The 2026 Kia Stonic will be up to $3,260 more expensive than the previous model, despite being extensively updated.
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.
Kia Australia may have published list prices (if not drive-away prices) but has not yet released a full specification list. This is expected to be available soon as the Stonic is set to arrive in local showrooms this month.
The company has confirmed that the Stonic will receive Kia Connect connected services and support for over-the-air updates, as well as range-wide standardization of 48V mild hybrid technology.
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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 l (to 352 l).
The light SUV will continue to feature a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine in Australia, but now features 48V mild-hybrid technology – something previously off-limits to the Stonic in the local market.
According to European specifications, the mild hybrid powertrain increases power to 84.5kW (from 74kW), but torque remains unchanged at 172Nm.
Like the outgoing Australian Stonic, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is available. We expect this to be the only transmission offered Down Under, with the six-speed manual being dropped for the 2025 model year.
Kia claims a 0-100km/h time of 10.8 seconds for the new mild-hybrid Stonic when connected to the dual-clutch auto, up from 12.1 seconds for the previous version.
According to the data sheet for the German market, fuel consumption is unchanged at 5.6 l/100 km compared to the non-mild hybrid Stonic 1.0T. CO2 emissions remain essentially unchanged, falling almost imperceptibly from 127 g/km to 126 g/km.
The interior also shines in new splendor, with two 12.3-inch digital instruments and infotainment touchscreen displays.
However, they appear to be using Kia’s older user interface, as currently seen in the Niro crossover, rather than the new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) used in the brand’s new electric vehicles and larger models.
Still, the new displays bring Kia Connect services to Australia – already available on the Stonic in overseas markets – which are designed to provide cloud-based services, real-time vehicle diagnostics and remote vehicle integration via the Kia Connect app.
Kia has introduced the “Multimode Touch Display” touch capacitive switches for climate control and media adjustment, familiar from other Kias such as the Sportage and Sorento.
Other interior changes include a revised center console, new steering wheel and gearshift, and USB-C ports.
Safety and assistance technology has also seen a boost: the new Stonic gets Kia’s semi-autonomous Highway Driving Assist, which combines adaptive cruise and lane centering functions while integrating navigation data to adjust speed around corners.
However, it is unclear how much additional equipment the updated range will receive for the Australian market.
By the end of October, Kia had delivered 5,491 Stonics in Australia this year. That puts it just behind the Hyundai Venue (6619), although both Korean SUVs are outperformed by the Toyota Yaris Cross (9197) and the dominant Mazda CX-3 (13,266).
Stay tuned for more updated information on Stonic, including detailed pricing and specifications, as they become available.
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) |
MORE: Explore the Kia Stonic showroom
