ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE KIA STONIC GT-LINE S

Kia is accelerating at quite a pace as regards EVs and recently their flagship model the EV9 achieved numerous awards; however within the Kia family I have discovered a little gem and it is not an EV. I refer to the Stonic GT-Line S which I spent two weeks with recently and on more than one occasion it put a smile on my face. It is a compact sports utility vehicle or as we often more commonly refer to as an SUV. You may be surprised to learn that resting beneath the bonnet of my test car was a one litre T-GDi petrol engine, including a new 48 volt mild hybrid and in harmony with the eager little power package a very smooth in operation seven speed dual clutch automatic transmission. At the command of the right foot you have 118bhp to enjoy; the hybrid system delivering enhanced efficiency by seamlessly harvesting and later releasing energy recovered during slowing down and when braking. The compact 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack combines with the engine’s torque output with electric power and can extend engine off time with a new mild hybrid starter generator unit. Okay performance is not earth shattering by any means, I would best describe it as lively and bright; somehow this Kia manages to deliver a drive quality which is appreciated each time you hit the starter button.

The interior also delivered pleasant surprises with the company’s new Phase II UVO Connect telematics system combined with a new, larger eight inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a navigation system which I found superb in operation, especially the voice activation; this delivered directions in seconds. The Phase II system provides you with several new benefits, such as more accurate journey times and last-mile navigation assistance, as well as a range of features to enhance connectivity and usability and these can be accessed through an enhanced UVO smartphone app or via the car’s touchscreen. The sporty nature of this compact SUV is enhanced by a leather D-cut steering wheel with GT-Line motif upon it and a carbon look crash pad. The black cloth and faux leather seats, in way not cheap looking are embossed with the GT-Line logo and feature stitching and piping and as already noted the eight inch multimedia and navigation system dominates the cabin, and a 4.2 inch colour supervision display is nestled within the instrument cluster.

For me a strong and sporty design is important and my test car featured an eye-catching front grille, LED headlights and daytime running lights, together with more dynamic front and rear bumpers that integrate a front skid plate and LED fog lamps. The rear spoiler painted in the body colour and stylish17 inch alloy wheels and a GT-Line emblem on the rear tailgate completes the exterior makeover. Safety performance, quite the right thing, is high on the priority list. with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Keeping Assist System, Driver Attention Warning and High Beam Assist, The GT-Line S as tested also has Blind Spot Collision Warning and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, with DCT editions also boasting Blind Spot Collision Avoidance for the rear of the vehicle. On more than one occasion I appreciated the rear parking sensors and a reversing camera system and I also had front parking sensors. DCT editions also feature Blind Spot Collision Avoidance for the rear of the car.

I have to admit that this offering from Kia, which is built in South Korea, is very much the full package; practical, enjoyable to drive and a compact SUV that I could enjoy every day of the week.

Ian Lynas