The 2026 Kia Stonic has a more powerful, more efficient powertrain and a more modern design inside and out, but the price is up to $3,260 higher.
After revealing pricing for the facelifted light SUV last week, Kia has now released detailed specifications for the Stonic, although local footage is still limited.
The Australian-market Stonic continues to use a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, but now features a 48V mild hybrid system. The maximum torque remains unchanged at 172 Nm, but the maximum power has increased from 74 kW to 88 Nm.
Additionally, combined cycle fuel consumption has fallen from 5.4L/100km to 5.0L/100km, while CO2 emissions have fallen from 125g/km to 116g/km.
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The redesigned light SUV, a competitor to the best-selling Mazda CX-3, launches at $28,180 before travel – $2020 more than the previous model. The Stonic Sport’s price rose $2,000 to $32,290 before it hit the streets, while the flagship Stonic GT-Line rose $3,260 to $35,740 before it hit the streets.
The Sport and GT Line variants get Kia Connect connected services and support for over-the-air software updates, as well as two 12.3-inch screens in the cabin.
However, you still only get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but with satellite navigation in the Stonics, while the little Kia sticks with older-generation infotainment. That means only the base S version, with its smaller 8.0-inch screen, offers wireless smartphone mirroring.
Missing from the local spec sheet is Kia’s semi-autonomous highway driving assistant, which combines adaptive cruise and lane centering features while also integrating navigation data to adjust speed for corners.
The refreshed interior features a new steering wheel and shifter, as well as USB-C ports and touch-capacitive “Multimode Touch Display” switches for climate control and media adjustments, familiar from other Kias such as the Sportage and Sorento.
This is the second facelift for the Stonic, which launched here in early 2021 but had been available in Europe since 2017.
The Stonic now features the Korean brand’s new ‘Opposites United’ design language, trading the old model’s more flowing and organic lines for a more angular look comparable to models like the EV3 and K4.
This exterior refresh includes the new corporate face as well as a redesigned tailgate and taillights as well as new wheels and bumpers.
It has grown slightly, by 25 mm in length (to 4165 mm), while the boot volume has grown by 30 liters (to 352 l).
Prices
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2026 Kia Stonic S | $28,180 (+$2020) |
| 2026 Kia Stonic Sport | $32,290 (+$2,000) |
| 2026 Kia Stonic GT Line | $35,740 (+$3260) |
Drives and efficiency
There’s still a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine under the bonnet, but in Australia it now has a 48V mild hybrid system.
| Specifications | Kia Stonic |
|---|---|
| Motor | 1.0 liter turbo petrol engine with 3 cylinders and 48V mild hybrid system |
| Performance | 88 kW at 6000 rpm |
| Torque | 172 Nm at 1500-4000 rpm |
| transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Drive type | Front wheel drive |
| Weight | 1265kg |
| Fuel consumption (claimed) | 5.0L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 45L |
| Fuel requirements | Regular unleaded fuel with 91 octane |
| CO2 emissions | 116g/km |
| Emissions standard | 5 euros |
| Towing capacity | 900kg (braked) 450kg (unbraked) |
Dimensions
| Dimensions | Kia Stonic |
|---|---|
| length | 4165mm |
| Width | 1760mm |
| Height | 1500mm (S) 1520 mm (Sport, GT-Line) |
| wheelbase | 2580mm |
| Loading capacity (VDA) | 352L (rear seats folded up) 1155L (rear seats folded) |
Maintenance and warranty
The Kia Stonic comes with a seven-year, unlimited mileage warranty.
Kia Australia has not yet announced peak price service details for MY26.
Security
The Kia Stonic no longer has an ANCAP safety rating, as its five-star rating from 2017 expired on December 31, 2024.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Detection of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists
- Blind Spot Assist
- Lane keeping assistant
- Lane following assistant (lane centering)
- Leading vehicle departure alarm
- Multi-collision brake
- Parking sensors front and rear
- Rear view camera
- Front, side and head airbags
The Sport gets AEB with turn assist at intersections as well as adaptive cruise control with stop/go. Both are new for 2026.
Standard equipment
There are three members of the Stonic cast.
The base S is equipped with the following equipment as standard:
- 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/55R16 tires (NEW)
- Tire repair kit
- Automatic halogen headlights
- LED fog lights
- Heated, electrically folding exterior mirrors
- Electronic parking brake with automatic holding function
- Cruise control
- Proximity access with push button start
- 4.2-inch instrument display
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wired and wireless Android Auto
- 6 speaker sound system
- Tilt and telescopic adjustment of the steering column
- Fabric upholstery
- 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
- 60:40 split/folding rear seats
- Electric windows with automatic up/down for the driver
- 1 x USB A Socket
- 2 x USB-C ports
- 1 x 12V Socket
- Manual air conditioning
The Sport adds:
- 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/55 R17 tires
- Windshield wipers with rain sensors
- Rear privacy glass
- LED fog lights
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system (NEW)
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto only
- Over-the-air software updates (NEW)
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Fabric and faux leather upholstery
- Steering wheel and gear lever covered with imitation leather
- Sliding front center console armrest
- Additional USB-C port
- Illuminated cosmetic mirrors
- Air conditioning with climate control
- Kia Connect telematics (including remote control of the locks, vehicle status monitoring via app) (NEW)
The GT-Line adds:
- Reflector LED headlight
- sunroof
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (NEW)
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel (NEW)
- Two-tone faux leather sports steering wheel
- Alloy pedals
- Ambient lighting (NEW)
- Vented Wireless Phone Charger (NEW)
Colors
All Stonics have black interiors, although more colorful cabins are offered overseas.
Clear white is the standard exterior paint finish.
The following finishes are available for an additional $550:
- Sparkling silver
- Astro gray
- Aurora Black Pearl
- Signal red
- Yacht blue
- Adventurous green
- Snow-white pearl
MORE: Explore the Kia Stonic showroom
