Kia Stonic launch dependent on fans demand 

MANILA: Hyundai Philippines has already confirmed that its upcoming crossover, Kona will not be launched in the local market while its sub-brand, Kia has adopted a distinct strategy to take a call on its new crossover, the Stonic. In a live poll, Kia Philippines have asked its fans to vote whether they want to see the B-segment crossover in the market or not.

The Facebook poll of Kia states, “Do you want us to bring the Kia Stonic to the Philippines? Let us know and we might just make it happen.” Though the 2018 Kia Stonic shares its platform with Kona, the crossover lacks the rugged and tough styling as seen in the Hyundai’s crossover. The Stonic’s styling philosophy tends much towards urban styling which is evident through its well-proportioned creases and floating roof. The front is dominated by Kia’s prominent “Tiger Nose Grille’ while the rear shares its styling cues with Sportage.

The differentiating factor with Stonic is its wide range of customization options which allow a user to choose from up to 20 two-tone color combinations and five distinct colors for the roof. In the cabin, Kia has opted simple, clear and straightforward designing scheme that is oriented towards the driver. To sync the exterior with the cabin, the AC vents and seat stitching are finished with the body color while the black paint dominates the rest of the cabin.

In terms of equipment, the Stonic gets touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with features like keyless entry, cruise control, and automatic climate control. The engine options will include a 1.25-litre and 1.4-litre MPI mills, followed by a 1.6-litre turbocharged CRDi diesel and 1.0-litre T-GDI engines. The Stonic will also boast safety features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), 6 Airbag, ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), and EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution).

Kia Philippines has not revealed which variant it will introduce in the market but, if it is introduced then it will be a wise decision by the company to replace the long-running Soul. Let’s see if the Facebook Poll can force the manufacturer to introduce the new crossover in the Philippines or we have to choose from the existing lineup of the Korean manufacturer.