Kia Seltos vs. Kia Stonic: What we know

MANILA:  With the anticipated entry of the Kia Stonic in the Philippine automotive market next month, the subcompact SUV is surely ready to enthrall the minds and hearts of Filipino motorists.

Come to think of it, it’s just about right to ponder where the Stonic will slot into the local SUV portfolio of the Korean brand, given that its sibling Seltos has been widely seen to further Kia's transformation into a globally competitive marque.

Aside from gaining numerous awards abroad such as the prestigious Red Dot Design Award and iF Design Award, the Kia Stonic features smooth surfaces that are integrated with geometric forms for heightened appeal.

In contrast, the Kia Seltos highlights bold, muscular curves that account for a comfortable and revitalizing driving experience.

Another main difference lies in the engines of both Kia models.

The Seltos is fitted with a 2.0-liter dual CVVT Atkinson Cycle gasoline engine matched to an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT).

As for the Stonic, it is equipped with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with D-CVVT (dual continuous variable valve timing). The EX variant comes with six-speed automatic transmission as standard, while the engine of the LX variant is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox or five-speed manual transmission.

Now let’s talk about the interior, wherein both Kia models individually feature a considerably different configuration.

The welcoming and expansive cabin of the Seltos is designed for comfortable and luxurious functionality. It is also fitted with an intelligent driver interface as well as premium tech features and comfortable seating that accounts for a smooth ride.

The Stonic has a more youthful appeal, as can be gleaned from the  orange accent on the center console and dashboard.

Nevertheless, both SUVs can seat up to five occupants and they also boast LED daytime running lights and headlights that offer a sleek look while improving road visibility, especially if you are driving at night or during dawn.

Driving is a lot more convenient for the Kia Stonic thanks to its reverse camera and rear parking sensors. Similar to the Seltos, it is also fitted with electronic stability control to guarantee safety while traveling.

Both SUVs feature an eight-inch infotainment system, which comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for convenient connectivity. The infotainment touchscreen of both vehicles also delivers high-quality sound to six speakers.

The Seltos stretches 4,315mm, is 1,800mm wide, and has a wheelbase of 2,610mm. By comparison, the Stonic is 4,140mm long, 1,750mm wide, and has a wheelbase of 2,580mm.

When it comes to price, the Kia Seltos variants are priced higher compared to the Stonic variants---with a difference of about P75,000.00 to P590,000.

But to help you choose a suitable vehicle for your needs and lifestyle, here are the selling retail prices (SRPs) of the coming Stonic and Seltos variants:

Kia Seltos

• Seltos EX- P1,198,000
• Seltos LX- P1,098,000
• Seltos SX- P1,505,000

Kia Stonic

• 4 LX 5-speed MT- P735,000
• 4 EX 6-speed AT- P925,000
• 4 LX 6-speed AT- P835,000

Note that the Kia Stonic has a pre-introductory discount of P60,000 for the 1.4 LX MT and a P50,000 discount for the 1.4 EX AT and 1.4 LX AT. That's something that we can all look forward to.

Photos from Kia