2022 Kia Stonic Style Edition Review | Philkotse Philippines

The crossover market is hands-down one of the most competitive segments in the past few years. This segment has become so competitive that it has come to the point that apart from filling their crossover models with high-tech features, a “style war” can also be observed.

2022 Kia Stonic Style Edition AT

This of course is apparent in the latest crossovers that were released locally in the past two years. There’s the macho but compact Toyota Raize, the sharp-looking Honda HR-V, the stylish Geely Coolray, and plenty of others. You get the point.

In keeping with this contemporary design race, Kia then launched the Stonic Style Edition back in 2021. Sure, the standard Kia Stonic already looks appealing, but this particular variant just gets a lot of things right when it comes to making crossovers look “cooler.”

But what can we say about living with the Kia Stonic Style? Find out in this full review.

The exterior of the Kia Stonic Style Edition is its most stand-out feature in my opinion. As mentioned in the introduction, the base Stonic already looks well-proportioned. But the Style Edition kits give the Stonic more pizazz.

The Kia Stonic Style Edition from the side

The front lower vent was given a pair of triangular-shaped trim pieces, the fog lamps were also provided with a black-colored housing. Placed on the hood is the new Kia logo. These bits pair well with the tiger-nose grille, and the sharp-looking halogen headlamps.

Towards the sides of this crossover, one can also find more interesting bits like the silver-accented side skirts and the all-black 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear then comes with a sportier bumper that is unique to the Style Edition. It also gets roof rails up top which is great if you need to haul more stuff.

This variant gets a unique bumper

The exterior styling bits make for an eye-catching crossover that fits well with those young and young-at-heart. Millennials like myself and many of my peers are the key target demographic for this Stonic trim, and it looks like that’s gone well and good for Kia.

Regarding exterior features though, I found it a bit on the slim side. The sharp headlamps that we’ve mentioned are reasonably bright halogens which are fine, but I would’ve preferred it to come with LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) for safety reasons. However, that might be asking too much considering the price point of the vehicle.

A closer look at the Stonic Style Edition's wheels

All of these exterior amenities are shared with the mid-spec Stonic LX. That’s the key reason for the Stonic Style’s lack of DRLs. As a consolation though, it also gets the same 185mm ground clearance as the other models, which was enough to deal with the occasional road bump and unpaved road.

Step inside the Stonic Style Edition and you’ll find a well-arranged interior with ample space for five.

With regards to the dashboard, nothing much has changed from the one on the Stonic LX. The analog gauge cluster was very legible, and the digital trip meter was easy to use. Likewise, the dial-type controls for the manual air-conditioning and the steering-wheel-mounted controls are well arranged and tactile-feeling as well.

The Stonic Style Edition's cockpit

Just like the other Stonic trims, Kia also made use of piano black plastic around the touchscreen and around the base of the gear shifter. Surprisingly, these weren’t of the scratchy variety, and they didn’t attract smudges or dust at all.

Apart from the decorative trims present inside, the layout generally looks more straightforward and toned down compared to the vehicle’s exterior. Hardly surprising also is this model’s abundant use of hard plastics.

Its gauge cluster

This variant’s seats also offered a reasonable amount of cushioning, and the fabric covers look durable. In my case though, I found it a tad difficult to look for my preferred driving position. I can attribute this to the lack of height adjustment for the front seat, though it can be slid a good way backward which is good.

When configured to my driving position, most of the legroom for the rear passenger behind the driver is robbed. Furthermore, the elbow room at the back is just enough for my 5’11” stature and another average-sized adult sitting side-by-side.

The rear cabin is great for kids, teens, and smaller adults

On the other hand, the rear could still work great for smaller adults, teens, and children. On paper, this model can fit up to five people.

The Kia Stonic Style Edition also gets a default cargo space of 325 liters. That’s plenty enough for grocery-getting, and for short out-of-town trips.

The trunk offers an ample amount of space

Present on the Kia Stonic Style Edition is the same set of tech features available on the Stonic LX. It gets a clear and responsive eight-inch touchscreen packaged with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is then linked to a six-piece speaker system which sounds decent but nothing special.

This touchscreen offers a clear display, and a neat interface

Albeit its clear and easily understood interface, the touchscreen will display a blurry image when reversing the vehicle. This is especially true at night, though the reverse camera’s dynamic guidelines do help a fair bit.

Concerning safety features, the Stonic Style Edition then gets what you’d expect from a modern vehicle. It has anti-lock braking, dual-front airbags, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. Unfortunately, it lacks stability control and hill-start assist, both of which are present on the top-spec Stonic EX.

Under the hood of the 2022 Kia Stonic Style Edition is the same 1.4-liter mill that’s found on the rest of the Stonic’s variant line-up. It can make up to 99 horsepower and 132 of torque, and it is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The Stonic Style Edition's  1.4-liter inline-4 DOHC gasoline engine

Power delivery for driving in the city was adequate and relatively smooth. This makes for a great daily driver for urban denizens. It can cruise well enough on the highway, but overtaking should be done carefully.

There’s also a bit of delay on the accelerator when launching from a standstill. Likewise, the powertrain lags a bit when pushed. Specifically, the engine may hang around the 2,500 to 3,000 rpm mark.

But then its automatic tranny also gets a manual mode. In this case, the engine’s ability to deliver power to the vehicle’s front wheels was improved. This results in better performance when starting from a standstill, and when overtaking.

The shifter boot is surrounded by piano black plastic

Despite the aforementioned accelerator delay on automatic mode, I can still judge that the Stonic Style Edition’s drivability is quite good. Its steering is light and responsive, and it is planted and stable on both city roads and expressways. It can even take on corners with minimal body roll.

The cabin of this Kia model also does a great job of staving off engine noise and road noise. Likewise, vibration is minimal even on the poorly maintained sections of EDSA and Commonwealth Avenue. A bit of tire noise can be heard though at around the 50 km/h mark.

When I drove the Kia Stonic in the city, it returned a fuel economy reading of 8.5 km/liter with an average speed of 15 to 20 km/h.

Fuel efficiency was markedly better on the highway. At an average speed of 90 km/h, it managed to clock in at 17.5 km/liter.

Compare that to the Geely Coolray which, as tested, returned 7 to 8 km/liter in slow city driving, and 18 km/l on the highway. There’s also the Chery Tiggo 2 Pro clocking in at 10.6 km/l in the city, and 20.4 km/liter on the highway.

The one big thing to note about the 2022 Kia Stonic Style Edition is its exterior. I can safely say that Kia has managed to make the already handsome Stonic into a more attractive-looking vehicle via the Style Edition’s additions.

Its interior feels straightforward and simple, sure. But combine its stylish exterior design and its good handling, and what you have is a potent combination that might have what it takes to compete with the other big guns competing in this segment.

The Kia logo looks fitting on the Stonic Style Edition

As stated before, there are several points that may be improved. Key among these is its powertrain’s responsiveness. But then again, the Stonic delivers adequate power, and it comes with a manual mode in case you need more control over the gears.

Do be aware also that there are specific crossovers models within the same price range that offer a bit more especially in terms of features. For instance, the slightly more expensive Geely Coolray’s entry-level SE Comfort gets a more powerful engine. The Toyota Raize G likewise, offers LED lighting and stability control.

From all angles, it is indeed stylish

But, don’t let that stop you from considering the Kia Stonic Style Edition as it still provides plenty for its price tag. It also comes with a distinctive look that’s complemented by a modern creature comfort feature like the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This five-seater subcompact crossover also comes with a 5-year warranty and roadside assistance package.