Kia Stonic or the new SUV that triumphs in sales and already threatens the popular Renault Captur

Its registrations grow at a rate of more than 50% each month, it is already the second most popular Kia and sells almost as much as the Renault Captur. We take a look at Stonic's success among utility SUVs.

The utility SUV category is undoubtedly the star of the market today. So far this year, sales in this segment have grown by more than 20%, it is already the second in total sales (after compact SUVs) and today it is the undisputed market leader: a Seat Arona that is not only the best-selling small SUV but with more than 9,700 units in all of 2023, it is already the best-selling total car by far, far surpassing the second classified, a Dacia Sandero that has registered just under 8,500 units in the same period.

Well, within this category a car is surprising especially: the Kia Stonic. The small Korean SUV has grown again in the month of April by 58%, registering no less than 1,016 units. So far this year, this model has also accumulated up to almost 4,100 units, thus still remaining a distance from the Seat Arona or the Peugeot 2008, which in this same period has registered 7,420 cars. However, the rest of the big rivals can already look them in the face.

THE KIA STONIC IS ALREADY AT THE LEVEL OF THE RENAULT CAPTUR OR VW T-CROSS

And it is that, with more sales today clearly than the Citroën C3 Aircross (3,184 units), Ford Puma (2,832), Hyundai Bayon (1,521), Nissan Juke (1,215), Opel Mokka (1,301) or Skoda Kamiq (2,840), the Kia Stonic has been able to place itself in the second step of the big best sellers in the category, looking more closely every day at the Seat Arona and Peugeot 2008.

In fact, its aforementioned 4,100 units are now almost on par with the 4,226 registrations of the Renault Captur, one of the historical leaders in the category, and the 4,189 of the VW T-Cross, another SUV that is clearly on the rise. Therefore, already ranked among the most popular cars in the category, what are the keys that are driving the Kia Stonic in the market?

THE KIA STONIC, NOW ON SALE FOR 18,800 EUROS

For starters, the new SUV offers one of the most interesting prices right now in its segment. Now available in a range between 18,800 and 26,400 euros, compared to a Renault Captur that starts at 20,800 euros and a VW T-Cross that does so at 23,815 euros. But it also does so with a car with high performance and good interior space, which at 4.14 meters in length is capable of offering up to more than 350 liters of cargo capacity.

To the good general perceived quality and an attractive design that is being liked, the Kia Stonic also adds a simple range but well adapted to the reality of the market and to what consumers are looking for in this very popular market category, which, let us not forget, It is relegating the conventional utility vehicle in sales, as you can see from the sales of cars like the Seat Ibiza, clearly surpassed by their SUV counterparts in each brand.

THE KIA STONIC OFFERS UP TO 7 VERSIONS WITH THE DGT ECO LABEL

Thus, the Kia Stonic opens an offer with a simple 1.2 DPi gasoline engine with 84 hp and a consumption of 5.7 l/100 km, which is only sold in Concept and Drive finishes to offer the most competitive price possible. From above, a highly advanced state-of-the-art gasoline engine emerges, established in a 1.0 T-GDi MHEV turbo version, supported by 48V micro-hybrid technology with which it obtains the DGT ECO label.

This extremely interesting model, available in 100 and 120-hp versions, in Drive and GT-Line finishes, and with a manual or automatic dual-clutch DCT transmission, offers consumption starting at just 5.2 l/100 km and at a price of 20,500 euros. In total, therefore, we are talking about up to 7 versions with the ECO label and micro-hybrid technology.

And up to here, because Kia has decided not to sell this small SUV with more options, aware that diesel sales are today testimonial in this category and relegating the zero-emission offer to cars like the Soul or the Niro, which are sold already as 100% electric and even the latter as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid model. Simplicity is therefore the success today of the Kia Stonic.