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Kia Motors UK has unveiled details of its debut B-segment SUV, the Stonic – with prices starting from £16,295.

Entering a sector which the Korean brand expects to double in size to 2.2 million registrations a year across Europe by 2020, the Stonic will be available with a choice of two trim options and three engines.

Kia’s 1.6-litre CRDi engine will be the most frugal in the line-up delivering claims of  up to 67.3mpg, with CO2 emissions of 109g/km.

The brand expects to sell 70,000 versions of Stonic in Europe in 2018, rising steadily to 100,000 a year, with the UK accounting for between 8,000 and 10,000 sales a year.

Based on the latest Rio supermini, the Stonic is slightly longer, at 4,140mm. It is also 70mm taller and rides 42mm higher from the ground.

All models are front-wheel drive as the take-up for all-wheel drive in this sector of the market is only 8%, according to Kia.

The new model’s trim levels aligned to Kia’s grade 2 and First Edition specifications and all will include links to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via pre-downloaded smartphone apps, while advanced electronic driver assistance systems such as autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and automatic switching between high and low headlight beams are available.

All models feature 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, all-round electric windows with an automatic function on the driver's side, roof rails, rear parking sensors, remote locking, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, a 3.5-inch supervision cluster, Bluetooth with music streaming, automatic headlight control, bi-function projection headlamps and cornering lights and LED daytime running lights.

There are body-coloured bumpers, door mirror casings and door handles, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, 60:40 split rear seats and a six-speaker audio system.

The First Edition adds a smart key entry system and engine start/stop button, stainless steel pedals, black cloth and grey faux leather upholstery with colour accents, automatic air conditioning, LED rear lights, privacy glass on the rear side windows and tailgate, heated front seats and flat-bottomed steering wheel, chrome window trim and interior door handles and a dual-height luggage floor.

The First Edition version also stands out due to two-tone paintwork.

The roof, wing mirror casings and rear spoiler are picked out in either black, lime green, red or orange, depending on the choice of main body colour, and there are colour accents in the interior on the seats and around the lower centre console and display screens.

Three engines are available in Stonic, headed by Kia's 1.0-litre T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct-injection) unit delivering 120PS.

It lines up alongside a 1.4-litre multi-point injection (MPi) naturally aspirated 100PS petrol engine and the 110PS 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel from the cee'd range.

The 1.0-litre T-GDi engine claims a dash to 60mph in less than 10 seconds and 56.5mpg on the combined fuel cycle, while CO2 emissions of 115g/km.

The diesel Stonic is the most frugal, however, claiming 67.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 109g/km.

Kia’s 1.4-litre petrol engine, available exclusively in the grade 2 model, claims 51.4mpg and 125g/km.

All Stonic’s will be sold with Kia’s a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty but dealers will also be able to offer Care 3 and Care 3 Plus servicing packages for retail customers.

These cover the cost of all routine servicing work for three or five years respectively and, like the warranty, can be passed on if the car is sold before they expire.