Say hello to the heavily refreshed 2026 Kia Stonic
When the Kia Sonet arrived in the country last year, it replaced the Kia Stonic. While some thought the Stonic lived a relatively short life, that wasn’t exactly the case. Ultimately, it was because Kia stopped making the Stonic for the Chinese market, which was where ACMobility was getting it. The Sonet then became its spiritual successor and offered similar, if not better, features and amenities.
Fast forward a year later, Kia has officially revealed the facelifted Stonic, and boy, did it get one heck of a makeover. Looking more like a baby Sorento with its sleeker and more dynamic-looking exterior, the heavily updated Stonic may still be small in size, but it gets a more upmarket appearance, inside and out.
Now featuring the brand’s “Opposites United” design philosophy, the Stonic features a stronger and more expressive design. The front fascia is dominated by a distinct pair of LED daytime running lights along with a cube-shaped LED headlight elements. It also has a more stylish grille and a sleeker front bumper with lower air intakes.
A choice of 16 and 17-inch alloy wheels is available and comes with a two-tone look for that extra flair. There’s also a generous use of black body cladding and functional roof rails on higher-grade models to give it a more rugged design. Last but not least, the Stonic gets eye-catching LED taillights, which further highlight the crossover’s more dynamic look.
Say hello to the heavily refreshed 2026 Kia Stonic
When the Kia Sonet arrived in the country last year, it replaced the Kia Stonic. While some thought the Stonic lived a relatively short life, that wasn’t exactly the case. Ultimately, it was because Kia stopped making the Stonic for the Chinese market, which was where ACMobility was getting it. The Sonet then became its spiritual successor and offered similar, if not better, features and amenities.
Fast forward a year later, Kia has officially revealed the facelifted Stonic, and boy, did it get one heck of a makeover. Looking more like a baby Sorento with its sleeker and more dynamic-looking exterior, the heavily updated Stonic may still be small in size, but it gets a more upmarket appearance, inside and out.
Now featuring the brand’s “Opposites United” design philosophy, the Stonic features a stronger and more expressive design. The front fascia is dominated by a distinct pair of LED daytime running lights along with a cube-shaped LED headlight elements. It also has a more stylish grille and a sleeker front bumper with lower air intakes.
A choice of 16 and 17-inch alloy wheels is available and comes with a two-tone look for that extra flair. There’s also a generous use of black body cladding and functional roof rails on higher-grade models to give it a more rugged design. Last but not least, the Stonic gets eye-catching LED taillights, which further highlight the crossover’s more dynamic look.
Size-wise, the 2026 Kia Stonic measures 4165mm long, 1760mm wide, 1520mm tall, and has a 2580mm wheelbase. Depending on the variant, the all-new Stonic’s ground clearance is either 165mm or 183mm. Compared to the Sonet, the all-new Stonic is 55mm longer in terms of length and has a wheelbase that’s 80mm longer. However, the Sonet is wider by 30mm and is 120mm taller.
Open the doors, and Kia was also busy giving the vehicle one heck of a cabin. Featuring a more premium and high-tech finish that’s typically reserved for more high-end vehicles, the 2026 Stonic gets a pair of 12.3-inch screens that serve as the digital instrument panel and the advanced infotainment system. It also gets the brand’s MultiMode Touch Display that replaces the traditional HVAC controls and also allows users to switch between climate and infotainment menus.
Other key features present inside the vehicle include an updated dashboard and new center console, a wireless charging pad, ambient lighting, USB-C fast charging ports, a new steering wheel, and a restyled gear selector. Also present in the new Stonic is Kia Connect, which offers real-time, cloud-based services that can check vehicle diagnostics and remotely control certain aspects of the Stonic. These include remote engine start via the app and checking service intervals.
Under the hood, the 2026 Kia Stonic will initially be offered with a 1.0L turbocharged inline-three. It’s available in pure ICE, as well as a mild-hybrid variant, although no exact power outputs have been revealed just yet. They did say that the 2026 Stonic will be available with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
For better peace of mind on the road, the Kia Stonic is now available with intelligent driver aids in the form of blind-spot collision avoidance, forward collision avoidance, navigation-based smart cruise control, and highway driving assist with lane-following assist.
Kia says the new Stonic is a global compact crossover that combines practicality, connectivity, and safety. The only question now is, could we see the return of the Stonic in the Philippines, or is Kia already content with the Sonet?Next Auto News
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