Kia Stonic 2025 Review

The revamped 2025 Kia Stonic has arrived, and it kicks off at $28,180 plus on-road costs.

Available in three variants: S, Sport and GT-Line, all of which now use a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder mild hybrid powertrain good for 88kW/172Nm – 14kW more than before – and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The official combined fuel consumption is 5.0L/100km.

Headline gear on the base S includes 16-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with a 4.2-inch driver’s display, cloth seat trim, front and rear parking sensors, an electric park brake and a six-speaker audio system.

Stepping up to the Sport ($32,290) adds 17-inch alloys, Kia’s premier 12.3-inch touchscreen and switchable HVAC/media panel, a synthetic leather steering wheel, artificial leather seat bolsters and rear privacy glass... among other things.

At the top of the range, for $35,740 plus on-roads, the GT-Line gains the Sportage’s familiar twin 12.3-inch panoramic display, merging the digital instrument cluster and central touchscreen. It also adds heated front seats and steering wheel, ambient lighting, a new wireless phone charger and a unique body kit.

Kia Connect is standard on Sport and GT-Line models and complimentary for seven years, offering remote vehicle control, over-the-air updates and app-based features. Subscription details beyond seven years will be confirmed later.

Despite the presence of a mild hybrid battery, boot space remains unchanged at 352 litres.

The updated Stonic currently lacks an ANCAP rating seeing as the previous assessment has expired, but new-for-2025 safety features include forward-collision warning with junction-turning support, smart cruise control and the E-Call emergency-notification system.

Eight exterior colours are available, including two new additions: Adventurous Green and Yacht Blue. All except Clear White attract a $550 premium.

Kia’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty applies, and servicing is due every 12 months/10,000km. The first five services are priced at $334, $552, $391, $812 and $375 respectively.

In its previous guise, the Stonic was a car I hesitated to recommend because it looked and felt so dated.

Competitors like the Mazda CX-3 could get away with ageing platforms thanks to strong design, but the old Stonic simply couldn’t coast on looks alone. It needed a reset, and luckily this 2025 update delivers exactly that.

Kia has modernised the Stonic in a way that pushes it much higher up the consideration list.

The new front and rear bumpers, redesigned lighting, fresh wheel designs and updated interior all tie more cleanly into what Kia are calling their evolving brand identity.

Practically everything ahead of the windscreen is new except the bonnet, and the cabin finally looks like it belongs in a 2025 Kia, not a forgotten corner of the showroom (sorry).

It’s a great-looking little thing, the perfect blend of cute and stylish. The refreshed design has a real charm to it.

Having only had a chance to drive the mid-range Sport, briefly at that, the below is going to be focused on my time in just that car.

Inside, the twin-screen layout is a massive improvement and instantly lifts the ambience. The switchable HVAC/media controls from larger Kias, added USB-C ports and new electric park brake make the Stonic feel far more premium than before.

The mild hybrid powertrain also represents a meaningful improvement both in terms of the extra power and fuel efficiency gains. It’s still a small, light SUV, but it now feels more relaxed and responsive in traffic.

Sport and GT-Line grades also get Kia Connect with remote climate control, remote start/stop and over-the-air updates, all free for seven years. It’s a big step up in connectivity for a car at this price point, while some other manufacturers force you into a subscription model.

On the road, the Stonic remains easy to park, easy to place on the road and nimble around town, meaning it’s still an appealing urban runabout, just better now.

Despite the many improvements, the Stonic still feels a bit hollow in places. Some cabin materials lack the padding and solidity you’ll find in other new Kia models like the K4.

The entry-level S also misses features that should be standard in a $30,000 car in 2025, like adaptive cruise control.

The drivetrain also has its quirks. Power is up, but the engine doesn’t reach its peak until 6000rpm, and because the torque figure hasn’t changed, the car has to rev hard to get there.

The teeny turbo triple also gets loud and strained in the process... man, is it noisy.

Spirited driving also pushed fuel use above 9.0L/100km – almost double the efficiency claim – which kind of undercuts the whole point of hybrid-assist. In Kia’s defence, I was having a bit of fun with it, but not that much fun.

The air conditioning also oddly fluctuates with throttle input, something I’ve never noticed before... or just haven’t seen. You hear and feel it most on steep climbs or during hard acceleration.

And yes, the usual Kia/Hyundai over-eager safety chimes are still irritating. But with the Stonic lacking Kia’s Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) functionality, it was a significantly more peaceful drive, even if I did have no clue what the speed limit was at times.

The updated 2025 Kia Stonic is a much better product than the one it replaces. It finally looks modern; the cabin tech is up to date, and the mild hybrid system brings meaningful improvements to urban drivability and efficiency.

For people after something light, easy to manoeuvre and affordable to run, it’ll tick a lot of boxes.

But price will be the deciding factor. At nearly $31,000 drive-away to get into an S in NSW – and closer to $40,000 for a GT-Line – the Stonic starts to rub shoulders with larger, more refined SUVs. And without standout fuel-economy benefits in real-world driving, the mild hybrid pitch isn’t quite as compelling as it looks on paper.

If you’re not spending much time on freeways, it’s a cute and capable little option. But if your daily driving regularly takes you beyond inner-city streets, it becomes a harder car to justify.

2025 Kia Stonic at a glance:
Price: $28,180 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol-electric
Combined output: 88kW/172Nm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 5.0L/100km
CO2: 116g/km
Safety rating: Expired

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