Kia Will Launch a Small Crossover to Round Out Its Subcompact Segment
Korean automakers desperately need more sport utility vehicles. Frankly, they should have had them 36 months ago when demand for crossovers began to explode. Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Kia Motors, has watched its sales dwindle after the post-recession buying boom cooled off and everyone started losing their appetite for small affordable cars. That poor financial performance has forced the Korean automotive group into austerity measures, reallocating funds for new vehicle projects aimed at getting customers back on its side — specifically with something riding an extra inch or two from the pavement.
During this week’s earnings report, Kia said it planned to launch a desperately needed sport utility vehicle for South Korea and Europe later this year. According to the company, the model would be a Rio-based subcompact “crossover utility vehicle.”
While overseas markets are top of mind for the automaker, they might not be the only ones receiving the mystery crossover.
Believed to be called the Kia Stonic in western markets — due to a trademark filing of the name first noticed by Just-Auto — the small crossover should go up against the Nissan Juke and Honda’s HR-V. While this also means it will be sharing a segment with Kia’s Soul and Niro Hybrid, cannibalization should be minimized by the Soul’s funky boxed styling and the Niro’s electrified powertrain.
The Stonic is expected to skip Geneva and debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September, likely bearing a strong resemblance to Kia’s Niro (above) and Chinese-market KX3 crossover.
Kia hasn’t confirmed a North American introduction, though several media sources claim that the model will eventually arrive on these shores.
[Image: Kia Motors]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
More by Matt Posky
Comments
Join the conversation
"Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Kia Motors, has watched its sales dwindle" In the US, 2016 sales grew 35k units and US market share went from 7.9% to 8.1%. In 2012, their market share was 8.7%, so it dipped a bit since then, and is now better than last year. 2016 sales are up 160k units over 2012. So I guess the definition of 'dwindle' is flexible.
That greenhouse. Nice. H/K has been one of the worst offenders with their CUV lineup of propogating the hideous and non-functional aero wedge and rising beltline. This thing looks great. Its not a market that interests me as a buyer but this aesthetic is much better than the current.