The Car Enthusiast

27/09/2026

Is the Kia Stonic actually a practical family B-SUV, or is it just a stylish hatchback in disguise?

After spending a few days daily driving the new Kia Stonic with a baby seat, camera gear, and daily runs around town, here is our honest, real-world review! From the lane-keep assist and dual-function HVAC controls to boot space limits and Sport mode performance, we break down the good, the bad, and who this car is REALLY for.

🚗 WHAT WE COVER IN THIS VIDEO:
- First impressions & styling
- Rear seat space & fitting a baby car seat
- Boot capacity test (can it fit a pram & gear?)
- Digital dash & dual HVAC / Infotainment control bar
- Lane Assist, Auto Handbrake & Safety alerts
- Auto Stop/Start & Drive Modes (Normal vs Sport)
- Final verdict: Great daily vs Family practicality

📌 SUMMARY / VERDICT:
The Kia Stonic is a fantastic, easy-to-drive, feature-packed daily driver for commuters, single owners, or couples. It’s easy to park, sports a tech-rich interior, and handles well. However, if you have a young family with a baby pram and lots of gear, the tight boot space and compact rear cabin might make you want a full-size SUV or station wagon instead!

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:
What do you think of modern B-SUVs like the Kia Stonic? Would you pick this or a traditional station wagon/hatchback? Let us know in the comments below!

👍 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more car reviews, driving vlogs, and family vehicle tests!



0:00 - Introduction & Initial Impressions
0:52 - Baby Seat Fit & Backseat Space
1:30 - Boot Space & The Pram Dilemma
1:50 - Dashboard & Infotainment Overview
3:10 - Dual-Function AC & Media Controls
4:05 - Automatic Parking Brake & Safety Features
5:14 - Speed Limit Alerts & Road Assist
5:38 - Testing Lane Keep Assist on the Road
7:25 - Stop/Start Feature & Daily Drivability
8:08 - Driving Impressions & Sport Mode Test
10:03 - Steering Wheel Controls & Fuel Economy
11:08 - Voice Command Test
12:46 - Is It Really an SUV? (B-SUV Size Reality)
13:38 - Final Verdict: Is It a Practical Family Car?

26/09/2026

24/09/2026

Happy Friday! Taking the car out for a proper drive this weekend to get out of the house and clear my head. Nothing beats an open road, a full tank, and nowhere you urgently need to be.

Anyone heading out for a drive or hitting up any local meets this weekend? 🚗💨

24/09/2026

This is the part where things finally start coming together… and falling apart at the same time. Day 3 on the car, and what should’ve been a straightforward refit turned into adjustments, part swaps, hidden sensors, and one very easy mistake that caused way too much panic.

From getting the steering column to fit properly, swapping parts between the E36 and E30 to make everything line up, cleaning corrosion, unpacking new parts, discovering damaged components, and chasing leaks that turned out to be my own fault — this section is very much real garage life.

There’s progress though. The windows are done, the engine is coming back together, fluids are going in, and for the first time in a while, it feels like the car is close to being back on the ground.

No tutorials, no shortcuts — just the honest process, the frustration, the problem-solving, and the small wins that keep the project moving forward.

This is Part 2 of the journey.

23/09/2026

This video wasn’t supposed to be a full window repair — but that’s how it goes on a project car. I started by replacing the inner window mechanism with part 214163055, only to realize the whole assembly needed to be replaced. In the end, I swapped in the complete mechanism (part 1561W0079) — and thankfully, it came with the clips already attached. Absolute lifesaver.

Come along for the ride as I pull the door apart, figure out what’s actually wrong, and get everything working again. Nothing fancy, nothing staged — just the real journey of bringing this BMW back to life, one unexpected job at a time.

If you’re following the build, hit subscribe and stick around for the next chapter.

Parts Used in This Video

214163055 — Inner window Clips

1561W0079 — Complete window mechanism assembly (with clips attached)

23/09/2026

part 13

23/09/2026

part 12

23/09/2026

part 11

23/09/2026

part 10

23/09/2026

part 9