Kia Stonic vs Skoda Octavia
What's the difference?

Kia Stonic

$28,180 - $36,040

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Skoda Octavia

$39,590 - $59,990

2026 price

View pricing & specs

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Summary

2026 Kia Stonic

2026 Skoda Octavia

By Andrew Chesterton

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

—

Inline 4, 1.5L

Fuel Type

—

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

—

5.5L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Nice ride and handling balance
Frugal fuel use
Spacious backseat

Smooth driving
Packed with features
Impressive value-for-money

Dislikes

Sparse cabin trimmings
Little engine can feel wheezy
Feels old in places

Some lag in initial acceleration
Space-saver spare
Mild-hybrid adds little

2026 Kia Stonic Summary

This might be Kia's best defence yet against the wave of cheap Chinese SUVs currently crashing against our shores.

It's the Kia Stonic, and this update brings mild hybrid technology, which lowers your fuel bill while upping your power. There's also some new tech stuff and some new safety stuff, as well as a refreshed front-end look.

Critically, though, it's not actually new. The Stonic launched globally back in 2017, before an updated version arrived in Australia around 2021. This is yet another update, albeit a significant one, which means the Stonic has been given dual-cab ute levels of longevity in the market.

All of that should be helping Kia to keep the pencil sharp, with the new range kicking off at $28,180, plus on-road costs.

Not quite China cheap, but not too far off it.

View full pricing & specs

2026 Skoda Octavia Summary

Once a solid mainstay on our roads, wagons have fallen out of favour somewhat as a result of the ever-growing popularity of SUVs and utes.

But is a wagon actually a better and more family-friendly daily driver than a bigger, taller SUV or ute? Perhaps.

And throw a mild-hybrid system into the mix and it could be an even more appealing purchase.

Skoda’s Octavia has built a strong following in Australia and now comes its new mild hybrid grade, available as a wagon or liftback.

So, what’s the Skoda Octavia Select mHEV wagon like as a daily driver for families?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Kia Stonic 2026 Skoda Octavia

Verdict

Unlike a lot of rivals in this segment, the Stonic's actually quite a bit of fun to drive, and that alone earns it a tick from me.

Yes, it can feel underpowered in places, especially when you're trying to do high-speed overtakes or if you're on a really engaging road and on and off the accelerator. But just cruising around, the little powertrain gives you plenty to get around the city.

And I guess that is the point. This does feel like a very city-friendly vehicle, even if it is undeniably showing its age in places.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with meals provided.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics (https://www.carsguide.com.au/ethics), and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Verdict

The Skoda Octavia has always been impressive in wagon guise and this mHEV variant is no different. While the mild-hybrid set-up adds little to the Octavia package there’s still plenty to like about this wagon. It’s smooth and refined to drive, packed with features and has ample appeal as a value-for-money buy.

It’s no surprise if this wagon is at or near the top of your vehicle shopping list.

Kia Stonic vs Skoda Octavia What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Kia Stonic vs Skoda Octavia
What's the difference?