hp | 17 – 20 | Reliability, resale, service network |
Ownership Cost & Maintenance
Kia vehicles are relatively cheap to service and the Stonic is likely to be no exception. Free services make the estimate of the annual costs of service about ₹4,000 to 6,000. The 7-year warranty of Kia implies a low risk of ownership in the long run.
| Ownership Cost | Estimate |
| Annual service | ₹4,000–6,000 |
| Warranty | 7 years |
| Running cost | ₹8–10 per km |
| Spare parts | Affordable |
| Reliability | High |
Buying Advice
Kia Stonic can fit those buyers who wish to have a stylish and feature-packed compact SUV with the primary usage in the city. Top variantis is what buyers should choose in case they want to have maximum comfort and safety. People with a tight budget will be able to take the Base variant, which is also good value.
| Buyer Type | Recommendation |
| City commuters | Highly suitable |
| First-time buyers | Good option |
| Feature lovers | Top variant |
| Off-road users | Not recommended |
| Budget-focused | Base variant |
Verdict
The Kia Stonic is developing into a formidable competitor in the small SUV market in India. It is a good value to the city consumer with modern styling, a good mileage, improved safety features and a long warranty. Although it does not offer a diesel model and hardcore off road capability, it compensates them through comfort, technology and ease of ownership. The Stonic may be a smart and convenient option to buyers in such cities as Delhi.
| Verdict Summary | Rating |
| Design | High |
| Mileage | Good |
| Features | Excellent |
| Safety | Strong |
| Value for money | High |
Conclusion
The Kia Stonic will come out as a balanced mini SUV among Indian urban buyers especially in urban cities such as Delhi. Its modern design, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with good mileage, and solid safety package make it ideal to commute every day and occasionally drive on the highway. The value proposition of Kia is enhanced further by competitive prices and low maintenance charges and also it has a warranty of 7 years.
FAQs
It is projected that Kia Stonic will be introduced in India in 2026.
This is expected to cost 9 lakh as the starting ex-showroom price.
No, the Stonic Kia will be petrol only.
Kia Stonic mileage in the city roads between 15-18km/l.
Yes it has enough ground clearance, is compact in size and has a light steering which makes it suitable to the traffic conditions as well as the roads of Delhi.
