Could the all-new Kia Stonic be the brand’s new vehicle for the Philippines?

Kia Philippines is looking to expand its local lineup of vehicles in the country. With that said a likely new vehicle candidate for the South Korean automaker could come in the form of the Kia Stonic. The all-new crossover is slightly smaller than the Kia Seltos and as such should be positioned just below it. The Kia Stonic is reported to be arriving in the country by the fourth quarter of 2020.

The all-new Stonic measures in at 4,140mm in length, 1,760mm in width, and 1,520mm in height. This makes the crossover 40mm narrower and 95mm shorter compared to its bigger brother the Kia Seltos.

Since there are no official specifications yet for the Philippine version of the vehicle we can only guess which engine could come with the all-new Kia Stonic. Current engine options are a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine that pushes out 118hp and a naturally aspirated 1.2-liter motor that makes 83hp. Another likely option is the 1.4-liter engine that is currently found in the Kia Picanto that produces 98hp. A 1.6-liter turbo diesel motor could also be a likely candidate however until the South Korean automaker confirms the specifications for the local automotive market it's still up to speculation. Transmission options will still likely be a manual or a CVT.

As far as features go we expect the Stonic to enter the Philippine market with an infotainment system that comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities. It may also come with digital climate controls, leather upholstery, and other creature comforts. 

On the safety side of things, the Stonic may also be bringing in Kia’s DRiVE WISE Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). This gives the vehicle autonomous emergency braking, forward collision alert, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, as well as lane departure warning. With the all-new Stonic being positioned below the Seltos it could offer interested buyers a Kia crossover loaded with features that won’t be breaking the bank.