Kia Stonic

Kia Stonic: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Kia Stonic version to choose depends on whether you value acceleration, low measured fuel consumption, diesel torque, or a simpler engine and gearbox. Among the versions with complete performance data, the first-generation 1.0T DCT with 120 hp is the quickest at 10.3 seconds from 0–100 km/h and reaches the highest listed speed of 185 km/h.

The Kia Stonic version to choose depends on whether you value acceleration, low measured fuel consumption, diesel torque, or a simpler engine and gearbox. Among the versions with complete performance data, the first-generation 1.0T DCT with 120 hp is the quickest at 10.3 seconds from 0–100 km/h and reaches the highest listed speed of 185 km/h. The first-generation 1.6 MT offers the most torque at 260 Nm and the lowest measured combined consumption at 4.2 l/100 km. For the latest restyling, the 115 hp 1.0 DCT is the stronger choice, reaching 100 km/h 1.3 seconds sooner than the 100 hp 1.0 DCT.

Kia Stonic generations and version changes

Despite the catalogue containing three production phases, all belong to the 1 generation and use the SUV 5-doors body. The original 1 generation ran from 2017 to 2021 and contains seven versions: 1.3 MT, 1.6 MT, 1.0T DCT with 120 hp, 1.4L MT, 1.4L AT, 1.0T MT, and 1.0T DCT with 100 hp.

The 1 generation, restyling ran from 2020 to 2026 and contains five versions: 1.2 MT, 1.0T DCT with 120 hp, 1.0T MT with 100 hp, 1.0T DCT with 100 hp, and 1.4 AT. This phase retained FWD across the range but revised the available combinations of engine output and transmission.

The 1 generation, restyling 2 began in 2025 and has no measured end date. It contains two versions, both named 1.0 DCT and distinguished by output: 115 hp and 100 hp. Both use a turbocharged 998 cc Gasoline engine, a 7-speed Robotic gearbox, and FWD.

Kia Stonic engine specs compared

Power per litre separates the turbocharged 998 cc versions from the naturally aspirated alternatives. The 120 hp 1.0T engines produce approximately 120.2 hp per litre, compared with approximately 73.1 hp per litre for the 100 hp 1.4L MT, 1.4L AT, and 1.4 AT. The later 115 hp 1.0 DCT produces approximately 115.2 hp per litre, while the 100 hp 998 cc versions produce approximately 100.2 hp per litre.

Torque creates a different ranking. The 1.6 MT leads with 260 Nm, which is 60 Nm more than the latest 115 hp 1.0 DCT and 85 Nm more than the 175 Nm 1.0T versions. Buyers comparing only horsepower would miss that distinction: the 1.6 MT has 10 hp less than a 120 hp 1.0T, yet supplies 85 Nm more torque.

Kia Stonic performance and mpg

For outright measured acceleration, the 2017–2021 1.0T DCT with 120 hp is the clear choice. Its 10.3-second result is 1.0 second quicker than the 1.6 MT and 3.5 seconds quicker than the 1.4L AT. Its 185 km/h top speed is also 10 km/h above the 1.6 MT.

For measured fuel economy, the 1.6 MT records the lowest combined figure at 4.2 l/100 km. It uses 0.6 l/100 km less than the 100 hp 1.0T DCT and 1.0 l/100 km less than the 120 hp 1.0T DCT, 1.0T MT, or 1.3 MT. The 1.4L AT has the highest measured combined consumption at 9.7 l/100 km, which is 3.3 l/100 km above the 1.4L MT despite identical 100 hp and 136 Nm outputs.

Within the latest pair, the 115 hp 1.0 DCT adds 15 hp and 28 Nm over the 100 hp 1.0 DCT. It accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 10.8 seconds rather than 12.1 seconds and reaches 182 km/h rather than 179 km/h. Measured consumption is unavailable for both, so the data cannot establish which is more economical.

Kia Stonic dimensions, weight, clearance and wheels

Exterior length, width, height, wheelbase, and trunk space are not measured in the supplied data for any Kia Stonic version. Every version has 165 mm of measured ground clearance.

Among versions with measured weights, the two 120 hp 1.0T models have the best power-to-weight result at approximately 9.9 kg/hp. The 1.3 MT has the least favorable result at approximately 13.6 kg/hp. At 1185 kg, each 120 hp 1.0T is 70 kg lighter than the 1.6 MT while producing 10 hp more.

Which Kia Stonic version should you choose?

Choose the 2017–2021 1.0T DCT with 120 hp if measured acceleration is the priority. It combines the quickest 0–100 km/h time, 10.3 seconds, with a 185 km/h top speed and 5.2 l/100 km combined consumption.

Choose the 2017–2021 1.6 MT if torque and measured economy matter most. Its 260 Nm is the highest figure in the data, while its 4.2 l/100 km combined consumption is the lowest. Its 11.3-second acceleration is slower than the 120 hp 1.0T DCT but quicker than every other original version with a measured result except that model.

Choose the 2017–2021 1.4L MT over the 1.4L AT when comparing their measured figures. Both make 100 hp and 136 Nm, but the Manual version is 23 kg lighter, reaches 100 km/h 1.2 seconds sooner, and uses 3.3 l/100 km less on the combined measurement. The Automatic version has a 1 km/h higher top speed.

Choose the 2017–2021 1.0T DCT with 100 hp when the lowest measured Gasoline consumption is more important than maximum performance. Its 4.8 l/100 km combined figure is 0.4 l/100 km below the 120 hp 1.0T DCT, although it gives up 20 hp, 3 Nm, and 10 km/h of top speed and takes 1.4 seconds longer to reach 100 km/h.

Choose the latest 115 hp 1.0 DCT over the latest 100 hp 1.0 DCT when performance decides the purchase. Both have the same 998 cc turbocharged Gasoline configuration, 7-speed Robotic gearbox, FWD, 45 l tank, and 165 mm clearance, but the 115 hp version provides the stronger measured acceleration and top speed. Economy, weights, wheel sizes, dimensions, trunk space, reliability, price, and engine-oil capacity are not measured, so those factors cannot be used to rank the two versions from this data.