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Kia Stonic vs Kia Picanto comparison

Compare performance (115 HP vs 68 HP), boot space and price (20,400 £ vs 15,100 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Kia Stonic or Kia Picanto?

Kia Stonic vs Kia Picanto: Key differences

Kia Stonic

4.6 (2 Reviews)
rate
  • substantially more power
  • visibly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • markedly more trunk space
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Kia Picanto

4.4 (4 Reviews)
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  • markedly cheaper
  • barely more efficient
  • only slightly lighter
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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

Stonic

Quick take: Kia Picanto VS Kia Stonic

Kia Picanto VS Kia Stonic frames a practical city hatch against a compact crossover and the choice comes down to where you spend most of your miles. The Kia Picanto arrives as a true urban specialist: tiny footprint, superb visibility and the kind of simplicity that makes daily parking and tight lanes effortless. The Kia Stonic, by contrast, trades a bit of that city-only agility for higher seating, more on-road composure and a fresher cockpit that feels like a small step up in everyday usability. This comparison digs into how those different characters affect comfort, practicality and who each car really suits.

Picanto

Driving character and real-world performance

The Kia Picanto feels light and eager in town, with direct steering and a peppy personality at low speeds that makes city corners and parking maneuvers pleasant. The Kia Stonic brings more shove when you ask for it, which turns into tangible calm on faster roads and easier overtaking without needing to wring the engine. Where the Picanto can sound and feel strained beyond town limits, the Stonic’s stronger drive train and slightly heavier feel deliver less fuss on open roads, albeit with a firmer ride. Choosing between them is a trade-off: the Picanto rewards urban agility, the Stonic rewards faster driving and confidence at speed.

Stonic

Comfort and long-distance behavior

The Kia Picanto is comfortable for short hops and daily errands, with seats and suspension tuned for city surfaces, but long motorway stints quickly expose engine noise and limited performance. The Kia Stonic rides firmer and can feel choppy over broken surfaces, but its extra performance and steadier highway manners reduce fatigue during overtakes and long runs. Both cabins are more functional than luxurious, yet the Stonic’s better highway composure makes it the less tiring partner on weekender trips despite the firmer damping. If your miles are mostly urban, the Picanto’s softer, easier manners win; if you do regular longer runs, the Stonic’s stability pays off.

Picanto

City friendliness and everyday usability

In the tight turns of the city the Kia Picanto is hard to beat: tiny exterior dimensions, a tight turning circle and superb outward visibility make parking and lane changes low-stress tasks. The Kia Stonic remains very city-capable but trades a little of that barber‑shop maneuverability for higher ride height, easier seat entry and a cockpit that’s marginally more practical for getting kids or grocery crates in and out. Both cars favour simple, physical controls over fiddly menus, but the Stonic’s updated displays give it a modern edge in connectivity and interface clarity. For lamp-post parkers and narrow streets the Picanto is the natural pick; for drivers who want crossover ease of access without a big footprint, the Stonic is the smarter compromise.

Stonic

Cabin feel, space and practicality

Inside, the Kia Picanto feels utilitarian: tidy, well laid out and dominated by hard plastics that keep costs and weight down, while offering a surprisingly sensible boot for its size. The Kia Stonic’s facelift brings cleaner graphics and dual displays that make the interior feel newer, yet material quality still leans budget-minded in both cars. Rear passenger space remains the weak point for each model, with the Picanto’s back seat best suited to short hops and the Stonic offering only marginally more room for legs and luggage. If you prioritise load flexibility and the simplest ownership costs, the Picanto delivers an honest package; if you want slightly nicer tech and a more modern cabin presentation, the Stonic nudges ahead.

Picanto

Who should choose which car — buyer fit and next steps

Pick the Kia Picanto if your life is a city loop: short commutes, tight parking, low running costs and a vehicle that doesn’t need motorway authority. Choose the Kia Stonic if you want crossover styling, stronger on‑road performance for occasional trips out of town, and a refreshed interior that feels a bit more contemporary. Both cars carry long manufacturer warranties and sensible equipment, so your decision will hinge on how often you leave urban limits and whether you value modern displays or minimal running costs more. Read on to the technical comparison to see how weight, power delivery and equipment levels create the practical differences you’ll notice every day.

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Stonic

Costs and Efficiency:

When it comes to price and running costs, the biggest differences usually appear. This is often where you see which car fits your budget better in the long run.

Kia Picanto is markedly cheaper – starting at 15,100 £ , while the Kia Stonic costs 20,400 £ . That’s a price difference of around 5,314 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Kia Picanto uses 5.5 L/100km and is barely more efficient than the Kia Stonic with 5.6 L/100km. The difference is about 0.1 L/100km.

Picanto

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the Kia Stonic offers substantially more power – delivering 115 HP compared to 68 HP. That’s roughly 47 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Kia Stonic is visibly quicker – completing the sprint in 10.7 s, while the Kia Picanto takes 14.6 s. That’s about 3.9 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Kia Stonic delivers considerably more torque with 200 Nm compared to 96 Nm. That’s about 104 Nm more.

Stonic

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, Kia Picanto is only slightly lighter – 1,124 kg compared to 1,205 kg. The difference is around 81 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Kia Stonic offers markedly more boot space – 352 L compared to 255 L. That’s a difference of about 97 L.

When it comes to payload, the Kia Stonic carries noticeably more – 445 kg compared to 332 kg. That’s a difference of about 113 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Kia Stonic holds a decisive overall lead in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £20,400
Stonic

Kia Stonic

  • Engine Type Petrol, Petrol MHEV
  • Transmission Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 100 - 115 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 5.6 - 5.7 L/100km
Kia Stonic
Kia Picanto

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

Kia Stonic

The Kia Stonic is a compact crossover that pairs nimble city manners with a surprisingly spacious and comfortable cabin. It’s a practical, well-equipped choice for buyers who value sensible features, approachable styling and easy everyday usability.

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Kia Picanto

Kia Picanto is a cheeky city hatch that squeezes surprising style, practicality and a smile-inducing drive into a pocket-friendly package. It’s ideal for urban buyers who want fuss-free running, effortless parking and a car that punches above its class without pretending to be anything it’s not.

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Kia Stonic
Kia Picanto

Costs and Consumption

Price
20,400 - 26,800 £
Price
15,100 - 19,500 £
Consumption L/100km
5.6 - 5.7 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
5.5 - 5.9 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
126 - 128 g/km
co2
126 - 134 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
SUV
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
5
Seats
4 - 5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,205 - 1,270 kg
Curb weight
1,124 - 1,131 kg
Trunk capacity
352 L
Trunk capacity
255 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,760 mm
Width
1,595 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
440 - 445 kg
Payload
253 - 332 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV
Engine Type
Petrol
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automated Manual
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
100 - 115 HP
Power HP
68 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
10.7 - 12.1 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
14.6 - 17.2 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
172 - 200 Nm
Torque
96 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3
Number of Cylinders
3
Power kW
74 - 85 kW
Power kW
50 kW
Engine capacity
998 cm3
Engine capacity
998 cm3

General

Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
D
CO2 Efficiency Class
D
Brand
Kia
Brand
Kia
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.