Kia has overhauled the Stonic so thoroughly that the 2026 model year reads like almost a new generation, even though on paper it’s a facelift of the 2017 car. The Stonic remains a cornerstone for the brand, second only to the Sportage in sales. In the urban-SUV crowd, it lines up against the Citroën C3 Aircross, Ford Puma, Renault Captur, SEAT Arona, VW T-Cross and other familiar names.

The headline change is a complete reshuffle of the engine lineup. The naturally aspirated 1.2 MPi with 79 hp is gone; every version now revolves around the 1.0 T-GDi petrol. The base tune makes 100 hp and 172 Nm, sprints to 100 km/h in 11.0 s, reaches 179 km/h and claims 5.7 l/100 km. It pairs with front-wheel drive and a five-speed manual and carries a C label.

Kia Stonic / auto news
kianewscenter.com

Above that sits a 115-hp 1.0 T-GDi with a 48-volt MHEV system. It gets the Eco label, trims the 0–100 km/h run to 10.7 s, pushes on to 182 km/h and still quotes the same 5.7 l/100 km. A seven-speed DCT is available for an extra €1,500.

The cabin has been reworked as well: there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and updated controls on the lower portion of the dashboard. Three trims are offered—Concept, Drive and GT-Line. Even the base spec includes six airbags, air conditioning, roof rails, 16-inch alloy wheels, navigation with a 12.3-inch display, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and parking sensors. The safety suite comprises lane keeping, driver-attention monitoring, cruise control, automatic braking with pedestrian detection and traffic-sign recognition. The package brings the Stonic neatly up to class expectations without overcomplicating the brief.

The most interesting twist is the discounted pricing: the 100-hp 1.0 T-GDi (Concept) is listed at €19,520, while the 115-hp MHEV Stonic (Concept) comes in at €19,190—so the Eco-labeled option undercuts the base car. Across the lineup, discounted figures span roughly €19.19k to €26.12k depending on trim and transmission, making the electrified variant an especially compelling pick.