The Brutal Truth About the 2021 Kia Stonic

I'm disappointed. The 2021 Kia Stonic is an overgrown Kia Rio. Literally. Although it represents good value, the Kia Stonic is $5000 more expensive than a Kia Rio, has a cheap (and identical) interior, and adds some black plastic cladding. In today's in-depth car review, I'm going to tell you why I believe the 2021 Kia Stonic could be better.
Timeline:
00:00​ - Introduction
00:52​ - Price, Engine, Specs + 0-100km/h, 0-62mph
05:01 - Exterior
07:38 - Interior
12:31 - How it Drives / On the Road
13:45 - Is it Worth It? / Verdict
Support Matt Brand Cars on Patreon: / mattbrandcars
NEW CAR REVIEW EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT GMT+10
Some other reviews you should watch!
► Kia Picanto GT Review: • Kia Picanto GT 2021 Re...
► Skoda Kamiq Review: • Skoda Kamiq 2021 Revie...
MattBrandCars SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook ► / mattbrandcars​
Instagram ► / mattbrand_f. .
Twitter ► / mattbrandcars​
TikTok ► @mattbrandcars
------------------------
#Stonic #KiaStonic #Kia #KiaStonicReview #SUV #SUVreview #CarReview ‪@KiaAustralia‬ ‪@KiaWorldwideOfficial‬
------------------------

[@CarSauce]

What do you think of the Kia Stonic? This or a Kia Rio?

[@mrhypo78]

Rio > stonic

[@isaachunt5799]

just bought one. 2022 gt-line mild hybrid dct7. in sport mode it's awesome. collect it in 2 weeks time

[@isaachunt5799]

just bought one. 2022 gt-line dct-7. 50 mpg or 5.6l per 100km's..pretty happy with it tbh. for 22k sterling it's pretty good value

[@ioannisdegdekis9143]

Dear friend. The reason why someone buys a stonic than a Rio is because is a small FAMILY car. Has better boot space and the fact that is 180mm taller makes it more versatile, at least to people like me, leaving in the countryside. Both cars are great. Kia is a real good company with Great design and reliability in their products.

[@Samantha.Knox98]

Yes! Been waiting for you to review this one!!

[@Tellyawhat4]

Another great review, but where's your sidekick, Jacob?

[@Jasonpantazis]

Great video, agree! Im torn between the following models: -Kia S tonic -Seat Arona -Dacia Sandero Stepway All of the above mentioned model at least in my country , they are in the same price range!

[@phillipouzounis7390]

Hi Matt, will you be doing a review on the new kia cerato gt?

[@duke_aeric]

Awesome review!

[@CarSauce]

Thank you!

[@happie88]

what do you mean by Vibrating when stopping? it only when braking or even when it is running?

[@Scooterer1963]

We recently bought the Sport for my wife and yes, the engine is aenemic, but the six-speed auto is excellent and the "Tiptronic" mode works well, so you can keep it on the boil. The 1.4 thrives on revs although, at the end of the day, it's not a great engine. Maybe the 1.0 turbo with the six-speed? Hmmmm..... Anyway, she loves it, which is all that matters!

[@1xm_mx1]

True - would have liked a better engine (with more torque) with maybe a 4x4 off-road sport version to become a real "sport" utility. Wondering if you have a review for the 2023 version.

[@peterpanousis8458]

Great review. I’m pretty sure the 8” infotainment is wireless and the 10.25” is wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

[@AtakulSozcan]

Agree, I have Stonic with 8" infotainment and carplay/android-auto working wireless with using 5ghz wifi.

[@letsseeif]

Sounds like someone trying to say TONIC who has 'post nasal Drip'. Anyway Matt. Excellent review again.

[@GG-ud8id]

I have a Kia Stonic and I have no issues with it. Great car at an affordable price. Dont believe all the reviews you see online.

[@whatthe6532]

Ok. You made a bad choice. Forgive yourself and do better next time.

