At the recent Beijing Auto Show, the all-new Kia Stonic was officially launched. Developed and designed jointly by Kia Motors India and Kia’s global R&D headquarters in Korea, the compact and stylish Kia Stonic has attracted much attention with its rich intelligent features.
Of course, just having good performance on paper is not enough for a “new generation smart SUV”, “easy to drive” and “easy to use” are the key factors that determine whether it can gain market recognition. Next, we will take a closer look at the new Kia Sorento through our test drive experience to see how powerful the new car is. Key Points of the New Car 1. The trendy appearance and personalized details of the latest design concept from Kia create a high recognition and sporty aesthetic. 2. The interior combines technology and comfort, with dual 10.25-inch screens, rich smart connectivity features, and user-friendly configurations enhancing the driving experience. 3. Equipped with a 1.5L Smartstream naturally aspirated engine and IVT transmission, it achieves smooth power output and economical fuel consumption. 4. The addition of L2 level intelligent driving assistance systems surpasses safety and convenience of the same level; multiple driving modes adapt to various road conditions, enhancing driving pleasure. Exterior: Collision of Trendy and Personalized Styles
The all-new Sorento adopts Kia’s latest “Bold & Wild” design concept. The front end features a bold and stylish design with a family-style 7-shaped LED headlights and a black narrow grille that complements each other. The silver skid plate enhances the sporty feel and gives the vehicle’s front end a higher level of recognition.
The car features a two-tone design on the side, with a silver roof rack and black trim. The 16-inch wheels are sporty in design, adding a touch of dynamism. The crystal-cut shape and aluminum alloy mirror design enhance the overall stylish look of the vehicle. The car measures 4110mm in length, 1790mm in width, and 1625mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2500mm.
The rear features popular through-type taillight design, with vertical styling unique at both ends, echoing the silver front bumper, and hidden exhaust layout for a cleaner overall look. The optimized aerodynamic design of the roof not only looks good, but also effectively reduces wind resistance at high speeds. Interior: Fusion of technology and comfort.
In terms of interior, Sion uses black as the main tone, creating a simple yet sporty atmosphere. The dual 10.25-inch LCD instrument panel and central screen form a connected screen design, adding a strong sense of technology to the cockpit.
Integrated Kia Connect & Baidu Intelligent Interconnection System 3.0 supports various smart interconnection functions, including voice control, online navigation, car-home interconnection, etc. Built-in apps such as iQiyi and QQ Music meet the entertainment needs of young users. In addition, the multifunctional flat-bottom steering wheel, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, wireless phone charging, etc., further enhance the convenience and comfort of driving and riding. Space: Reasonable layout supports flexible adjustment.
Although positioned as a small SUV, the new Soina’s interior layout is quite reasonable. The seats are made of leather and perforated, providing good lumbar support and comfortable cushioning, with support for multi-directional adjustment. The flexible folding design of the rear seats, along with the neat trunk space, ensures the loading needs of most daily commutes.
The 176cm tall tester had a good space experience in both the driver’s seat and the rear row, especially with the grooved design on the top of the rear row, which solved the problem of cramped head space for rear passengers. However, objectively speaking, due to the new car’s emphasis on legroom for rear passengers, the width of the rear seat cushion was controlled, resulting in average leg support for rear passengers, but this is acceptable for a small SUV. Driving: Familiar yet unfamiliar feeling of naturally aspirated power.
In terms of power, the all-new Sonet is equipped with a 1.5L Smartstream naturally aspirated engine, paired with an IVT gearbox. The power output is smooth, and the official fuel consumption is 6.29 liters per 100 kilometers. Additionally, to create a more enjoyable driving experience, the new car also offers four driving modes including comfort, economy, sport, and smart, as well as three terrain modes for snow, mud, and sand. This allows drivers to choose the most suitable driving mode based on different road conditions and moods.
In the test drive experience, the all-new Kia Seltos gave me the feeling of meeting an old friend, both familiar and unfamiliar. The familiar part is the direct throttle response of the naturally aspirated engine and the pure driving experience, especially in the mid to low RPM range, the power output is more controllable; the unfamiliar part is, despite the engine being only 1.5L, the exhilarating power output it brings while driving is even stronger than many 2.0L naturally aspirated engines in the past.
In the initial stage, the all-new Sonet presents a relaxed and dynamic driving style, with throttle response tuned to be particularly sensitive. Just tap the accelerator lightly and the vehicle responds quickly. As speed increases, throttle control becomes more precise, ensuring a smooth acceleration process. It is worth noting that in low-speed city congestion or sport mode, drivers may need to adapt slightly to the sensitive setting of the initial throttle.
In the mid-to-high speed range, the new Sonet exhibits a gradual increase in power of the naturally aspirated engine at high revs. Especially during high-speed cruising or overtaking above 100km/h, deep throttle input may be required to achieve sufficient acceleration, with relatively weak power reserves.
In terms of the transmission, the IVT transmission’s instant response and intelligent logic allow drivers to feel direct and agile power delivery in any driving scenario. In addition to smooth stepless shifting, the IVT also simulates an 8-speed manual mode, increasing driving enjoyment and engagement, especially when manual control of power output is needed, such as climbing or descending, giving drivers more control freedom.
The steering system is tuned for consistency, whether driving at low or high speeds. The steering force gain is not significant, making it easy to maneuver in the city. The compact body and precise handling of the vehicle allow the driver to navigate smoothly in traffic.
Soyne is equipped with L2 level intelligent driving assistance system, including front collision prevention assistance, lane keeping assistance, intelligent speed limit assistance, etc., these functions are rare in the same level of vehicles. The lane keeping system of the new car deserves praise, as its steering intervention is natural, accurate lane recognition, greatly improving driving comfort while ensuring safety.
In terms of NVH, there is still room for improvement in suppressing engine noise and insulation, especially at high speeds and during rapid acceleration, the overall noise in the cabin is more noticeable. Summary: Kia Sorento impresses with its innovative “Bold & Wild” design language, sleek body lines, and dual-color combinations, first leaving a deep impression visually; the interior dual 10.25-inch screens and Kia Connect & Baidu intelligent interconnection system enhance the driving experience, meeting the demand of young consumers for smart interconnection; the combination of the 1.5L Smartstream engine and IVT gearbox provides direct and smooth power output, with multiple driving modes adding to the driving pleasure. Especially the L2 level intelligent driving assistance system makes driving safer and easier. However, there is still room for improvement in rear seat comfort and NVH control, and even in the top configuration, the seat adjustment is only manual, which is somewhat lagging behind in the current highly competitive domestic car market. With a price range of 9.19-10.09 million yuan, Kia Sorento offers high cost performance and is definitely worth the money. If more comfort options and richer car purchase benefits can be added later, it is believed that it can still achieve good sales results.