KOREA OPPORTUNITY

A makeover gives South Korean brand Kia's small SUV a chance to get on level terms with its peers. Let's see how it fares against its Seat rival

- LAWRENCE CHEUNG

SMALL SUVs HAVE proved so popular over the past decade that some manufacturers have decided to pull the plug on the hatchbacks on which they’re based.

Having to buy a Ford Puma instead of a Ford Fiesta has perhaps been the most surprising switch for some buyers, but in Kia’s case, it’s easier to understand why the Stonic has managed to outlive the mediocre Rio hatchback.

The Stonic has been given a big midlife makeover for 2026, which brings Kia’s latest family look, a redesigned interior and updated engines – including the 113bhp 1.0-litre petrol option we’re testing here. Our car is in popular mid-level GT-Line trim, and we’re pitting it against a similarly long-serving foe: the Seat Arona. This rival already had its midlife update back in 2021, and more recently it received another round of subtle styling tweaks in an effort to keep it looking fresh. Around £25,000 gets you similarly equipped SE Technology trim.

DRIVING

Performance, ride, handling, refinement

While our contenders produce a near-identical amount of power from their turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines, they perform a little differently – and perhaps not in the way you’d expect. Unlike the Arona, the Stonic’s engine is equipped with mild hybrid technology to help bolster performance (as well as fuel economy), but it isn’t all that effective. In fact, the Stonic is slower in the sprint from 0-60mph (10.2sec versus 9.2sec).

Its engine also needs to be worked harder than the Arona’s in order to reach a given speed equally quickly, especially when you head out of town. True, the Arona isn’t particularly quick either, but its engine pulls consistently across the rev range and feels less out of its depth at higher speeds.