Saturday, September 26, 2020

2021 Kia Stonic: A Hip and Trendy Subcompact Crossover Designed for the Young and Active || Monchster Chronicles




As early as July, Kia Philippines has sparked excitement after announcing the “unboxing” of a new model designed to provide quality mobility for Filipinos. They further stirred euphoria after consumers experienced anew the company’s ‘Power to Surprise’ with the announcement that the 2021 Kia Stonic will soon hit the Philippine roads starting this October. 

With some bits and pieces of information circling the internet about the Stonic, Kia Philippines tickled the senses of the public by revealing more details about the hip and trendy subcompact crossover. This latest bold and stylish offering from the Korean carmaker will surely create waves in the local automotive scene.


Target Market


The Stonic is positioned to meet the demands of the young and active who turn their dreams into reality day-by-day and know how to have fun in the process. The said market belongs to the wide spectrum of adventurous Filipino buyers who do not compromise design and function.


Design Elements


With the catchphrase “Style that is Iconic,” this chic crossover is suitable for first-time buyers and trendy car owners who want to showcase their exquisite taste in their vehicle. As pegged by Kia’s chief designer Peter Schreyer, the European Design Language is manifested in the compact features, elegant design, sharp lines, and smooth surfaces, which harmonizes with the signature Tiger Nose Grille and the stylish and heavy-duty roof rails at the top of the unit.





The well-positioned projector headlamps and LED Daytime Running Lights (exclusive to the EX variant) in the front fascia give proper illumination to your peripherals, without distracting incoming drivers. The perfectly-sized Stonic is 4,100mm long, 1,735mm wide, and 1,532mm high with a 2,570 wheelbase to make sure that comfort can be stylish. The dimensions house a multifunctional storage space with 60:40 full-fold flat rear seats. Even if the seats are still upright, it provides 325 liters of ample room for huge hauls on grocery runs or baggage for that quick trip to the beach. 


Onlookers will also enjoy the two-tone color option on the top-of-the-line variant, bound to express the bright and positive disposition of the owner.


Entertainment


Road trips are boring without ample sound trips and the Stonic assures to keep them entertained. Concerts with peers and family while hitting the road are as lively as it should be with its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system—compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay—that blasts clear music to the six audio speakers packaged as standard on the Stonic.





Power Delivery/Efficiency

The Stonic is powered by a 1.4 dual CVVT engine matched with either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The said power mill is set to deliver a maximum of 95 PS for the manual option and 100 PS for the automatic. The result of this engine-transmission pairing yields to a higher fuel efficiency rating.


Safety/Convenience


The Stonic does not fall short on safety features. The rear parking sensor, a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, electronic stability control, and hill start assist (all exclusive for the EX variant) make certain that the vehicle occupant's welfare is of primary consideration. Also, the 185-mm ground clearance provides that sense of security driving on floodwaters. Meanwhile, the smart entry and push start button provide convenience to the user.





Dealer Network


While Kia Philippines started 2020 with a 30-dealer network, four new dealerships were added and started operations by the third quarter. The aggressive expansion to widen Kia’s footprint continues with four more appointments in key locations that will operate within the fourth quarter (a total of 38 facilities) and a potential for three other appointments before the year ends. Kia Philippines is set to continue to bring in more surprises as they expressed commitment to be present in strategic locations to better serve the Filipinos.


Aftersales


The Stonic, just like the other members of the Kia Philippines’ roster, will be offered with up to five-year or 160,000-km warranty, as well as with a 24/7 Roadside Assistance FREE for five years, making the Kia user experience easier to manage. By just contacting the Kia Customer hotline, customers will have access to Roadside Assistance, which covers Emergency Towing, Personal Assistance, Minor Onsite Repair, Medical Assistance, and Information Service for a secured, enjoyable and worry-free ownership.

 

Price Position


The Ayala-backed Kia Philippines said that introduction of the vehicle is timely as, over the years, they saw the market has shifted to subcompact SUVs, in which the median price is in the P1-million level. The Stonic is being offered at an introductory price of P675,000 for the entry-level variant (LX MT), P785,000 for the middle-range (LX AT), and P875,000 for the top-grade—a special pre-launch price that will be accorded to those who will reserve until the official launch on October 15. Those who are looking for subcompact SUVs and crossovers should take a look at the Stonic as the price range is very enticing—value-packed yet competitively priced.


Interested buyers who want to know more about the Stonic, along with other surprising Kia deals and offers, may call or visit any of the 34 Kia dealers nationwide or log on to the Kia website at https://www.kia.com/ph/main.html. You may also Like and Follow Kia Philippines on Facebook and Instagram to check what other programs Kia Philippines has designed for the market.


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Monch "Monchster" Henares is an award-winning automotive journalist and feature writer for the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Road Talk, a media blogger @MonchsterChronicles.com, co-founder of Motourismo.phand a co-anchor in the program 'Kaya Mo Yan' on DZRH News Tele-radio.  He is also a tech and motoring specialist, inventor, and automotive engineer. 

He managed the motor pool for a limousine company in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He is now based in Manila, Philippines, and is the President of BuildMeUp Corp.

You may e-mail him at monchnrs@gmail.com
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Instagram: @themonchster 
Youtube:  MonchsterTv  

2 comments:

  1. The 2021 Kia K5 is a midsize sedan that is offered in five trim levels: LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX and GT. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional the LXS and GT-Line. Detailed info here: citykia.com

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  2. They've all changed their names. That's right. The mid-size sedan formerly known as Optima in the U.S. will officially be renamed K5 when the all-new 2021 model goes on sale this summer. landmarkdodge.com

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