Kia has just pulled the sheets of its all-new Stonic sub-compact crossover, which will go on sale in Europe later this year. It's basically the twin of the also new Hyundai Kona. Chances are it'll arrive in the US at a later date because this particular segment is red hot right now. Consumers are craving crossovers and Kia very much wants to oblige, and the new Stonic (weird name, we know) aims to deliver the goods. The exterior design, which was styled in Europe, is definitely quite striking.

We like the latest interpretation of Kia's "tiger-nose" grille, and the body's sharp horizontal lines and sculpted surfaces. There's even a Targa-style roof with a choice of 20 two-tone paint finish combinations. With rivals like the quirky Nissan Juke in mind, Kia figured buyers will want to personalize their rides, especially in the affordable sub-compact crossover segment. But compared to the Juke, the Stonic definitely has more of an SUV look to it. Like the exterior, the interior design was also penned in Europe, and it too offers "as much potential for individuality as the exterior," according to the official press release. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard (which isn't the case even in the Porsche Cayenne, just saying).

Just a few optional features will include heated front seats, cruise control and keyless entry. Europe-bound models will come powered by a range of engines, specifically a turbocharged 1.0-liter gasoline engine with 118 hp, a choice of two naturally-aspirated engines, a 1.25- and 1.4-liter, and lastly a 1.6-liter diesel. The eventual US market version will almost certainly be gasoline engine only. Driver assistance features include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Departure Warning. Official pricing hasn't been released, but it'll either meet or beat that of the Nissan Juke.