[@adambeck4416]

Can you review the Haval H6 ultra 4WD please

[@pedrogouveia5819]

I actually own a 2018 Stonic. I love it, but I also agree with you in the major part of topics. However, I see they were better in 2018,no? I have a "real" exhaust pipe and my T-GDi engine has 120hp... I love the driving, my start/stop works well but, as you said, it is mostly a little bigger Rio.

[@belvederedog2563]

Why buy this as opposed to the brilliant Cerato?

[@towerguarder]

There is a hybrid version and imo that is the way to go for the new stonic.

[@lanaabbas8203]

I am planning to get a used Kia Stonic, when I did the test driving, I felt the engine was noisy, I tried another Stonic in the showroom and it’s the same, so I am wondering if it is normal for this car

[@mariahannalevin9815]

I dont have any noise on mine

[@emmastevenson6096]

I have a diesel Stonic! Love it! plenty of power and torque. She’s a work horse.

[@dimitristripakis7364]

I have the 2020 with 1250 cc, 84 HP engine. Yes it is "slow", but for a family car it is very good and economical. I like reliability and electronics at a low price. I think it is unfair to test such vehicles for performance, as it is intentionally made weak, for people like me who don't care about the performance of the car to drive my kids to soccer. And another thing = I never wanted an SUV, but wife was adamant (I don't know why and she does not either). I would prefer the Rio anytime of day. I think it is dumb that people have INTENTIONALLY put the CG (center of gravity) of their car higher, and then talk about driving characteristics. I mean come on if you really want a real car to enjoy driving, get a low CG, 50-50 weight distribution, rear drive, four double wishbone independed suspensions, and be done with it. Everything less is not for driving, is utility. The lower the CG the better the car drives. All SUVs should by principle be excluded of any discussion about "how it drives". All in all, I am very happy with this car, but I did not get it for fun driving. People nowadays do not even know what fun sports driving means.

[@anthonyfriday2282]

For the people that can afford to pay cash or write a check, they can have it custom painted what color they want. There are speed shops that can upgrade your engine to make it faster if that's what you're wanting. Lol those are just town cars more less, but I have a friend that got something like that n he had 15 inch rims with low profile tires put on some chrome at that n had them gold plated n had a guy engrave them. Then had the motor pulled n had the motor upgraded for speed n had some parts chromed n gold plated so it could all reflect off each other n it's a really pretty car. I wouldn't put that kind of money into a car like that, but that's his thing people have different likes lol. I'd just leave it as is n take it for what it is, a town car. There are other SUVs that have good speed n can even go into off roading, but myself I'm a classic car kinda guy Chevy n Ford, lol one of my friends was thinking about trying to out a sideways motor into a 63 falcon 2dr hardtop. He wants to make it like fast n furious, lol like Tokyo drift. I told him go for it, people wouldn't know what to think to see a sideways motor in a classic car like that lol

[@adoreslaurel]

Friends of our have bought, probably the base model [have not seen it] , but at least they gave it a real emergency brake not the potentialy lethal electric park brake, looks like the bean counters slipped up there.

[@nick.p.9328]

It does have Smart Cruise Control though....

[@robrob4753]

I think personally the car is a good size and it's quite spacious inside, test drove it and it's fine. Not sure why this guy acts like it needs more power, like who's drag racing in a kia, I've noticed a pattern with majority of the Australian car reviewers and there always talking about overtaking and launching it at stop lights...it just comes across as your impatient drivers and you don't understand how to maintain a car. A car is needed to drive a person from point a to b in a safe and efficient way, not to impatiently overtake other drivers and drag race, that's how you end up staffing the car up. And what do you expect from a cheap car with scratchy plastics interiors. You know it's not a Ferrari...let's bring it down a notch.

[@racineurr.8924]

Friends, be happy to have this little beauty for sale in your country. I'd love to have one but it's not available in Canada. Have to go for a Hyundai Venue or Nissan Kicks. I'd like so much to own this Stonic.

[@Tellyawhat4]

Cher Racineur, J'espère que vos rêves se réalisent!

[@JoelDaniel-rm5bs]

Alright mincey.... It's not exactly an Audi but it's also not an Audi. I do love how excited you got over a car that you're not excited about lol

[@jaydenfuller7699]

Very interesting...

