Kia Stonic: Non-turbo models put on ice

Kia Australia has put a stop-sale on S and Sport versions of its popular Stonic crossover amidst low supply and a growing order bank.

A spokesperson for the Korean brand confirmed with CarExpert the entry and mid-tier versions of the Stonic, which pack a naturally aspirated 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine, aren’t available to order for now.

“An order hold is in place with a focus on fulfilling backorders prior to a model-year upgrade during the first half of next year,” Kia Australia’s spokesperson said.

While there was no further detail in the official statement, overseas markets might be a guide of what to expect.

Kia added an enhanced safety suite to the Rio hatchback and Stonic crossover a couple of years back in line with the mid-life facelift that saw the debut of the Stonic nameplate in Australia – however, not all of it came here.

Available features overseas that are currently left off the local specification include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. All of these are becoming increasingly common in the Stonic’s rivals.

Other highlights include an available 48V mild-hybrid system for the 1.0-litre T-GDI three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, though Kia’s local product boss has already ruled out electrification for the brand’s smallest crossover.

Looking at the UK market several years on, the 1.4-litre MPI naturally aspirated base engine is now absent from the line-up, with non-MHEV and MHEV versions of the 1.0 T-GDI the sole powertrain options. Further, you can get non-GT-Line grades with LED reflector-type headlights, which are currently limited to GT-Line versions here.

We’ve recently seen the Picanto city car gain blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assist (with intervention not just audible and visual warnings), so we’re pretty confident those features will be added to the Stonic for ‘MY25’, if you will.

Given even Kia’s smallest model has those features as standard across the range, it’s not illogical to assume all versions of the Stonic will soon be fitted with these as standard. Beyond that, we could see the higher-grade LED headlights more widely available across the range, potentially right from the base level.

It’s unclear whether the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine will become the sole powertrain offering across multiple trim levels.

While that’s the case in the UK, with varying states of tune and electrification, the turbocharged motor would likely add a premium to the S and Sport grades, which started from $22,290 and $25,290 before on-roads before being taken off sale.

Overseas both the 1.0 T-GDI and 1.0 T-GDI MHEV are offered with both six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmissions. Australia only offers the latter on the flagship GT-Line with this engine, while the 1.4 MPI offers both six-speed manual and six-speed automatic options in Australia.

The Kia Stonic remains an important volume driver for the Korean brand in Australia, currently accounting for 13.4 per cent share of the VFACTS Light SUV segment with 6584 units registered to the end of November – incidentally 18.9 per cent down on the same period in 2022.

It’s currently the second best-selling vehicle in its segment, behind the first-placed Mazda CX-3 (14,524) and ahead of the Toyota Yaris Cross (5839) and Hyundai Venue (5755).

Within the brand’s own line-up, the Stonic trails the larger Sportage (14,201), Carnival (10,311), Seltos (9814), Sorento (7950), and Picanto (7298). Keep in mind Kia has struggled with supply across most of its line-up, with select models like the Sorento and Stonic worst affected.

Stay tuned to CarExpert for the latest.

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