The year was 2020, and many people were still in their homes taking shelter from the pandemic. Kia Philippines took on the challenge of launching the Stonic online and presenting the car for sale to customers with only images and spec sheets. Against all odds, the Stonic was a resounding success for the Kia brand in the Philippines. Even on our side, the Stonic was able to round up about 500 inquiries from customers when it was launched. It was the perfect size and perfect style for those caught in the gloom of a pandemic, the perfect mix if you will, and the perfect car for many to get started on their journey.
Positioned as a youthful crossover, but with a professional design, the Stonic was a fun addition to the lineup and Kia knew that by bringing in bright and vibrant colors for the crossover. The Black/Flash Yellow colorway was the launch color of the Stonic, and it was as eye-catching as can be. Kia needed to pull out all the stops for the Stonic to grab attention and succeed.
The launch
Before the launch, the Stonic was already teased by Kia Philippines. In anticipation of the model’s launch, Kia held a Zoom meeting with members of the media, to brief us about the icon that was to come. The meeting was held in September with the launch slated in October of the same year. Kia was so excited to launch the Stonic that it already had pre-selling prices for it, presenting huge discounts for people who were willing to take the chance of buying the car without getting a first look or a review to back up their purchase.
Kia had to pull out all the stops to make the Stonic work. Launched online, the challenge was to be able to convince people that the Stonic looked as good as it did online and in the real world. During that time, only a few people got to see the Stonic up close and personal due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Kia Philippines doubled down on its online materials and held a Zoom meeting.
We were presented with a ton of material about how the Stonic was an award-winning model, recognized by the Red Dot Design Awards back in 2018 when it was first introduced. With the award under its belt, and with Kia Philippines’ conviction that the Stonic will do well in the country, they proceeded to make a jingle, and a tagline that cemented the Stonic in the minds of media and the public, “style that is iconic,” a play on the name, which was the etymology of the model’s name.
The Stonic’s success was also certainly helped by its launch price, with the most affordable model being the LX MT variant with an SRP of P735,000. Going up the ladder, we get the LX AT variant with a price of P835,000, and the top-spec EX AT trim that came with a price tag of P925,000. As usual, these prices have already changed, and the Stonic is now more expensive due to inflation and foreign exchange rates, but at the time, the Stonic was an absolute deal, made even better by the fact that Kia offered up to a P60,000 discount off the launch price of the crossover.
The model also did well as a product, with LED headlamps, LED fog lamps, LED DRLs, LED taillights, dual-tone alloy wheels, and even faux skid plates in the front and in the rear to emphasize its ground clearance of 185mm, perfect for the pot-hole-ridden streets of Metro Manila and beyond. On top of that, it had everything that you needed, minus a ton of fluff. The Stonic came with the essentials, namely a capable infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, and a reverse camera. All the bells and whistles that you needed were on the top-spec EX AT trim which was great to see considering that its price point fell under a million Philippine Pesos.
So why did the Stonic do so well?
Perhaps it was a perfect storm for Kia at the time. Car buyers in the Philippines were crazy for crossovers, and there was also a spike in the smaller car segments because COVID-19 restrictions limited the number of passengers a car could have. We also saw a spike in inquiries for cars in the smaller segments at the time, and the Stonic pretty much hit the nail on the head in terms of its design and its price tag. People who’ve never seen the Stonic in real life were asking about it.
On top of its design, we also got to experience how well it drove out in the real world. Even during the pandemic, Kia Philippines was kind enough to let us try the model and experience it firsthand—socially distant of course. With the car in our hands, we saw that it wasn’t all about the specifications that it had. Truth be told, the 1.4-liter engine with anywhere between 94 to 99 hp didn’t impress us with its figures, but it was torquey and peppy enough to put a smile on our faces.
What stood out to us was how well the Stonic handled twisty and tight roads. The compact frame of the Stonic was easy to maneuver around the city, but the tightness of the chassis helped us enjoy a drive through the twists and turns of a winding country road. The Stonic is fun to play with and drive. The feeling that we got from driving the car was similar to how we felt about the design, fun and dynamic. The steering was light but communicative, and even if we were down on power, the car was responsive enough that it didn’t feel like we were going slower than expected. The Stonic was packing a 1.4-liter gasoline engine, and it felt like we were driving a 1.4-liter gasoline engine. No pretenses, whatsoever, and we felt that the car did justice to the specs that it got in the Philippine market.
After your adventures, the car turns into a comfortable city slicker with a smooth transmission and a comfortable ride. If there is one thing that Kia knows how to do, it’s to make a car that has a bit of fun in it but remains practically comfy at the same time. The Stonic fulfilled most of the items on our checklist for a small crossover. Light to drive, light on the wallet, and light on its feet. At the time, the Stonic was one of the best values for money. For the price, you get a reputable brand name that’s managed by a competent principal, and a product with tons of quality sewn into every stitch and welded into every seam. Until now, we consider the Stonic to be one of the more stylish models in its segment.
Now the real question is, did the Stonic hold up after two years? The answer to that question is yes for the most part. In terms of chassis dynamics, the modernity of the engine, and the overall quality of the car, we think that it’s still a recommendable model. Even about the infotainment system, it’s still a thoroughly usable model if you prefer to pair your phone with the infotainment system via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Kia was one of the first brands in the business to push for a standardized set of features for its infotainment systems, and the Stonic still gets passing marks from us in terms of its system. Perhaps the only drawback of the Stonic right now is that it’s going up against some stiff competition with advanced safety features. Don’t get us wrong, the Stonic is fully equipped with the standard passive safety features that you need in the event of a crash, but it doesn’t have advanced active safety features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and blind spot detection among other things. Still, if advanced safety tech is not a high priority for you and if you want a fun and stylish daily driver of a car, then the Stonic is still a solid choice in the market that could still steal the show with its bright colors and its award-winning style (that is iconic).
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