[@spudfreakinoz4483]

Great review Matt ... Question.. does the front passenger seat have height adjustment?

[@CounterStrike-xy7ow]

Nope.

[@GG-ud8id]

@@CounterStrike-xy7ow Yes it does

[@robertsingleton1893]

Thinking of changing my car soon and the Stonic is on the short list. Here in the UK the output for the 3 cylinder turbo is claimed to be 118 BHP. Does the Australian engine have a different spec? Also you did not mention the fuel consumption or Kia's warranty which over here is 7 years/100,000 miles (about 160,000 in your Aussie kilometres) Best regards Bob

[@CarSauce]

Thanks Bob! All I can say is 74kw here - could be emissions related if there is a difference! And sorry I must have forgot to mention, average fuel economy was great at around 7.5L/100km mostly urban driving and yes here it's 7 years, unlimited Kilometers!

[@bidhanadhikari5501]

this guy complains more than my wife complains for small things........

[@robertceroli3512]

For 30k lot better options out there like the brilliant suzi S Cross 1.4t eng 6sp tc auto for 30k. And on the stop start manufactors implement them so they claim a lower official fuel consumption. When a vehicle is stopped at lights it uses bugger all fuel fuel consumption shoots up when accelerate to reach 60km

[@CarSauce]

Thanks Robert!

[@ptitgavroche]

I've test driven the Stonic 1.0L T-GDI MHEV 48V (120PS/200Nm) and it was so much fun. Didn't feel short of power one bit. Great pocket size CUV, in my opinion.

[@deanforbes373]

I think you are being overly critical of the DCT transmission .We own a GT line that has just clocked over 9000 kms ,& the transmission has settled down & is changing gears way better than it did when new .Also the engine has run in & is performing better also .I noticed the test car has only 1800 kms on it so it will be a little clunky like ours was .The stop start system is a pain in the ass as it always defaults to on when the ign is turned off .We run with ours off just to save wear & tear on the starter & battery .Makes little difference to fuel consumption .Same goes with drive mode .We run in normal mode mostly .Overall we really love our wee rocket (goes like a scalded cat in sport mode ) ,drives really well ,looks sporty ( gets positive comments from passers by ).We also own a Rio with the 1.4 litre engine .I would say the Stonic is way more than just a pumped up Rio .

[@kevinsurrey3043]

This guy needs to calm down!!

[@martinpeterhughes9165]

Well actually, I'm getting one shortly

[@user-ob9vj5kw7d]

Have you tried the 120 hp - mild hybrid too?

[@isaachunt5799]

awesome car. we just bought one. 2022 gt-line

[@Tellyawhat4]

@@isaachunt5799 Not in Australia, I don't think.

[@claudiadavies5110]

I don't understand why there's a micro SUV at all? Is the Rio quicker etc.? If you need the extra height because you've got a sore back etc. Fair enough 😆

[@Scooterer1963]

That's a good point actually. My wife & I are nearly 60, and we found the Stonic easier to enter and exit than a lot of similar sized, non-SUV models. My wife loves the Stinger, but she struggled to get in & out of it 🤣

[@claudiadavies5110]

@@Scooterer1963 agree wholeheartedly that the height is great to get in and out of, but most people don't need that feature, it's good to have it as an option 👍

[@Tellyawhat4]

@@claudiadavies5110 Most people under 60 that is!

[@aerienix]

It’s really just a Rio. For that price, and I guess for the whole segment, just get the Kamiq.

[@CarSauce]

That's what sucks, it has potential. But it feels like a copy paste + $5k

[@VinceCassar-fg5oc]

It’s a great car

[@danrosima5562]

❤️

[@shishi7gb]

Great review! This car is fucking small. Did a side by side with my altis and my corolla altis is bigger both interior space and exterior! What a shame..

[@CarSauce]

Thank you!

[@Scooterer1963]

We found the Corolla a bit claustrophobic. High belt-line perhaps? 🤔

[@unwokeneuropean3590]

Dont drive automatic