Kia Stonic crossover – a suitable product for India

South Korean car marker, Kia made its entry in the car market of India with an expansive lineup showcase at the Auto Expo 2018. The Kia Stonic crossover was one of the 16 models and one concept model display from the Hyundai subsidiary. It is thought that after Kia launches the production version of the SP Concept SUV in India next year, the company will soon consider launching a number of other models in the country from its existing global lineup, and the Kia Stonic could be one among these. In fact, the company already thinks that the Stonic is a suitable product for India.

While speaking on the sidelines at the Auto Expo 2018, the president and chief design officer of Hyundai Motor Group, Peter Schreyer said that he believes that the Stonic is a nice fit for the car market of India, but it is not expected to launch here any time soon. Well, we can hope that Kia will consider bringing the Stonic crossover in India in near future, as the SUVs and crossovers are so much in great demand here.

To start with, the Kia Stonic flaunts a sporty and bold design language like any trendy modern crossover models that are so much in demand recently. The Stonic boasts of a muscular hood design and an aggressive 'tiger nose' grille. There are sharply designed angular headlights accompanied by bright LED daytime running lights to enhance the aggressive styling of the vehicle’s front face. The visual appeal of the Kia Stonic is further enhanced by a coupe-like swooping roofline, bold flared wheel arches and big stylish alloys.

Under the hood, the Stonic is being offered for sale in the global markets with a wide choice of engines which includes a 1.0 litre T-GDI petrol mill offering a peak power of 120 hp, a 1.2 litre petrol unit generating 84 hp, a 1.4 litre petrol engine offering 100 hp and a 1.6 litre diesel motor delivering 110 hp. This same engine range also do the duty under the hood of the Hyundai Kona SUV. The transmission duty is handled by a 5 speed and 6 speed manual transmissions and a 7 speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The crossover gets equipped with a front wheel drive system. The Stonic is also expected to get a plug-in hybrid option in the international markets in near future.

The Kia Stonic crossover is a pretty feature loaded vehicle and offers features such as a 7.0 inch touchscreen infotainment system along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, satellite navigation and a 6 speaker audio system, climate control and a lot more.

The Korean auto manufacturing company’s showcase lineup at the Auto Expo 2018 also included its flagship model Stinger GT, Ceed hatchback, Soul EV, Cerato sedan, Sorento SUV and Sportage SUV on its stall, while the Kia SP Concept SUV took the centre stage as it made its global debut here. The Kia SP Concept based SUV islikely to launch in the second half of 2019.